On Monday, July 18, Wagner’s 16U teener team traveled north of I-90 into McCook County to take on the Salem Cubs. This was a pitcher’s duel as Carter Cournoyer for Wagner and Carter Randall for the Cubs made quick work of most batters. Unfortunately for Wagner, Salem ended up with a bit more offense as they would come out on top by a score of 2-1.

Cournoyer would pitch five innings giving up the two runs, one of which was earned, on five hits while striking out three and walking two. Brother Brady would then come on to pitch one frame and he set the side down in order while striking out one.

Salem’s pitching proved too much for Wagner as they would hold Wagner without a baserunner until Hunter Loeffler’s single with two out in the 5th inning. Hunter would steal second and then score on a single by Colby Krcil accounting for Wagner’s lone run. The only other batters to reach for Wagner were Matt Link, who singled, and Frank Soukup who drew a walk.

Wagner would then travel to Tyndall on Wednesday, July 20, for their final tune-up before hosting the region tournament.

Ted Slaba started on the mound and was hit hard by a good Tyndall squad. Ted would pitch four innings giving up nine runs, four of which were earned, on eleven hits and one hit batsman. Ted would strike out three Tyndall batters. Brady Cournoyer came on in relief. He would give up one earned run in two innings of work. He gave up one hit while walking a batter and hitting one.

The bats were mostly silent once again in this game for Wagner. Slaba, Link, Preston McFayden, and Corbin Carda each had a hit with Link’s being a double. Carda would drive in two runs with his hit while Link would drive in one with a bases loaded walk as Wagner would fall by a count of 10-3.