Sports
Braves drop opening four games
Bottineau Courant Staff
05/07/2013
Having had few outdoor practices and casting many young players, the Bottineau baseball team undertook the task of shaking off the rust this past week.
The Braves went on the road last Monday to open their season against Rugby, then hosted their first game days after the snow finally melted off the outfield and traveled to Minot for a double header against Bishop Ryan.
The virtually unplayable weather conditions for the past month are still making their mark with schedules like that.
The week began last Monday as the Braves went to Cando to play against Rugby in the team’s season opener.
Pitcher Andrew Hill scored the game’s first run in the opening inning, scoring on an error. Bottineau built that lead to 2-1 after the top of the seventh inning as Garrett Lynnes scored the go-ahead run.
However, the Panthers rallied in the bottom of the seventh and ended with a walk-off 3-2 win.
Hill lasted five innings walking five and striking out seven before leaving the mound. Lee Schneider entered as pitcher and allowed one hit, but walked four in an inning and 2/3 and took the loss.
Offensively freshman Parker Engelhard rapped two of Bottineau’s three hits and Luke Amsbaugh had the other.
The next game for the Braves was on Thursday as they hosted Harvey-Wells County (HWC) for Bottineau’s home opener.
It was again a sloppy game for both teams as they committed a combined seven errors and stranded 20 batters. It resulted in an 11-3 HWC win.
HWC struck first as they scored four runs in the second inning. The Hornets added three more in the third and two more in the fifth before Bottineau responded.
All of the Braves offense came in the bottom of the fifth when they scored three runs. Brody Moum drove in two of those runs, while Schneider drove in Hill for run number three.
HWC added three more in the seventh inning to secure the victory.
Schneider started for the Braves and went three innings allowing seven runs, three earned and walking five batters.
Engelhard entered the game for Bottineau and finished the game’s final four innings. He surrendered only one hit, but walked nine batters and allowed five runs, two of which were earned.
Bottineau played host to a doubleheader on Friday as the Bishop Ryan Lions entered Bottineau and swept the Braves, winning 14-2 in game one and 11-5 in game two.
The Lions gained the advantage early as they scored twice in the first and added a run in both the second and fourth innings to go ahead by four.
Bottineau cut the lead to three after Austin Hunt earned the Braves’ only run batted in (RBI) on a single.
The Lions then broke the game open in the sixth inning scoring 10 runs off of Braves starter Garett Lynnes.
Lynnes pitched all six innings and allowed 14 runs (six earned) on 15 hits. Bottineau committed seven errors in the contest.
Engelhard and Hill were again offensive bright spots for the Braves. Engelhard, the lead-off hitter, went 2-for-3 and Hill was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Game two with the Lions started better for the Braves, who got on the board first, scoring three times in the bottom of the first.
The inning began quick as the first three Bottineau batters all reached base safely. A bases loaded walk drawn by Lynnes drove in Engelhard, while Schneider’s fielder’s choice drove in Moum. Hill then scored as Casey Tooke drew a walk.
However, the scoring came in a boatload once again for the Lions in the second inning. Bishop Ryan scored eight times in the second inning, knocking out Bottineau pitcher Hill after an inning and 2/3. Hill surrendered three hits and walked six, while allowing eight runs (four earned).
Schneider entered and settled the game down allowing only three runs (all earned) in the final 3 and 1/3 innings. He walked five and struck out two while surrendering five hits.
Bottineau managed to add a run in both the fourth and fifth, but couldn’t mount enough of a comeback to top the Lions.
Engelhard and Moum each rapped two hits and scored runs in the contest. Hunt and Kellen Lagerquist each went 1-for-3 and scored. Schneider finished with two RBI.
The four losses on the week dropped the Braves to 0-4 to start the season.
Bottineau suits up again tonight as they travel to Rolette. Bottineau returns home on Thursday to play Dunseith and hosts Belcourt on Saturday to round out the week’s competition.