Wildcats Pummel Knights

On May 17th, the Wildcats baseball team traveled to New Glarus and easily won, 14-1. Belleville recorded their third win of the season by smashing out 15 hits while plating 14 base runners.
Belleville started by scoring a run in the second inning, and three in the fourth. New Glarus scored their one run in the fourth. The Wildcats then scored twice in the fifth, three times in the sixth and five times in the fifth to wrap it up.
Derek Baumgartner pitched for the Wildcats, striking out four players and giving up only three hits and walking three.
Jared Carney and Josh Gray shared pitching duties for the Knights. Carney struck out 11, while Gray struck out two.
Kevin Zimmerman went 4-4 for the Wildcats, with two RBIs. Cash Hoffman went 3-4, with two RBIs. Brock Kelly, Jesse McNamar and Scott Schwoegler (with two doubles) were all 2-5, with McNamar, Schwoegler and Cody McMillan all driving in two runs each. Kelly scored three times with two stolen bases.
Jared Carney went 1-2 for the Knights, with a run scored on an RBI by Andrew Nimtz. Nimtz and Hayden Latsch went 1-3 at bat.
“Defensively we were as consistent and steady as we’ve been all year long and our pitching was stellar tonight,” said Belleville’s Coach Jon Benash.
The bats stayed hot for the home game against Wisconsin Heights on May 19th – unfortunately the bats were hot for the Vanguards as well as they rolled over the Wildcats, 17-11.
Heights came out swinging and put six runners across home plate in the first inning. In the second inning, Heights scored another three runs, but the Wildcats scored three of their own. By the bottom of the fourth, the score was 11-8 in favor of Heights. Anytime Belleville closed the gap, Heights would answer back by re-extending their comfortable lead.
“We dug ourselves way too big of a hole to get out of at the start of the ballgame and they definitely took advantage of it,” explained Benash.  “I LOVE the way that we kept fighting regardless of what the scoreboard said though!”
Drew Shrader, Scott Schwoegler and Cash Hoffman shared the mound for the Wildcats. Shrader recorded two strikeouts, and Schwoegler struck out one.
Jesse McNamar was 3-3 at bat, scoring three runs. Cash Hoffman was also 3-3, with three RBIs and scoring three runs. Drew Shrader was 2-2 at bat, with two RBIs and scoring two runs. Kevin Zimmerman, Coltyn Winkers and Cody McMillan each scored one run for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats hosted Poynette on May 20th, losing 7-3.
Belleville jumped out to an early lead, with a head’s up steal of home by Drew Shrader, and by the fourth inning were up 3-0, as Nicholas Richter and Jesse McNamar scored on RBIs by Kevin Zimmerman and Drew Shrader. In the fifth inning, Poynette woke up and scored three runs, and three in the sixth, holding the Wildcats scoreless. Poynette scored one more run in the seventh to secure the win.
“We gave them this one!  Our mistakes opened the door and they turned the tables going from a team that looked like they didn’t even want to be there to a team with a lot of energy when the game was on the line,” said Benash.  “We got too comfortable and went into cruise control way too early and it cost us a win.”  
Cody McMillan and Derek Baumgartner pitched for the Wildcats, both striking out two.
Kevin Zimmerman went 2-3 at bat, with one RBI. Jesse McNamar was 2-2, with one run scored. Drew Shrader contributed one run and one RBI, and Nicholas Richter added one run.
Belleville played Waterloo on May 23rd, and Monticello on May 24th to close out their regular season. Hopefully the third time is the charm against Wisconsin Heights as the Wildcats head there to kick off regional play on May 26th.