Alta Aurelia prevailed in a matchup of undefeated teams in Twin Lakes Conference play, as the Warriors held on for a 3-2 win at Newell Fonda tonight (Wed).
A squeeze bunt RBI by Mason Dicks drove in Ryan Greenfield to put Newell Fonda on top 1-0 in the 1st. That score held until the 5th, when Cale Brechwald doubled with two outs, and scored on an RBI triple by Carson Reinert to tie the game.
Alta Aurelia stranded two runners in the 6th, and the Mustangs left the bases loaded in the bottom half. The Warriors got a leadoff double by Gavin Sleezer in the 8th, but he wounded up stranded on 3rd base. Newell Fonda loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 8th, but with the game on the line, Reinert got an inning-ending strikeout on a 3-2 pitch.
Gabe Olsen walked to leadoff the Alta Aurelia 9th. After two strikeouts, Brechwald doubled to put runners on 2nd and 3rd, and a wild pitch brought in the go-ahead run. Reinert then added to the lead with an RBI single.
Greenfield and Carter Sievers singled to begin the bottom of the 9th. A groundout by Dicks scored Greenfield, and moved Sievers to 3rd. Reinert struck out the next two batters to give the Warriors the win.
Reinert pitched the last three innings for the Warriors, and recorded five strikeouts, and went 3-5 at the plate with two RBI’s. The starting pitcher Brechwald struck out eight batters in six innings of work. Newell Fonda starter Max Carlson went eight innings and struck out ten.
Postgame comments from Warriors coach Ryan Burkhart can be heard below…
Alta Aurelia goes to 9-4 overall, and 3-0 in the TLC. The Warriors host MVAO-COU tomorrow (Thur), and play at home against Southeast Valley on Friday.
Newell Fonda (8-4, 3-1) visits Spirit Lake tomorrow. The Mustangs game Friday at Pocahontas Area will be broadcast on Mix 101.7FM.
