Princeville defeats Orion baseball in regional semifinals

Princeville downed Orion 4-0 in baseball regional semifinals on Wednesday, May 19, in Annawan.

The Chargers twice had Travis Anderson on third base but could not bring him home.

In the bottom of the first, Princeville’s Ted Moreland threw a lot of balls. After striking out the leadoff hitter on a full-count pitch, he gave up a double to Anderson.

Moreland then walked Jake Johnson on another 3-2 pitch. After Moreland threw two balls to clean-up hitter James Matson, catcher Bryce Downie allowed a passed ball. Anderson went to third and Johnson to second.

Matson walked on the fourth straight ball to load the bases with only one out.

But the next batter popped up to the second baseman, and the batter after that hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Matson at second.

In the top of the second, Charger hurler Payton Keller got a lot of strikes over the plate.

The first batter grounded out to shortstop Drew West, who threw to first baseman Jared Simmer for the out.

Princeville put the next two batters on. A pitch hit Josh Wineinger, and Miles Colwell singled into centerfield. When Orion outfielder Matson threw to Trevor Peterson trying to get the lead runner at third, Colwell went to second.

With two runners in scoring position, Keller struck out Nate Berg on three straight pitches.

Keller got out of the jam by inducing the next batter to ground out to second baseman Kyle Hoffman.

Orion had baserunners in the bottom of the frame.

Kyle Solomonson blasted the first pitch he saw for a single, only to get caught in a rundown between first and second.

The next batter struck out, but Hoffman walked on four straight pitches.

Orion’s fourth batter of the frame lined out to Moreland.

During the top of the third, Princeville’s leadoff hitter popped up to Peterson at third.

Keller whiffed Blake Momenteller on a full-count pitch.

Then Travis Hohenberry singled into right field, and Downie drove the ball into center right for a base hit.

Patrick Devries hit the ball sharply, but first baseman Simmer dove to his right and caught the liner to end the half-inning.

Leading off for the Chargers in the bottom of the third, Anderson punched a grounder into the outfield for a single.

Johnson grounded out to the pitcher, but he moved Anderson over.

Matson put the ball in play to the second baseman, who threw him out. Meanwhile, Anderson went to third only to have the next batter struck out.

The Princes scratched out a run in the fourth. Their first three batters put the ball in play, but after the Chargers erased two runners on fielder’s choices, the Princes were left with a man on first. Keller walked the next batter, and Devon Reed beat out an infield single to load the bases.

Momenteller then singled in Nate Berg for a 1-0 lead.

The Chargers went down in order in the bottom of the fourth. After the first batter struck out, Solomonson hit the ball hard into right field only to have it caught.

The next batter grounded out to the third baseman.

To start off the fifth inning, Downie reached on an error. But Keller set down the next two batters on strikes, and he got the fourth batter to ground out to Peterson.

With one out in the Charger half of the fifth, Hougland singled into left field. He was thrown out stealing, and the next batter grounded out to end the inning.

The first two Princes to bat in the sixth hit the ball to Hougland in left field. He caught the second ball as he slid forward on the grass.

Next up was leadoff hitter Reed, who singled into left center. But Nik Potter fouled out to Peterson at third.

The Chargers went down 1-2-3 in the sixth, on a fly out to right field, a foul out to third base and a strike out.

In the seventh, Princeville had the heart of the order coming to bat. Hohenberry, Downie and Devries all singled and scored.

Down to their last three outs in the bottom of the frame, the Chargers popped up to first base, grounded out to the shortstop and struck out.

Orion managed only three base hits, two by Anderson and one by Hougland.

Meanwhile, Princeville belted out nine hits.

Keller pitched into the seventh inning before yielding the ball to Matson. Absorbing the loss, Keller’s record slipped to 8-3.
Orion had one error and Princeville, none.

The Chargers finished the season at 22-8.