Mistakes plague Panthers in EWC defeat

PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth baseball team, which had been playing well recently, had a clunker here Tuesday evening.

Kewaskum took advantage of a porous PHS defense to cruise to a 9-1 win in Eastern Wisconsin Conference action. The Panthers slipped to 8-9 in the EWC (11-12 overall).

The Indians took over sole possession of first in the EWC after New Holstein lost to Campbellsport, 3-1, Tuesday night. Kewaskum is 13-2 in the league, followed by New Holstein at 12-3.

The top of the sixth inning was a nightmare for the Panthers as Kewaskum exploded for six runs to snap a 1-1 tie and lead 7-1. All of the runs in the frame were unearned because of two PHS errors.

Kewaskum collected three singles and walks apiece in the sixth. The key hit was Cody Nuerenberg’s two-run single.

PHS committed four errors in the contest that led to a whopping eight unearned runs.

“Zack [Suchon] pitched well but we had a couple of unfortunate mistakes behind him,” said Panther head coach Butch Cain. “He pitched well enough to win.

“It was a little frustrating because those were plays [on the errors] that we need to make. We’ll make some adjustments and try to learn from this game. I’m very confident we’ll bounce back.”

Suchon took the loss but had a solid outing. The senior allowed seven runs but only one earned on six hits with three walks, two hit batters and three strikeouts in 5- 2/3 innings.

Nick Olla fanned 10 batters en route to a complete-game victory. Olla walked only one and surrendered one unearned run on six hits.T

he Panthers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first. Ryan Klecka led off with a single and advanced all the way to third on Trevor Thiel’s sacrifice bunt. The first baseman attempted to nab Klecka at third on the bunt but threw wildly which brought Klecka home.

Justin Rooker led PHS in hits with two.

Nuerenberg sparked the Indians’ offense with three hits and RBIs each. Mike Herriges also had three RBIs. Brian Backhaus amd Brandon Zolp added two hits apiece.

Nick Olla and Josh Harbin; Zack Suchon, Greg Rhude (6) and Brock Reichardt. W – Olla. L – Suchon. 2B – Kewaskum, Cody Seibel.