Fremont, Nebraska – Two multi-run innings propelled the Casper Spuds to a 9-4 victory over Fremont in game one of the Independence League Baseball Association best-of-five Championship Series, Tuesday night, at Historic Moller Field.
After a scoreless first inning, The Spuds plated a run in the top of the second. Facing Fremont starter Robert O’Malley, Casper’s Wesley Flatt reached on a throwing error by Isaac Bonner at third, and Flatt advanced to second, with one out. Flatt stole third base, then scored on a wild pitch, to put Casper ahead, 1-0.
Fremont responded and tied the game in the bottom of the second. Parker Mooney led off the inning and singled off Casper starter Justin Estrada. Two batters later, Isaac Bonner drew a walk. Then, Dylan Brandenburg hit an rbi single, scoring Mooney, to make it 1-1.
The Spuds started to take control of the game in the top of the fourth. With one out, Josh Phillips singled. Then Chase Burke singled, to put runners on the corners. Burke stole second to put two runners in scoring position. The next batter, Wesley Flatt, hit a two-rbi double, scoring Phillips and Burke, to make it 3-1. Then, Chandler Stocking singled, plating Flatt, to make it a 4-1 Casper lead.
Fremont battled back and cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Cooper Fuchino singled. Then, Carter Sintek reached on a fielder’s choice, as Fuchino was forced out at second. The next batter, Parker Mooney, hit an Estada 2-0 pitch over the right field fence for a two-run home run, to make the score 4-3.
However, Casper put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth. Josh Phillips led off with a single. Then, Chase Burke reached on an error, putting runners at first and second. Two batters later, Chandler Stocking singled, scoring Phillips, to make it 5-3. Then, Matt Marsic singled, forcing Fremont to go to the bullpen and bring in Dylan Driessen to pitch. Two batters later, Elijah Reeves walked, then stole second. The next batter, Dylan Schlotterback, hit a two-rbi single. A pair of wild pitches brought two more runs across, and Casper led 9-3.
The Moo plated one run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Dylan Brandenburg singled. Then, Josh Blount drew a walk and Casper went to the bullpen, bringing in Armani Knipper. Fremont’s Jack Torosian was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice fly by Cooper Fuchino scored Dylan Brandenburg, but that concluded the scoring for the night.
Fremont threatened in the bottom of the ninth. Against reliever Brennan Daniel, The Moo’s Parker Mooney singled. Then, Connor Petersen drew a walk. Three batters later, Dylan Brandenburg reached on a fielder’s choice. However, Daniel struck out Josh Blount, swinging, for the final out of the game.
Casper (42-9) scored nine runs off eleven hits and committed one error. Fremont (33-20) had four runs off seven hits with two errors, but stranded fifteen baserunners.
Spuds starter Justin Estrada (4-0) earned the win. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up four runs off six hits, struck out three, walked five, gave up a home run and hit one batter. Armani Knipper pitched 0.2 innings, walked one and hit one batter. Levi Graham pitched 1.0 inning, struck out two, walked one and hit one batter. Brennan Daniel pitched 2.0 innings, giving up one hit, struck out two and walked one.
Fremont starter Robert O’Malley (4-2) took the loss. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up seven earned runs off eight hits, struck out two, had one wild pitch and hit one batter. Dylan Driessen pitched 3.2 innings, giving up one unearned run off three hits, struck out six, walked four and had three wild pitches.
Offensively for Casper, Dylan Schlotterback was 1-for-5 and drove in two runs. Josh Phillips was 2-for-5. Chase Burke also went 2-for-5. Wesley Flatt was 1-for-5 and had two rbi’s. Chandler Stocking was 2-for-4 and drove in two. Parker Burt was 2-for-4.
For Fremont, Cooper Fuchino was 1-for-3 and drove in one run. Parker Mooney was 3-for-4 with a two-run home run. Dylan Brandenburg was 2-for-5 with an rbi.
Game two of the ILB Championship Series is Wednesday night at Historic Moller Field. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.
