Lyle/Pacelli Athletics baseball team routs Spring Grove 21-8 in 5 innings in Section 1A baseball tournament

After receiving a bye in the first round of the Section 1A baseball tournament, the top-seeded Lyle/Pacelli Athletics met Southeast Conference foe and No. 8 seed Spring Grove in the tournament quarterfinals at Dick Seltz Field at Riverland Community College Saturday afternoon.  In the third meeting of the season between the two teams, the Lions were looking for an upset by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, but the Athletics showed why they are the top seed by roaring back with nine runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take a lead they would not relinquish in a 21-8, 5-inning victory.

The Athletics jumped on Spring Grove starting pitcher Caleb Griffin in the bottom of the first by using their bats and three Lions errors to score eight unearned runs in taking the 9-5 lead, and LP did not let their foot off the gas as they tallied five more runs in the second, one in the third and six in the fourth on their way to the win.

Pitcher and centerfielder Hunter VaDeer led the Lyle/Pacelli offensive attack in the game by going 3 for 4 with two doubles, five RBI’s and a run scored, Mac Nelson was 2 for 4 with a double, three RBI’s and two runs scored, Isaac Nelsen was also 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, Landon Meyer was hit by a pitch three times in a game that saw Jake Truckenmiller of the Athletics also hit three times by a pitch, and the Athletics as a team beaned a total of 11 times, and Meyer was able to knock in two runs and score four more, Truckenmiller was credited with an RBI and scored two runs without the benefit of a hit, Dane Schara went 1 for 2 with three runs scored, Trey Anderson went 2 for 3 with three RBI’s and two runs scored, Jack Klingfus picked up an RBI and scored two runs and Logyn Brooks scored three runs in the win.

Isaac Nelsen, who was the second of three pitchers to take the mound in the game for the Athletics was credited with the win as he pitched 2 and 2/3rds of an inning and gave up no runs on two hits, striking out five and walking one.

With the win, the Athletics are now 19-1 on the season, and Lyle/Pacelli will now play No. 4 seed United South Central in the tournament semifinals, with first pitch at Dick Seltz Field at 5 p.m. Monday.  You’ll hear the game live on AM 1480 KAUS, with the pre-game show set to start at 4:50 p.m.  The Rebels edged No. 12 seed Mabel-Canton 4-3 Saturday to advance, while the other Section 1A semi-final will pit No. 2 seed Southland, who defeated No. 10 seed Rushford-Peterson 10-4 Saturday against three-time defending section champion and No. 6 seed Hayfield, who knocked off No. 3 seed Fillmore Central/Lanesboro Saturday by a score of 9-6.  Southland and Hayfield will meet at 5 p.m. Monday on Field 2 at the Riverland College baseball complex.