By JOSH BURRIS
The Southern Wells Raiders struggled to generate any kind of offense at the plate in Monday’s 6-1 loss to the visiting Wes-Del Warriors.
The Raiders (2-9) managed just five hits off Wes-Del pitcher Travis Bunch. Bunch pitched a complete game, allowing one unearned run in seven innings while striking out 12 and walking just one.
Branson Rheinhart went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Raiders. Kedrik Sonnigsen, Bryar Gearheart, and Jenson Nusbaumer each added a hit as well. Nusbaumer scored Southern Wells’ only run after singling in the seventh and eventually scoring on a passed ball.
Rheinhart took the mound for the Raiders and did not have a bad day himself. In 6 1/3 innings of work he allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits while striking out five.
Southern Wells coach Blade Rheinhart said it was one of the best performances he has seen from his pitcher.
“Branson pitched a very nice game, probably his best outing that he’s ever given us. Unfortunately, he was pretty close to our only production at the plate as well. He gave up three (runs) and kept us in the game the whole time,” the older Rheinhart said about his younger brother.
Gearheart came in for the final 2/3 of the seventh and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out one.
While the Warriors had just five hits in the game, they took advantage of the free men they got on base as well. They drew seven walks – six from Rheinhart and one from Gearheart. Rheinhart also hit three batters and Gearheart hit another.
Zack Todd got Wes-Del going in the first with a double and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice.
In the second, Jace Wilson singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Harrison Pittsford to make it 2-0.
The Raiders appeared to be putting together a big inning in the fourth after Rheinhart singled and Evan Reynolds reached on an error to put two men on with one out.
However, the heart of Southern Wells’ lineup was unable to bring them home and the game moved on to the fifth.
“We are just starting too late. We are getting content with hanging around and then getting ourself in that deficit,” Rheinhart the coach said. “And then finally decide to start swinging the bat and do what we need to do to make contact at the plate.”
In that fifth inning, Todd drew a walk and Kade Banter was hit by a pitch. They took off on a double steal for third and second, but an overthrow led to Todd scoring and making it 3-0.
Dawson Bookout drew a walk to put two on with still no outs. Bunch came up next and lined out to shortstop Kedrik Sonnigsen, who then fired the ball to second to catch Banter for a double play. Rheinhart struck out the next batter to get out of the jam with minimal damage.
Rheinart came out to start the seventh nearing the end of his pitch count. He walked his first batter that eventually got caught stealing, but walked Todd before having to come out of teh game.
After Gearheart entered, Banter singled, and Bookout drew a walk to load the bases. Bunch was hit by a pitch to score one run, and Grayson Mealy singled to bring home Wes-Del’s final two runs.
Rheinhart would like to see his team take a better approach at the plate going forward to jumpstart some offensive production.
“We’ve preached it all year, whether it be jump at that first fastball that you get, take the first inside pitch where you want it. But it’s guys just waiting for something to happen – looking for a walk instead of driving the baseball,” he said.
On Saturday, the Raiders also lost games to Tri-Village and Mississinewa Valley at the Union City wood bat tournament.
The Raiders lost 6-5 to Tri-Village. They tied it up 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning, but Tri-Village scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth and the Raiders were unable to keep the game going in the seventh.
Southern Wells had eight hits in the game, with two coming from Nusbaumer and two coming from Caleb Johnson.
Sonnigsen hit a triple, and AJ Wright added a double
Owen Vickrey suffered the loss on the mound, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of work while striking out three and walking two.
Southern Wells then lost 7-2 to Mississinewa Valley.
The Raiders held a 2-1 lead after three innings, but Mississinewa Valley exploded for six runs in the fourth to take the lead and eventually the game.
Southern Wells managed just three hits in that game – one each from Nusbaumer, Sonnigsen, and Gearheart.
Reynolds was the losing pitcher, allowing six runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking two.
Southern Wells will head to Whitko on Tuesday for its next game.
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