Hornets Walk Off Against The Warriors
The Nashville Hornets baseball team celebrated Senior Night on May 13, pictured is Nick Krummrich, Missy Krummrich, Jaris Dalman, Jim Dalman, Julia Dalman, Jeremy Bultman, Brady Bultman, and Sherrie Bultman.
In a push towards regionals, the Hornets have gotten back on the winning track as they've now won three straight games going into the this week's regional. The Hornets got a thrilling win over Wesclin on Friday night, before sweeping two games on Saturday against Greenville and Vandalia.
On a night in which the Hornets honored their three seniors, Nashville needed extra innings to defeat Wesclin 1-0 on Friday Night. A pitchers duel throughout the game, the Hornets finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ryan Brink doubled to get the winning run on base. Brady Bultman followed with a long fly ball to right to advance Brink to third, and Brink scored on a wild pitch to get the walk off win for the Hornets. On the mound, Brogan Kemp was incredible. Kemp threw seven shutout innings, gave up just one hit, and struck out a season-high 14 batters. Kemp would not get the win, as Bultman pitched the eighth inning, and struck out two batters.
After the game, Brink talked about scoring the winning run, “Coach just told me at third, look for a passed ball, anything in the dirt. It was a 0-0 tie and runs were hard to come by, so once I saw it get by him, and I wasn't turning around I was going.” Brink went on to talk about the pitching performance from Kemp, “he threw great, that's the best I've seen him throw all year, and this is what he's capable of when he throws like that.”
Coach Chad Malawy also praised Kemp's performance, “the key to the win, was Brogan Kemp throwing seven innings striking out 14. When you don't hit it magnifies every pitch, every batter, and it magnifies every little mistake we have on offense. Brogan pitched a whale of a game.”
At the plate, both team struggled for offense, but Nashville was led by Brink who finished the game 2-3, and scored the game's only run. Jacob Woodrome, Jaris Dalman, and Cody Bauza each finished with a hit for Nashville.
The Hornets were back in action with two games on Saturday May 14 at Greenville High School. The Hornets first game of the day came against host Greenville. Scoring was hard to come by, but the Hornets were able to score three runs in the fourth, and hold on for a 3-2 victory. Brink started on the mound for the Hornets, and went the distance giving up just two earned runs and struck out eight batters.
At the plate, Nashville got production from up and down the lineup as six different players recorded hits for Nashville. Both Bauza and Brink led Nashville with two hits apiece. Bultman, Woodrome, and Austin Anderson each had a RBI for the Hornets in the win. Hayden Heggemeier and Andrew Kash finished with the other two hits for Nashville.
The Hornets last game before regionals came up against Vandalia. The Hornets were able to shut down the Vandalia offense, and took control early on their way to an 8-0 win. The Hornets got the scoring started in the first, plating three runs. It was all that pitcher Austin Anderson needed, as he would pitch seven shutout innings, giving up just three hits, striking out seven batters. The Hornets would add onto their lead with a run in the third and four runs in the fouth to put the game out of reach.
The Hornets were led by Dalman, who finished 2-2 with two runs scored, a home run, and 3 RBIs in the win. Heggemeier finished 1-2 with two runs scored in the win. Bauza did not record a hit in the win, but drew two walks and notched a RBI. Brink, Kash, and Bultman each finished with a hit and a RBI. Kemp finished with the lone other hit for Nashville, and scored a run in the win. Nick Krummrich scored two runs in the win for Nashville.
