Central McLean rebounds with 24-run victory at district tournament
Central McLean Babe Ruth baseball responded to a difficult opening-round loss with an offensive explosion Monday, keeping its district tournament run alive with a 24-3 victory over Bowman.
Central McLean opened the tournament July 12 with a 19-1 loss to Hettinger before bouncing back the following day.
The team scored in every inning against Bowman, including 10 runs in the third and eight more in the fifth, while receiving a strong pitching performance from Jayden Troyna.
Hettinger took control early in the first-round matchup, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Central McLean held Hettinger scoreless in the second, but the game broke open with nine runs in the third and five more in the fourth.
Central McLean scored its lone run in the top of the fifth. Pearce Levey recorded the team’s only hit, finishing 1-for-2, while Kasen Haraseth drove in the run. Luke Walcker also reached base with a walk.
Central McLean committed six errors in the loss, which contributed to nine of Hettinger’s 19 runs being unearned.
Landon Saueressig started on the mound and worked 2.1 innings, allowing eight hits and 10 runs, five earned. He walked two and struck out five.
Jaxon Wagner pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up four hits and six runs, three earned, while walking three and striking out two. Levey faced several batters in relief, allowing one hit, three earned runs and two walks.
Ethan Saueressig closed the game with a strong inning. He retired Hettinger without allowing a hit, run or walk and recorded two strikeouts.
Facing elimination Monday, Central McLean quickly put the opening loss behind it.
Central McLean scored two runs in each of the first two innings against Bowman before erupting for 10 in the third. Two more runs followed in the fourth, and an eight-run fifth inning increased the lead to 24-0.