Preder offers relief for Falcons

CEDAR GROVE – After falling behind 3-1 in the third inning, the Sheboygan Falls Falcons rallied back with five runs in the final three innings to notch a nonconference 6-3 win over the Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets Thursday, July 2.

The Falcons had timely hitting and fine relief pitching performances from sophomore Russell Preder and senior Travis Christenson.

Preder pitched three innings in relief of starter senior Eric Kluz, who struggled to get through the third inning. Christenson tossed the final inning for the save.

The bottom of the seventh inning was highlighted by a lineout double play by third baseman Preder to record the first two outs.

Falls improved to 9-13 overall, playing only two games in a light schedule prior to the Fourth of July holiday.

Kluz, who was making just his second pitching appearance of the season, breezed through the first inning with two strikeouts.

He then struggled in the second inning, as Cedar Grove seized a 3- 1 lead, before he left the mound. Kluz hit two batters, walked two and gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits in three innings on the mound.

Preder came in to provide a much-needed solid relief performance, striking out three batters and walking two, without giving up a hit.

Trailing 3-1 in the top of the fifth, junior Adam Lorenz doubled and freshman Bobby Musil tripled to cut the lead to 3-2.

Falls took the lead in the sixth, after Travis Christenson was hit by a pitch and sophomore Matt Hasler walked. Christenson scored on a wild pitch and senior Tyler Collins singled home the lead run.

The Falcons added two more insurance runs in the seventh, with runs coming in on a sacrifice fly from Christenson and a single by Hasler. Musil and senior Kyle Hahn, who had walked, both scored for the Falcons.

Musil led Falls with two hits, a run and an RBI. Hasler had one hit, one RBI, walked once and scored a run. Christenson scored and had one RBI, without registering an official at-bat.

The Plymouth Panthers roughed up the Falcons 13-5 Tuesday, June 30. It was the second time this season that Plymouth has scored in double digits against Falls.

The loss dropped the Falcons to 5-8 in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference.

Plymouth wasted little time, scoring six runs in the first inning. The opening inning was highlighted by a two-run double from the Panthers’ ninth batter Anthony Simonowski.

Falls starting pitcher Christenson gave up seven hits to start the game, but settled down to strike out the side in the second inning.

The Falcons trailed 6-1 going into the third inning when they climbed back into the contest.

Hahn singled to lead off the inning and senior Eric Kluz homered for the second time this season to cut the lead to 6-3.

After senior Tyler Collins was robbed of a hit on a well-hit line drive, Christenson connected for a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Freshman Zack Van Engen hit an RBI single and senior Justin Laack doubled in a run to cut the score to 6-5.

Panthers pitcher Zach Suchon then shut down the Falcon attack, allowing no hits over the last four innings to secure the complete game win. Suchon finished with five strikeouts and three walks, while giving up five runs on six hits. Christenson took the loss for Falls, pitching just three innings with three strikeouts, allowing no walks and giving up seven runs on nine hits. Laack pitched three innings in relief, giving up six more runs on six hits and walking three, without recording a strikeout.

Kluz led Falls going 2-for-4, with a homer and three RBI.

Falls will face a key test this Thursday, July 9, when it takes on host EWC-leading New Holstein in a 5 p.m. doubleheader.

Eric Kluz (3), Russell Preder (6), Travis Christenson and Bobby Musil (4), Tyler Collins. Kyle Bruggink (6), Luke Kaat and Tim Baumann. W-Preder 2-4. LBruggink. 2Bs-Sheboygan Falls, Adam Lorenz. Cedar Grove, Deron Koopmann. 3Bs-Sheboygan Falls, Musil.

Travis Christenson (3), Justin Laack and Tyler Collins. Zach Suchon and Brock Reichardt. W-Suchon. L-Christenson 4-5. 2Bs-Sheboygan Falls, Laack. Plymouth, Greg Rhude, Trevor Thiel (2), Anthony Simonowski. HRs-Sheboygan Falls, Eric Kluz.