Freshman Hedmark hurls Dundee-Crown past Burlington Central
Elevated to the varsity, Dundee-Crown's Eric Hedmark wasn't sure he was going to get the opportunity to pitch in Friday's nonconference baseball game against Burlington Central.
Not only did the freshman left-hander get a chance to pitch, he picked up the win in relief.
Hedmark, in relief of starter Matt Weichmann, hurled 4⅔ innings, gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in pitching the host Chargers to an 8-7 win.
He struck out 3, walked 2 and retired the Rockets (12-2) in order in the seventh.
"Eric had really been pitching well on the sophomore team and we had a lot of games this week," said D-C coach Jon Anderson. "I wasn't sure I was going to get him in the game but he came in and pitched great. He threw strikes and threw strike one on almost every batter."
Hedmark, by his own admission, was nervous when he went into the game.
"I wasn't sure I was going to pitch," said Hedmark. "I was very nervous and overwhelmed. But once I got out there and threw a few pitches I was fine. Brett (Johnson) did a great job of calling the game. He is a great catcher."
D-C (11-5), benefited from 3 walks and a hit batter from BC starter Parker Boron, who didn't retire a batter. The Chargers scored 5 runs in the first inning, keyed by a 2-RBI double from Matt Weichmann.
Central bounced back to score 2 unearned runs in the second off Weichmann and 3 in the third on a 3-RBI single from Logan Orals to tie the score at 5. Orals tripped rounding the bag at first and had to settle for a single.
Anderson pulled Weichmann after Orals' single and summoned Hedmark to the mound.
D-C scored 3 in the fourth to take the lead for good, 8-5. The key hits were an RBI double by Michael Cruise and a run-scoring triple from Johnson.
Hedmark, who held Central scoreless in the third and fourth, was roughed up for 2 runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Lauber and a run-scoring double by Brenden Bushy.
"Parker has pitched well for us this year," said Central coach Kyle Nelson. "He struggled today. Our relievers Kyle Creadon and Jon Fredrickson pitched great. I like the fact we kept battling. Dundee-Crown is a very good team and will win a lot of games. This is a good game that we faced some adversity in."