RUTHTON – No. 4 Edgerton/Southwest Christian took on Number 5 Wabasso on Saturday afternoon, and fans were treated to a low-scoring pitcher’s duel, with the Flying Dutchman edging Wabasso 4-2. Each team had 12 strikeouts, and each team committed very few errors. But one big hit by Edgerton/SWC Senior Jacob Uilk turned out to be the difference in the game.

Wabasso got off to a great start when Junior catcher Noah Anderson drilled a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to lead off the game. Edgerton/SWC went down in order in their half of inning, so it was 1-0 Wabasso after one.

Both teams went down in order in the second inning. Wabasso again threatened to score in the third inning, when Noah Anderson reached on an error, and stole second. But Senior pitcher Skyler Feikema notched his third strikeout of the inning to end the threat, leaving Anderson stranded at third. In the bottom of the third, Joshua Van Dam singled, and after two strikeouts, Jacob Uilk drew a walk. But Junior pitcher Joe Liebl got his third strikeout of the inning, leaving the score at 1-0 with Wabasso in the lead.

The fourth inning saw both teams go scoreless, and Wabasso went down in order to start the fifth inning. Edgerton came to bat in the bottom of the fifth, down a run. Joshua Van Dam started the inning with a single, followed by a walk to Logan Bleyenberg. Caden Sas was hit by a pitch, and that loaded the bases, bring up the leadoff batter, Jacob Uilk. He immediately lined a double to center field that cleared the bases and gave the Flying Dutchmen their first lead, 3-1. Liebl was able to get out of the inning with no more damage, but they were now behind for the first time.

Garrett Marotzke led off the sixth inning with a single, but after a walk and a strikeout, Adryen Tietz came through with an RBI double to make the score 3-2, with Edgerton/SWC hanging on to a slim lead. In their half of the sixth inning, they were able to tack on an insurance run. Josh Groen led off with a single, followed by a Blake Schultz single. A walk to Joshua Van Dam walked to load the bases, and Adryen Tietz entered the game in relief of Liebl. Groen came in on a wild pitch to make the score 4-2. Tietz then struck out the next three batters to limit the damage.

Preston Remiger drew a one-out walk the top of the seventh, and with two outs in the seventh inning, Trein Prins entered the game in relief and was able to get a strikeout to end the game.

Wabasso Head Coach said after the game, “It was a painful loss. We didn’t play very well today, and we didn’t play the kind of baseball I expected us to play. I thought we pitched really well, but we just didn’t get enough hits to win.”