On Friday, July 1, Wagner’s 16U team traveled to Chamberlain for one game at Grieg Field.

For the second game in a row Wagner’s bats were quiet as we would collect only two hits on the night, one each by Colby Krcil and Ted Slaba, and get blanked by a score of 4-0.

Corbin Carda started on the mound and lasted two innings. He pitched a one-two-three first inning but then had some control issues in the second as he would hit three, walk three, and give up one two-run single to account for all four of Chamberlain’s runs. Javian Pesicka would pitch the next three innings and he would hold Chamberlain scoreless on two hits and a walk while striking out two. Carlin Hopkins pitched the final inning, shutting them down while giving up no hits, walking one, and striking one out.

To note, Wagner’s scheduled home games for the 16U team on July 11 and 13 will not be played on those days due to our 14U team playing their region tournament at Dakota Valley during that time. The dates and places of the 16U games are yet to be determined.

On Wednesday, July 6, Wagner’s Post 7319 Teeners traveled to Freeman to take on the Sticks in a doubleheader. The 14U team led off and played one of their best games of the year in capturing a 5-2 win. We would cycle through four pitchers in this game to limit usage before their region tournament in Dakota Valley July 11-13.

Javian Pesicka would start and go two innings giving up no runs on one hit while striking out two. The ball would then be handed to Brady Cournoyer who also went two scoreless innings while giving up one hit, striking out two, and walking one. Frank Soukup would take the mound in the 5th inning. He would go an inning and a third giving up two runs, one of which was earned, on one hit while walking three. Preston McFayden would then come on and retire the two batters he faced to earn the save.

At the plate Wagner was led by Pesicka and Soukup who both tallied two hits. Soukup would drive in two with a double while Pesicka would score two runs. Trasin Dilts had the only other Wagner hit. He would drive in one run and also score a run. Malaki Segura would drive in a run with a sacrifice fly. Malaki also made a couple of nice catches on pop fouls behind home plate. Ky Arpan would score one run and finished the game by making a nice catch in right field.

The 16U boys would earn themselves a 12-1 victory though it took them a while to get going. They would draw 10 walks in the first four innings but left 10 men on base, scoring only once on a bases loaded walk to Colby Krcil. Things would finally open up in the 5th inning with some help from the Freeman defense. After a groundout to lead off the inning, the next three batters would reach via the walk. An error would then plate a run. Soukup and Brady Cournoyer would come through with back-to-back RBI singles. After another error, Corbin Carder roped an RBI double to the left-center field gap scoring two. Carter Cournoyer and Carlin Hopkins would finish the inning by hitting two-run doubles.

Matt Link would pitch 4.2 innings giving up the one run on six hits while walking four and striking out eight. Ted Slaba would come on to throw one pitch and induce a pop-up to end the game.

On Thursday, July 7, Gregory’s teeners came to Wagner for a doubleheader. Wagner would lose the 14U game by a count of 12-3. A faulty defense really hurt the home team as 10 of the 12 runs Gregory scored would be unearned. Preston McFayden started the game. He went three innings giving up six runs, two of which were earned, on three hits and a walk while striking out one. Malaki Segura then came on to pitch 1.2 innings. He would give up six unearned runs on five hits while walking two and striking out one. Frank Soukup pitched to one batter and got him to ground out to short.

Soukup would continue to swing a hot bat as he collected two hits and scored two runs. Javian Pesicka, Malaki Segura, and Trasin Dilts would also have a hit apiece for Wagner.

This 14U squad will be in Dakota Valley on Monday (and hopefully Tuesday) to compete in their region tournament. They will face Vermillion in the first contest. Wagner enters the region tournament with a record of 8-10.

In the 16U game Wagner would claim a 9-3 victory. Carter Cournoyer toed the slab for Wagner and he would last 5.2 innings giving up two runs, one being earned, on four hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and Carter would strike out eleven. Ted Slaba would then come in to finish things up. He went 1.1 innings giving up one earned run on one hit while walking one and striking one batter out.

Frank Soukup, Carlin Hopkins, and Corbin Carda would each get two hits this game, with Soukup driving in two with a double and Hopkins driving in one. Slaba, Colby Krcil, and Brady Cournoyer would each add a hit. Wagner would collect nine walks on the night with five of those runners eventually crossing the plate.

The 16U team has four regular season games left with their next one being July 15 in Plankinton. They will host their region tournament July 25-27.