STARTING PITCHER … Edgerton starting pitcher Kaden Kennerk goes into foul territory to snag a popup.
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
EDGERTON (March 25, 2024) – It was a matchup of two teams that reached the district finals in their respective divisions to open the season in Edgerton on Monday night.
The Bulldogs got a solid performance on the mound by Kaden Kennerk and used a four spot in the fifth inning for a 5-2 win to begin the 2024 campaign.
Archbold rung the bell first as Stephen Diller started the season with a leadoff double to left field and would score two batters later on a groundout by Jack Hurst for an early 1-0 lead.
Edgerton would get the run back in the bottom of the inning as Archbold starter Zach Short walked the first three hitters he faced to load the bases.
After retiring the next two Bulldogs on a strikeout and popout, a wild pitch by Short scored Braden Leppelmeier who walked to start the frame to tie the game at 1-1.
Archbold regained the lead in the fourth with Mason Siegel doubling to left field to start the inning before eventually going to third on a passed ball with one out.
Jett Baun would then lay down a sacrifice to the third baseman Cory Herman and Siegel scored on the putout to give the Streaks a 2-1 lead.
A walk to Herman and a double to left by Noah Weaver started the fifth for Edgerton as Herman scored on the two bagger to tie the game 2-2.
Edgerton went back ahead after some small ball with Caden Leppelmeier bunting and reaching on an error which allowed Weaver to score to make it 3-2.
Following an Archbold pitching change that saw Jayden Seiler now on the hill for the Bluestreaks, after a walk and a strikeout, Jackson Flower singled to right and an Archbold error on the play brought home another run for the Bulldogs.
A single to center by Kellen Sanchez was next for Edgerton to score Kennerk, but Flower was cut down trying to advance to third and Sanchez was out at second for a double play to end the inning.
Archbold threatened in the sixth by putting two runners on with one out, but Elijah Martin in relief of Kennerk would get a strikeout and groundout to end the inning.
Kennerk tossed 5 1/3 innings to get the win as he allowed just two runs (1 earned) on four hits with Martin allowing just one hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
ARCHBOLD 100 100 0 – 2 5 2
EDGERTON 100 040X – 5 7 0
Records: Archbold 0-1, Edgerton 1-0
WINNING PITCHER: Kennerk (5.1 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 0 strikeouts, 2 walks) Other: Martin
LOSING PITCHER: Short (4 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, 4 strikeouts, 6 walks) Other: Seiler
LEADING HITTERS: (Archbold) Diller – double; Seiler – 2 singles; Siegel – double, single; (Edgerton) Weaver – double, RBI; Sanchez – 2 singles
