WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Trojans were unable to finish their run scoring opportunities against Pipestone Area on Monday night, losing to the Arrows by a score of 8-2.
The Trojans collected base runners and were even with the Arrows with eight hits apiece. Tucker Brandner started on the mound for WHS and pitched four innings. Brandner uncharacteristically struggled and worked up a high pitch count. He allowed seven hits, six earned runs and five walks.
Brandner was replaced by Cooper McCoy, who pitched the final three innings. McCoy allowed one hit and one walk and no runs.
The Trojans had their chances to work a way back into the game. WHS loaded the bases with the bottom of their order and had nobody out. But two strikeouts looking, and soft contact kept the Trojans from taking advantage. The Trojans had several strikeouts where they did not swing at the third strike, which frustrated WHS coach Skyler Wenninger.
“Obviously it is a little frustrating to everyone. It is more frustrating when we just don’t swing the bat,” said Wenninger. “We struck out five out of the six times we had the bases loaded, or guys on base (in scoring position). You can’t score runs that way. You have got to be able to be aggressive and swing the bat.”
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The Trojans' other scoring chance came early, but not without gaffes to slow them down. Triston Sauerbrei, hearing the roar of the crowd, played heroics and tried to stretch a tattooed double into a triple. He was thrown out well before he started his slide.
Mason Schutz, in the subsequent at bat, hit a ball through Arrows’ shortstop Merrick Heidebrink, and had Sauerbrei stayed on second he would have had a good chance to score.
Brandner’s outing was not helped by his defense. The Trojans lost three fly balls in the sun.
“It doesn’t really help when we don’t make plays behind him (Brandner),” said Wenninger. “We dropped fly balls, we had other errors. Little things that we can improve on.”
McCoy and Ethan Meyer paced the Trojans offense with two hits apiece. McCoy hit a triple and scored a run on a sacrifice hit by Sauerbrei. Tucker Brandner hit a double and scored a run for WHS. Cade Grimmius hit a double.
The Arrows' leading batters were Landon Quist, Jackson Melcher, Connor Holt and Troy Clark-Chaulsett with two hits apiece. Quist scored three runs, Melcher scored two.
Kellen Johnson started on the mound for the Arrows. He pitched five innings, allowing six hits, three walks and nine strikeouts.
Quist pitched two innings. He gave up one earned run on two hits and no walks.
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The Trojans play Fairmont on Tuesday at the Worthington Middle School field.
Pipestone Area 202 400 0 – 8 8 0
Worthington 100 000 1 – 2 8 1
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