RUTHTON – During last year’s baseball playoff, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton fell one run short of tying the championship series against MACCRAY, and the Wolverines went on to the State Tournament. But on Monday, RTR got a little bit of revenge with a 12-2 win in a five-inning game.

Aiden Wichmann was on the mound for RTR and he didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning. In the meantime, RTR was scoring runs in every inning, with a combination of hits and MACCRAY errors to put the game away early.

Wichmann started the game with a couple of fly ball outs to center field. Then walks to Xavier Noble and Joe Heidecker put runners in scoring position, but Wichmann was able to get a strikeout to end the threat.

In the bottom of the first inning, Wichmann drew a walk and promptly stole second. After a fly ball to center field, Cody Wichmann stepped up and delivered an RBI single. Drew Chandler then singled to right to drive in the second run of the inning.

MACCRAY went down in order in the top of the second, and in the bottom of the inning, RTR exploded for 6 runs.

Chase Christianson struck out, but he reached first on a wild pitch. Brayden Appel walked and Aiden Wichmann then hit an RBI double to center. Isaac Dagel then hit a sacrifice fly to score another run. Appel scored on a wild pitch and the next two batters both reached on infield errors. Xavier Noble then replaced Joe Heidecker with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Drew Chandler singled to drive in another run, and after a strikeout, Gabe Elton was hit by a pitch to force in another run. Elton then scored on a Chase Christianson single as the Knights batted around. A popout finally ended the inning, with the score 8-0.

In the top of the third inning, Jase Dirksen drew a walk, stole second and was able to score on a wild pitch. In the bottom half of the inning, Aiden Wichmann, who reached base four times, walked but was immediately picked off at first base. Isaac Dagel singled and Cody Wichmann, who also reached on all four of his plate appearances, was safe on an error. That brought up Blake Christianson, and he drilled a long home run to left field to now make the score 11-1.

The fifth inning for MACCRAY started with a walk to Angel Mendoza, and after a strikeout, Ethan Stammer lined a double to center field, getting the only hit of the game for MACCRAY. That scored Mendoza and that kept the game going to the bottom of the fifth inning.

Aiden Wichmann started it off with a walk and Isaac Dagel hit a line drive to center field. MACCRAY’s center fielder made a valiant diving try, but it went for a double.

Cody Wichmann reached on an error to load the bases. That would bring Blake Christianson to the plate, and he lifted a fly ball to left field. In an attempt to make a quick throw to the plate, the left fielder dropped the ball. That allowed Aiden Wichmann to come home with the run that ended the game on the 10-Run Rule.

“I couldn’t find my fastball today. I allowed too many walks (4),” Aiden Wichmann said. “Some days, my command isn’t there, but you just have to find another way. I was able to get help from my fielders, with no errors today. I trust those guys behind me to make the plays, so it doesn’t surprise me when they do.”

RTR Head Coach Josh Fredrickson said, “Our guys did a real nice job today, with our hitting, pitching and defense all working. We came in with a lot of focus, and everybody top to bottom, did their job today. It is always good to get a conference win, especially against MACCRAY, who knocked us out of the tournament last year. They had a really nice team, so it was good to get a win today.”

RTR is now 6-2, and, weather permitting, will take on Red Rock Central in a Home game Tuesday