Courtesy of Rich Ray
Moo- 12, Sasquatch- 4
Fremont (R-H-E): 12-15-2; Spearfish (R-H-E): 4-5-2
Win: Zane Leyden (1-1); Loss: Cameron Murphy (1-3); Save: None
HR: Fremont; Easton Steck (1st, one on base in sixth inning); HR: Spearfish: None
Spearfish, South Dakota- Behind an excellent quality start from Zane Leyden, plus another double-digit hit performance, the Fremont Moo defeated the Spearfish Sasquatch 12-4, Tuesday night at Black Hills Energy Stadium.
The Moo scored in each of the first three innings. In the top of the first, Henry Hayman singled with out, then stole second base. Two batters later, Tyler Harrington hit a pop-up to shallow center field which Sasquatch shortstop Bailey Bordas dropped, allowing Hayman to score.
In the second, Jayson Willers and Tyler Hummel hit back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Jason Clark delivered a two-RBI triple into the right field corner, to make it 3-0.
Carter Sintek led off the top of the third with a single, followed by Tyler Harrington doing the same. Then a double-steal put runners at second and third. Conner Petersen then reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Sintek, to make it 4-0, Fremont.
The Moo doubled their lead in the top of the sixth. Tyler Hummel drew a walk. Then, Easton Steck hit a 1-1 pitch from Spearfish starter Cameron Murphy, over the left-center field fence for a two run home run, Steck’s first of the year. Jason Clark followed with a double, which forced the Sasquatch to go to the bullpen and bring in Gage Kracht. Hunter Palmer then singled and Henry Hayman hit an RBI single, scoring Clark, to make it 7-0. Palmer would score on a wild pitch to put Fremont up 8-0.
Spearfish got on the board in the bottom of the seventh against Moo reliever Gavin Alveti. Seth Nelson hit a one out pinch-hit single. The next batter, pinch-hitter Joey Legg singled. Then, Trey Vorwald singled to bring in pinch runner Gage Kracht. Ryan Bachman hit into a 6-3-5 double play, but Legg scored before the final out of the inning was recorded, to make it 8-2.
Fremont put their final tally on the board in the top of the eighth. Jason Clark singled with one out, then advanced on a passed ball. Hunter Palmer singled, then Clark scored on a wild pitch. Then, Henry Hayman hit an RBI single, scoring Palmer. Carter Sintek finished up the Moo scoring with a two-RBI single, to make it 12-2.
Moo reliever Cole Hupke came on in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Luis Reyes doubled and got to third on a passed ball. Pinch-hitter Ben Seminara walked, then stole second. Christian Soto walked to load the bases. Hupke got Levi Graham to hit into a fielder’s choice, which scored Reyes. Then a wild pitch scored Seminara to make it 12-4. Hupke recovered, striking out Trey Vorwald and getting Ryan Bachmann to ground out to Tyler Harrington at third base on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Fremont starter Zane Leyden (1-1) earned the win. The Firth native at Bellevue University did not give up a hit until the sixth inning. He pitched 6.0 innings, giving up just the one hit, walked three, struck out five and hit one batter. Gavin Alveti, the Searcy, Arkansas native headed to Central Arkansas, pitched 2.0 innings, giving up three hits and two runs. Cole Hupke, the Brandon, South Dakota native, pitched the ninth, giving up one hit, two runs, walked two, struck out one and had one wild pitch.
Spearfish starter Cameron Murphy (1-3) took the loss. He pitched 5.0 innings, giving up nine hits, six earned runs, walked one, struck out five, yielded the home run to Steck, and hit one batter. Gage Kracht pitched 3.0 innings, giving up five hits, four earned runs, walked one, struck out one and had one wild pitch. Levi Graham pitched 1.0 inning. He gave up one hit and walked one.
Offensively, Fremont’s Hunter Palmer was 2-for-5. The St. Michael, Minnesota native at South Dakota State had a single and a double. Henry Hayman was 4-for-6. The Melbourne, Australia native via Barton County Community College, had two RBI’s. Carter Sintek was 2-for-5. The Fremont native at South Dakota State drove in two runs. Connor Petersen was 0-for-5, but the Tucson, Arizona native at Midland University, had two RBI’s. Easton Steck was 1-for-5. The Galesburg, Illinois native headed to Illinois-Springfield hit a two run home run. Jason Clark was 3-for-4. The Victoria, Illinois native from Knox College had two RBI’s.
Spearfish’s Trey Vorwald was 1-for-5 with an RBI. Ryan Bachman was 0-for-3 with a run batted in and Levi Graham was 0-for-1 with an RBI.
More Information: With the win, Fremont equaled its highest mark above .500 this season at ten games. Plus, Fremont got to .500 in the second half of the schedule. Henry Hayman hit safely for the eighth straight game. With the loss, Spearfish is mathematically eliminated from postseason play.
Up Next: Fremont (29-19, 12-12) will play Spearfish (23-28, 12-14) in game two of the series, Wednesday night. First pitch at Black Hills Energy Stadium, in Spearfish, is 7:05pm (CT) / 6:05pm (MT). After the three game series concludes Thursday, Fremont will wrap up the regular season with a three-game set at Hastings, against the Sodbusters, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tuesday, Aug. 1st, Fremont plays in game one of the Independence Baseball League Association’s Championship Series. The Moo will be on the road for games one and two against the IBL’s second half champion. With five games left in the regular season, the Casper Spuds lead the Badlands Big Sticks by 3.5 games, to claim the second half crown and meet up with Fremont in the Championship Series. The Moo will host game 3 of the series, Friday night, Aug. 4th at Historic Moller Field. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, would be Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5th and 6th, in Fremont. For tickets to the Moo home games in the Championship Series, go to: www.fremontmoo.com/tickets, or call (402)-660-1217.
On The Air: All Moo home and road games are broadcast on radio on Big Dog Country, 98.9 FM and 1340 AM, KHUB. Games can also be heard on smartphones, iPads, and other mobile devices by going to www.fremontmoo.com/mixlr. All Moo home games have video streaming live at: www.fremontmoo.com and on YouTube at: BSDN Live.
