Errors do in Hampshire in loss to Prairie Ridge
Errors and mistakes in crucial situations can prove to be fatal.
Unfortunately, that was the case for the Hampshire Whip-Purs Tuesday afternoon.
Three Whip-Pur errors in the fifth and sixth innings produced 4 unearned runs and Prairie Ridge was able to pick up a 5-3 Fox Valley Conference Fox Division baseball victory in Hampshire.
"The errors are on me," said Hampshire coach John Sarna. "We have to be better in that area."
PR (21-4, 10-1) manufactured a run to score in the first inning.
Wolves' leadoff hitter Chris Slack singled, stole second and third and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Hampshire starter Jacob Manning.
Manning and Prairie Ridge starter Ethan Routzahn dominated the hitters during the early stages of the game.
After allowing the leadoff single to Slack, Manning got tough and retired 12 consecutive Wolves hitters in a row.
Routzahn was equally as impressive. The hard-throwing junior right-hander was perfect through 3 innings with 2 strikeouts. Hampshire didn't hit a ball out of the infield during the first three innings.
Jayson Fleisner broke up Routzahn's perfect game with a single to lead off the fourth.
Hampshire grabbed the lead in the inning as Matt Kielbasa lofted a sacrifice fly to tie the score and then Hampshire executed a perfect double steal to take a 2-1 advantage. With Michael Kruse on first and Tyler Schutt on third, Kruse stole second which enable Schutt to score and give Hampshire (13-9, 2-2) the lead.
Benefiting from Hampshire's shoddy defense, the Wolves led 5-2 after six innings.
Routzahn, who pitched 5 ⅓ innings to earn the win, was relieved by Alec Thune who struck out the only 2 hitters he faced to get out of the inning.
The Whip-Purs were able to rough up Prairie Ridge closer Matt Mohapp for a run in the seventh on a run-scoring single by Schutt.
Mohapp induced Kruse to ground out to end the game and earn the save.
"Ethan was starting to get a little tired and we usually give Alec the sixth," said PR coach Glen Pecoraro. "Alec has been absolutely tremendous in that role. He got us out of the inning. They hit Matt a little but he got tough when he had to. Hampshire is a very good team. We are just happy to get the win."