BASEBALL: Pioneers sputter against Mauston
Westfield pitcher Jeremy Podoll tosses the ball to catcher Zach Floeter to get the force out of Mauston's Greg Strompolis in the second inning of the Pioneers 10-2 loss to the Golden Eagles Monday at Westfield High School. (Kevin Morales, Daily Register)
By Kevin Morales
WESTFIELD — In just his second varsity start, Mauston righty Brady Nelson looked like a seasoned veteran.
The Golden Eagles freshman allowed Westfield just three hits over five innings of work, striking out three to earn the win as Mauston beat Westfield Monday 10-2 in a South Central Conference matchup.
"I thought he showed a lot of poise," Mauston coach Chris Lavold said of Nelson. "He's pitching just as well as our other top three pitchers."
Not to be outdone, Golden Eagles lefty Tyler Tardiff relieved Nelson in the sixth and struck out four Pioneers in two innings.
"I like the way they battled," said Lavold of his pitchers.
The Pioneers (0-4, 0-2 South Central) struggled to find any rhythm at the plate or in the field. Westfield had a runner reach second in just two innings and sent nine batters over the minimum to the plate. The Pioneers committed six errors, leading to five unearned runs.
Jeremy Podoll took the loss for Westfield.
While Mauston's (6-0, 2-0) pitchers controlled the game, Westfield's offense sputtered on its few scoring opportunities.
Trailing 4-0, Westfield's Alan Johnson led off the fourth inning with a single and scored two batters later on Podoll's RBI single. The Pioneers then loaded the bases with one out but couldn't produce.
It was a similar situation in the sixth, when Westfield shortstop Cameron Klump led off with a double and the Pioneers promptly loaded the bases with no outs. Zach Floeter drew a bases-loaded walk to score Klump, which kept the bases loaded with just one out. The next two Pioneers couldn't reach base, however, as Westfield stranded six runners in those two innings.
"It's so important," said Klump of hitting with runners in scoring position. "Bases loaded and to only score one runner kind of brings us down."
The Golden Eagles spread their offense out. Mauston scored two in the top of the first on a Pat Guyse single and a sacrifice fly by Trevor Hannes. Hannes finished the day with a game-high 2 RBI.
A disappointed Westfield coach Luke Showen opted not to answer questions following the loss. Showen, however, did confirm that Westfield's season opener at Montello — a game Westfield originally won 15-5 — has been forfeited to Montello due to the Pioneers' use of an ineligible player in the game.
Showen said the decision came after he reported the matter to Westfield Athletic Director Jason Kestner and the two took a recommendation by the WIAA to forfeit the game.
MAUSTON 10, WESTFIELD 2
Mauston .................. 201 120 4 — 10 12 0 Westfield ................. 000 101 0 — 2 5 6
Pitchers — Nelson (W), Tardiff (6); Podoll (L), Rau (6). SO leaders — Tardiff 4, Nelson 2.
Leading hitters — Guyse (M) 3x5, Moll (M) 2x3. 2B — Klump. 3B — Guyse.
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