Broncos fighting for position in league baseball

Coming into the week the Broncos’ baseball team was tied for third place in the Northeast 2B League with Reardan. Tuesday was expected to determine who would take soul possession of third place, an important position as the teams prepare to end the regular season this Saturday.

Prior to their Tuesday doubleheader, both teams were 6-4 in league play.

Reardan spoiled the Broncos plans when they forced a split in the doubleheader.

The Broncos started out down the right path, winning the opening game, 13-1. The Indians turned the tables in the second game, squeaking out a 3-2 win. It’s unclear, with a couple of games to play, how the split will effect the league standings.

The Broncos finish their regular season Saturday, hosting Springdale. From there, either as the third or fourth place team, the Broncos will host a sub district game on Tuesday, May 7, against a yet unknown opponent.

Last weekend the Broncos enjoyed a pair of league wins, defeating St. George’s on the road, 13-1 and then 20-5. The wins helped ease the sting of a difficult doubleheader on Tuesday, April 16. The Northwest Christian Crusaders paid LRS a visit and left with two league victories, 5-1 and 16- 5.

Saturday the Broncos made easy work of the Dragons. In game one Tyler Frederick pitched the entire game, tossing just 55 pitches. He recorded one strikeout, one walk, giving up two hits and allowing one earned run.

“He was pretty efficient with his pitches,” Aldrich said. “He has a lot better control of his off speed stuff. He was getting his slider/curveball over.”

The Dragons scored just one run in the first inning and then went silent as Frederick and the defense were stingy for the remainder of the five inning outing.

The Broncos set the tone early, scoring six runs in the first and then adding runs in each of the next three innings.

Johnny Hernandez was one for two in the game with a double in the first inning that produced two runs.

Bridger Smith cranked up his bat, going two for three with a double and an RBI.

Matt Leffel was two for two with two RBI. Jacob Saetre was two for three. Dylan Hartz and Tyler Greenwalt each delivered a double in the win.

St. George’s made it interesting in the first inning of the second game as both teams scored four runs.

The Broncos quickly exhausted the St. George’s pitching staff as they scored four more in the second and another four in the third. With a 12-5 lead in the top of the fifth inning, the Broncos slayed the Dragons with eight more runs to take the 20-5 win.

“St. George’s just ran out of pitchers. They hit six guys and walked 11,” Aldrich said.

Cort Ruzicka got the start on the mound for the Broncos. He struggled with his command over three innings, walking eight and giving up two hits. He had three strikeouts.

“He’s getting more mentally tough every time out there,” Aldrich said. “And, he’s learning to trust his off speed stuff.”

Hartz finished the game in relief, throwing for two innings. He had four strikeouts and allowed one walk and gave up two hits.

Connor O’Neill had a big game, going three for four at the plate with one RBI and running the bases as if he owned them. He had three stolen bases in the second game and one in the first game.

“He scored four times,” Aldrich said. “If you get that guy on base, he’s tough to control. If he played the whole season he could potentially break the team’s record for steals.”

Dustan Arlt, the current varsity boys basketball coach, was a base stealing phenomenon in high school, racking up 34 stolen bases in one season.

O’Neill’s teammates turned in top efforts at the plate during the game.

Hernandez had two singles and four RBI. Ruzicka had three hits including a double for three RBI. Hartz had a single and two RBI while Greenwalt cranked a double for two RBI. Frederick finished with two hits and two RBI.

The batting order has talent spread throughout. Hernandez and Ruzicka are making big contributions from deep in the order.

“They are not your average number seven and eight hitters. That’s why we have them down there to help produce,” Aldrich said.

Last week when the Broncos hosted Northwest Christian, the first game was a pitching duel for five innings. Frederick, the Broncos top hurler was battling against the league’s best pitcher, David Yoppini. The Broncos scored one run in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead on an unearned run.

After scoring in the third, the Broncos were silenced at the plate as Yoppini fanned 17 of 21 batters in the game. The Broncos recorded just two hits.

Frederick had a strong outing, giving up five runs on four hits.

The second game wasn’t as close as four Broncos pitchers struggled to control the Crusaders, losing the contest 16-5 in seven innings.

Greenwalt started the game and spent two innings on the mound. Ruzicka followed for two and two-thirds innings. Hernandez got in an inning and a third and Leffel finished the game, pitching in the seventh.

The Crusaders kept the Broncos’ bats fairly quiet, giving up just three hits.

The Broncos pitching quartet allowed 15 hits, two walks and hit nine batters in the game.