By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com
CUSTER — It was a clean sweep for the Mason County Eastern baseball team Monday night when the Cardinals hosted Brethren in the West Michigan D League. Mason County Eastern took both games, 11-10 and 16-0.
After opening a 9-3 lead after three innings in the first game, the Cardinals hit a speed bump and found themselves in a 10-all game going into the last of the sixth.
The Cardinals put two runners on and Ron Hasenbank saved the day when he ripped a line drive that gave MCE a walk off win in an exciting finish.
Keegan Nelson started on the mound for the Cardinals and pitched the first three innings. The Bobcats scored only one earned run on three hits.
Nelson walked a pair and struck out eight in his stint. He gave way to Zach Howe, who pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs (four earned) on seven hits.
He experienced some trouble with his control, hitting seven Bobcat batters.
“We’ve got a young team,” said MCE coach Ward Stever. “I’m starting four or five freshmen. There’s going to be some rollercoaster of emotions to start the year – making silly mistakes, bad base running. Bad base running almost killed us in the first game.”
The second game went only three innings as the Cardinals rolled up a blow out win.
Aaron Drake started and pitched three innings for the Cardinals and did not allow a hit. He struck out seven, but hit three batters.
Eastern is on the road Thursday for another league matchup, this time with Mesick’s Bulldogs.
