Sports

Braves seek to match promise, execution

By Matthew Semisch

04/28/2015

Heading into three scheduled games this week, Bottineau High’s baseball team sat atop a 3-11 record.

The Braves feel, however, that the potential is still there for BHS to finish much better than it started.

Signs of that promise made themselves apparent last Thursday when Region V rival North Star (Cando-Bisbee-Egeland) came to Bottineau. Not enough were on show, though, to keep BHS from dropping a 12-10 decision to the Bearcats.

Although Bottineau lead-off batter and starting pitcher Parker Engelhard scored in the bottom of the first inning, North Star was the better team early on Thursday. Two Bearcat runs in the top of the first frame were followed by six in the second, thus giving the visitors an 8-1 lead.

Two innings later, the Braves found a way to dig at least partially out of that seven-run hole. Casey Tooke and Austin Kittleson scored for BHS in the bottom of the fourth frame to cut the lead to 8-3.

Engelhard then gave way with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to sophomore reliever Wolf Don Thorson. The Bearcats did even more damage before Engelhard’s removal, though, and tacked on three more runs in the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth frame, Bottineau’s own bats woke up. Engelhard, Brody Moum, Kellen Lagerquist, Jesse Heil and Ty Spence all scored to cut deeper into North Star’s lead.

The Bearcats responded in the top of the seventh inning with a 12th run of the game. Lagerquist and Heil both scored their second runs of the day in the bottom of the frame, though, to cut the visitors’ advantage to 12-10.

That’s where the Braves’ comeback ended, however. Moum was caught out on a pop fly with Engelhard and Spence on first and second base, respectively, on the final play of the game.

Speaking after the game, BHS head coach Zach Keller suggested that although he’ll never be happy with a win, he was pleased with his team’s ability on Thursday to mount a big late comeback.

“I was very proud of our guys,” Keller said. “I’ve told them all season, just like I did today, if we play that well for seven innings, we can beat anybody, but a bad first two innings cost us.

“Even still, I’m proud of these guys for how they dug deep and fought to the end, and you’re proud to see that as a coach.

“Right now, it’s just a team where if we clean a few things up we’re going to be fine,” he continued. “I’m just glad we’re doing this now and not coming up to regional (tournament) time.”

Keller also heaped praise on Thorson, who pitched two and one-third solid innings in relief against the Bearcats. The sophomore right-hander’s submarine pitching motion appeared to throw North Star’s batters off, thus allowing BHS a way back into the game.

“The thing with Wolf Don is he has a little bit different delivery and throws a lot of people off,” Keller said, “and he came in and did a nice job of pitching for us.”

Following the loss to North Star, Bottineau took part in the Carrington Invitational last weekend. The Braves fell 8-7 to Langdon and beat Lakota 15-1 on Friday before falling 13-9 to Kidder County and 7-6 to Larimore on Saturday.

Bottineau will play three home games this week, starting with Rugby today at 4 p.m. The Braves will then be back in action on Thursday to take on Harvey-Wells County at 4 p.m. before welcoming Des Lacs-Burlington to town at 12 p.m. on Saturday for a non-region game.