St. Peter nine downs Cleveland 7-4
Posted July 1, 2013
Submitted by Richard Rohlfing, St. Peter Herald
Besides a couple of rainouts, the Cleveland Spiders have made the six-mile trek to take on St. Peter during each of the past 17 summers.
The games are typically competitive, but with the exception of one, St. Peter has always come out on top. Friday’s matchup between the Highway 99 foes was typical, as the Saints downed the Spiders, this time 7-4 in non-league amateur baseball action.
“It’s a friendly rivalry,” said Saints manager Tom Lacina, who spends his days working beside Spider manager Mike Krenik.
The Saints opened the scoring when Ryan Wenner walked, moved to second when Mike Enz was hit by a pitch, and advanced to third when Cody Weingartz hit into a fielder’s choice. Wenner scored after Andy Schroeder reached first on an error. Weingartz scored when a Ty Kaus base hit caromed past a Spider outfielder.
An inning later, the Saints added another run when Shea Roehrkasse led off with a double and scored on a Seth Wenner single. Schroeder started the next inning with a double and scored on a single by Jesse Munsterman to put the Saints up 4-0.
But the Spiders came back in the fifth to knot the contest. Jared Roberts reached first on an error. Roberts got a free pass after Chris Thiel, Garett Rohlfing and Marcus Manser all walked. Josh Plonsky followed with the Spiders’ only hit of the night, a blooper to right that scored Thiel. Rohlfing crossed the plate on the same play after a Saint error. Manser scored on another infield error.
“Our infield defense has been pretty good, but it wasn’t tonight,” Lacina said.
But in the seventh, Enz once again got hit by a pitch. He scored the winning run on a Seth Wenner single and a Spider error. The Saints put the finishing touches on the triumph when Weingartz and Kaus each added a base hit and were helped out by two Spider miscues and a wild pitch.
In his fourth start of the season, Kaus went the distance for the Saints. He struck out 14 and walked three.
“He’s a battler,” Lacina said. “He didn’t throw one of his best games tonight, but a win’s a win.”
Robert started on the mound for Cleveland and gave up nine hits and walked two. He and was relived in the seventh by Jamie Mulvihill, who struck out two and allowed two hits.
The 5-9 Saints hosted Arlington Sunday. Still looking for its first win this season, Cleveland took on Wells on Sunday.
Photo by Richard Rohlfing: Winding up for a put-out attempt at first during the St. Peter’s 7-4 win at Veteran’s field on Friday is Saint third baseman Shea Roehrkasse. Behind him is shortstop Jesse Munsterman.
