Warrior baseball splits pair of one-run games at Viterbo
By Zach Throne
The Waldorf baseball team travelled in the middle of the week to La Crosse, WI for a North Star Athletic Association doubleheader, where the Warriors lost 6-5 and won 4-3.
Earlier in the year, Waldorf’s pitching staff struggled to throw strikes, despite the presence of arm talent. Recently, the arms for Waldorf have improved in that regard and kept the slugging Warriors within striking distance.
Senior pitcher Heath Chapman pitched a complete game for the Warrior baseball team, giving up three earned runs despite eight hits. Chapman earned the win after two runs scored for the Warriors in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead and eventually win the game.
Senior first baseman Jack Muhleck hit a solo home run for the Warriors to go 1-2 with two runs scored.
TarQuin Daley’s squeeze bunt scored two runs for the Warriors after an error by Viterbo, which proved to the be the difference in the game.
“After losing the first game in a gut-punching way, we knew we had to rally together for the game two,” said Muhleck, “and I thought we did just that by grinding out that second game.”
Muhleck also doubled for an RBI in the first game to go along with two hits from Thomas Capllonch, but the offense was not enough for the Warriors, losing the game in walk-off fashion in extra innings.
“It showed a lot of resiliency from the guys to battle back after that first game,” said designated hitter Easton Barrus — who scored a run for the Warriors in the opener. “Hopefully the second game can get us rolling a bit as we come to the end of the season and tournament time.”
The Warriors face Valley City State this weekend in a four-game series in Valley City, North Dakota. Waldorf hopes to improve on its 11-9 conference record.