Courtesy of Rich Ray
Moo- 8, Spuds- 1
Fremont (R-H-E): 8-11-0; Casper (R-H-E): 1-5-0
Win: Lucas Hamzeh (3-0); Loss: Nolan Thiebay (2-2); Save: None
HR: Fremont: Tyman Long (12th, zero on base in third inning); Neil Jansen (5th, zero on base in sixth inning); Henry Hayman (6th, one on base in sixth inning); HR: Casper: None
Fremont, Nebraska- The Fremont claimed defeated the Casper Spuds 8-1, to take the Independence League Baseball Association Championship, three games to two, Sunday night at Historic Moller Field.
Fremont started the scoring in the bottom of the first. Christian Hobbs was hit by a pitch from Casper starter Nolan Thiebay. Two batters later, Tyman Long singled to put runners at first and second. Tyler Harrington reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at first and third. After Carter Sintek drew a walk, Hayden Lewis hit a two-RBI single, driving in Hobbs and Harrington to make it 2-0, Fremont.
In the third, Tyman Long hit a Thiebay 1-2 pitch and homered over the “Moller Monster” to put Fremont ahead, 3-0.
The Moo added to the lead in the fifth. Henry Hayman and Tyman Long led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Casper went to the bullpen and brought in Austin Stolwick. On the first pitch, Tyler Harrington singled to load the bases. Then, Carter Sintek reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Hayman, to make it 4-0.
Fremont busted the game open in the sixth. With one out, Neil Jansen hit a Stolwick 2-2 pitch over the left field fence, putting The Moo up, 5-0. Two batters later, Christian Hobbs singled. The Spuds went to the bullpen again, bringing in Cooper Hack. On the first pitch after the change, Henry Hayman hit a two-run home run to just left of straight away center field, to put Fremont up 7-0.
In the seventh, Tyler Harrington led off with a double. Casper brought in reliever Danner Hamberg. Harrington stole third, then Carter Sintek hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Harrington to make it 8-0.
Casper got on the board in the top of the eighth. Against Moo reliever Zane Leyden, Parker Burt drew a one-out walk. Then, Elijah Reeves singled and Dawson Baraconi delivered an RBI single, scoring Burt, to make it 8-1.
The score remained the same going into the top of the ninth. Fremont reliever Darius Blasingane gave up a lead off single to Matthew Marsic. Then, pinch hitter Ryan Schmidt grounded out to third for the first out, advancing Marsic to second. Blasingane struck out pinch hitter Christian Gerana for the second out. Blasingane got Jaxson Bates to swing at a 2-2 pitch and he grounded out to Connor Petersen, at first base, for the final out of the game.
Fremont starter Lucas Hamzeh (3-0) earned the win. The Gilbert, Arizona native at Midland University pitched 7.0 innings, giving up two hits, striking out seven and hitting two batters. Zane Leyden, the Firth native at Bellevue University pitched 0.1 innings, giving up two hits, one run and walked one. Darius Blasingane, the St. Petersburg, Florida native from Edward Waters University, pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and struck out three.
Casper starter Nolan Thiebay (2-2) took the loss. He pitched 4.0 innings, giving up six hits, four runs, walked two, struck out three and gave up the home run to Long. Austin Stolwick pitched 1.2 innings, giving up three hits, two runs and yielded the home run to Jansen. Cooper Hack pitched 0.1 innings. He gave up two hits, two runs and the home run to Hayman. Danner Hamberg pitched 1.0 inning and struck out one. Max Vosters pitched 1.0 inning, striking out one and had one wild pitch.
Offensively for Fremont, Henry Hayman was 2-for-5. The Melbourne, Australia native from Barton County Community College, headed to Akron, hit a two-run home run. Tyman Long was 2-for-4. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native at College of Southern Nevada hit a solo home run. Tyler Harrington was 3-for-4. The Lakeland, Tennessee native from Southwest Tennessee Community College, headed to UAB, had a single and two doubles. Hayden Lewis was 1-for-4. The Yutan native at the University of Nebraska drove in two runs. Neil Jansen was 1-for-4. The Cypress, California native at San Jose State hit a solo home run.
Casper’s Dawson Baraconi was 1-for- 4 with an RBI.
More Information: Fremont claimed its first Independence League Baseball Association title and second league championship in franchise history. Tyman Long tied the Fremont Moo record for home runs in a season with twelve.
Fremont ended the year 34-23, while Casper finished the season 34-25.
