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Pontiac drops two in three-team twin-bill at The Ballpark

erich murphy, pontiac daily leader
·4 min read
Pontiac shortstop Cayden Masching makes a throw for an out during the Tribe's game with Reed-Custer Saturday at The Ballpark at Williamson Field.
Pontiac shortstop Cayden Masching makes a throw for an out during the Tribe's game with Reed-Custer Saturday at The Ballpark at Williamson Field.

It was a tough Saturday for Pontiac as the Indians suffered two nonconference losses at home, including one in extra innings at The Ballpark at Williamson Field.

The tough loss to swallow was the 9-7 decision to Canton in the final game of the day. The Indians had tied it up in the last of the seventh to force an extra frame, but the Little Giants scored twice in the eighth for the win. The Tribe left the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth.

A two-out single, and error and a wild pitch allowed the two runs for Canton in the eighth.

Pontiac's Michael Kuska slides into second base with a stolen base against Reed-Custer Saturday.
Pontiac's Michael Kuska slides into second base with a stolen base against Reed-Custer Saturday.

The Little Giants scored four times in the top of the first inning PTHS starter Hunter Wilson. It was 5-0 when the Tribe came to bat in the second inning. Pontiac got on the board when Zayn Eilts led off with a double and Zachariah Landstrom followed with a two-bagger to make it 5-1. Michael Kuska singled with one out to drive in Landstrom and make it 5-2.

Pontiac got a run in the third when Henry Brummel led off with a home run to left. Two unearned runs for Canton made it 7-3 in the fourth frame.

Kuska scored on a Logan Barnett sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth for PTHS. Brummel followed with a base hit that drove in Camden Fenton to make it 7-5.

The Indians inched closer in the sixth when a Barnett two-bagger plated Kuska. Pontiac tied in the last of the seventh when Duncan Eilts scored on a wild pitch.The tribe had the bases loaded before a fielder's choice ended the inning.

Half of Pontiac's base knocks went for extra bases. Brummel had three safeties, including a home run, and drove in two runs for the Tribe. Zayn Eilts had a pair of doubles and Kuska had a double, single and RBI. Jackson Crawford also had two hits. Barnett had a double and two runs batted in and Landstrom had a double and RBI. Drew Wayman also singled.

Fenton took the loss in relief. He gave up two unearned runs, two hits and fanned one in 1 2/3 innings. Wilson went the first 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), four hits, three walks and struck out two. Kuska pitched five innings, allowing two unearned runs, six hits, a walk and setting down three on strikes.

Reed-Custer 7, Pontiac 3

Reed-Custer scored in each of the first four innings in nabbing a 7-3 decision in the first game of the day.

Zayn Eilts of Pontiac delivers a pitch Saturday against Reed-Custer. Eilts got a no-decision in the Tribe's 7-3 loss.
Zayn Eilts of Pontiac delivers a pitch Saturday against Reed-Custer. Eilts got a no-decision in the Tribe's 7-3 loss.

Conrad Pfaff took the loss after giving up five runs in three innings. He yielded six hits and four walks while striking out five. Zayn Eilts allowed two runs, one hit, six walks and fanned three in three innings and Duncan Eilts threw a scoreless seventh inning.

The Comets burned the Tribe for single runs in the first and second innings and added three in the third and two in the fourth for a 7-2 advantage.

Pontiac got on the board in the bottom of the second when Landstrom singled home Wayman, who led off the inning with a walk. PTHS added a run in the third when Barnett singled to drive in Fenton. Fenton reached on a two-out single, stole second and took third on a throwing error before Barnett singled.

Barnett had a sacrifice fly that scored Kuska in the seventh for the final tally.

Landstrom had a double, single and run drive in and Barnett had a hit and two RBIs to pace Pontiac (5-4). Fenton also had two hits.

EPG 3, Delavan 1

DELAVAN — Mason Vandegraft and Landon Foster combined on a five-hitter as El Paso-Gridley edged host Delavan 3-1 in a nonconference game Saturday.

Vandegraft got the start and used 30 pitches in two innings before Foster took over. Vandegraft allowed one hit, two walks and struck out two. Foster fanned four while giving up a run, four hits and two walks over the final five innings.

EPG (5-4) got on the board in the second inning when M Wilson crossed the plate on a wild pitch with Brady Veselack batting. Micah Meiss scored on an error in the fourth for a 2-0 Titans lead.

Delavan scored in the bottom fo the fourth, but EPG got it back in the seventh frame. Veselack, who led off the winning with a free pass, scored on a Dominic Ricconi single.

Ricconi had three hits and drove in a run for the Titans. Wilson and Mac Raymer each had two hits and Jeremy Knapp doubled. Vandegraft and Meiss each singled.

On Friday, El Paso-Gridley defeated Fisher 5-2 in Heart of Illinois Conference play. Vandegraft had two hits and drove in three runs and Wilson had two hits and a run batted in.

Veselack got the win in relief after throwing the final four frames. He fanned three. Wilson started and struck out five in three innings.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pontiac Indians drop two in three-team twin-bill at The Ballpark