Weiser beats Fruitland in 10 innings to earn trip to state

This past week, the Weiser Wolverines played in three tough games during the SRV District Tournament to punch their ticket for the 3A State Championships.
 The Wolverines faced the Fruitland Grizzlies on Tuesday, May 7.
 The Wolverines had 5 runs on 8 hits and recorded 4 RBIs in the game, while Fruitland had 7 runs from 16 hits and 6 RBIs.
 Weiser started off the night a little slow, allowing Fruitland to score one run in the first inning and the second inning.
 In the third inning, it was Weiser’s turn to score one run, but it was back and forth from there.
 Fruitland scored one more in the fourth inning, and four in the fifth inning, while Weiser was able to add one run in the fifth and three more in the sixth inning.  
 Weiser couldn’t keep the momentum going into the seventh ending the game 7-5 and took its first loss in the district tournament.
 Highlights included Brody von Brethorst with a double for the night and an RBI, while Kooper von Brethorst went two for three with an RBI. Another big hitter for the night was Brett Spencer, who went two for four during the game.
 Weiser had a battery of pitchers for the evening. Ray Calley pitched the first four innings, allowing 11 hits and striking out three batters. Tyler Pope came in and couldn’t get the Grizzly offense stopped, so Brady Edwards came into finish the game for Weiser.
Weiser vs. Parma
May 8
 Jarret Mink started out on the mound for the Wolverines and went five innings, allowing only two runs on five hits and struck out two batters.
 The Wolverines opened up strong against the Parma Panthers recording five runs in the first inning and four in the second. Weiser held Parma to just two runs and scored an additional five in the fifth inning to end the game with a score of 12-2.
 The Wolverines earned 10 hits for the game with multiple players adding multiple hits, including Tyler Pope, Willy Shirts, Logan Wood, and Brett Spencer. Each of these players added two hits to the game’s total.
 Weiser had great offense and defense for the evening and it was one of those games where everything came together at the same time.
Weiser vs. Fruitland
May 8
 After the win against Parma, Weiser had one final game to play against the Fruitland Grizzlies. Weiser had two things going for them with the baseball gods.
 It is difficult at best for teams to play three days in a row, unless you have a MLB team with a pitching rotation. Weiser doesn’t necessarily have that, but one unspoken rule in Weiser baseball is that every kid has to be able to throw the ball; not pitch, but throw the ball.
 Weiser has more depth in the battery of pitchers than most teams in the league, so a third day straight on the mound was welcomed.
 The second thing going for the Wolverines is that it is truly difficult to beat a team three times. Weiser has beaten Fruitland once in the season, but before this game Fruitland had beaten Weiser twice.     
 On the mound for Weiser was left-hander Willy Shirts. The Wolverines started out slow as did the Grizzlies with no scoring in the first two innings. Then the Grizzlies started creeping. They scored one run in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
 No one scored in the sixth inning, but then Weiser responded with three runs scoring in the seventh to tie the game. With one out in the top of the seventh, Logan Wood hit a hard ground ball and reached first on an error by the shortstop.
 Kooper von Brethorst came to the plate and hit a double over the left fielder’s head, scoring Logan Wood with his exceptional speed. Brett Spencer traded places with von Brethorst on second base on a fly ball again over the left fielder’s head.
 Weiser collected its second out on a fly out to center field and then Jarret Mink got up to the plate and reached first on an error by the center fielder. This costly error tied the game with Spencer scoring. Weiser switched pitching after Willy Shirts pitched a solid six innings for his team.
 Jayden Mink came to the mound for Weiser and ended up holding Fruitland during the bottom of the seventh inning to force the game into extra innings. The bottom of the seventh wasn’t without excitement.
 After a long fly ball to Logan Wood in centerfield, Fruitland tried to tag up and score a run, but Weiser wouldn’t have it. On a dime, Logan Wood threw the ball in to Brody von Brethorst at home plate and Brody tagged the runner out.
 In the eighth inning, Weiser and Fruitland both went three up, three down to end the inning. Top of the ninth, Logan Wood reached first on an error by the second baseman, followed by Kooper von Brethorst with a hard single past the first baseman and into right field. Wood advanced to third on the play.
 With runners on first and third, Brett Spencer hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field, which scored Logan Wood. Weiser was up 4-3 going into the bottom of nine. Fruitland answered with another run in the bottom and things were not looking up for the Wolverines when a Grizzly hit a line shot to Kooper von Brethorst at shortstop and beat the runner on a tag up to second base for a double play.
 The wheels fell off the Fruitland wagon in the top of the 10th inning, when Weiser added to their score, bringing the game to an 8-4 lead.
 In the bottom of the tenth inning, Weiser struck out the first batter, and then allowed two singles to get on base before recording the second out to Logan Wood at centerfield. Jayden Mink then struck out the next batter for the third out and a celebration.
 Weiser ended up second place in the district, earning hardware for their team and learning that giving up is never an option.
 Looking at stats for the game, both teams had 14 hits on the night, but Weiser recorded 7 RBIs to Fruitland’s 4. Weiser utilized two pitchers, while Fruitland had to throw four pitchers. Weiser also had multiple players again with multiple hits, including Kooper von Brethorst, who went 4 for 6 at the plate and freshman Brett Spencer didn’t disappoint, going 5 for 6 with a sac fly.
 Head coach Bowe von Brethorst said he is excited about their state prospects.
 “If this team plays the way they have the past two games, we will be contenders. These young men have come together and answered every challenge that has come their way and I am proud of them.”     
 Weiser will be looking ahead to state this week where they open up on Thursday, May 16, at 4 p.m. in Idaho Falls. They will face Kimberly in the state opener.
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
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