The Tigers celebrate after an Elliott Sidlo walkoff SAC. Courtesy: Paul Julian
On Tuesday, the Tiger baseball team hosted the Platteview Trojans at Duncan Field. Coming off a 1-1 showing in a triangular against Elkhorn and Elkhorn North on Saturday, the Tigers were eager to secure a top-10 win at home. Senior John (Ashton) Hawes took the mound, and he did not disappoint. Hawes threw six innings, allowing just two hits and one run — the only run of the game for the Trojans. He also issued four walks but balanced that with four strikeouts. The Tiger defense played well behind him, making key plays all over the field, including Brody Dreher gunning down a runner at the plate to end the third inning.
On the offensive side, the Tigers struggled. They managed just three hits in the game but had several opportunities with runners in scoring positions. Despite this, the Tigers couldn’t capitalize and were unable to bring anyone home, though they continued to fight throughout.
After Hawes completed his impressive six innings, sophomore Peyton Drake took the mound. Drake threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out two. With two runners on and two outs, head coach Blake Marquardt made a move and brought in senior Eli Schneider. Schneider delivered, getting the third out of the inning and sending the Tigers to the bottom of the seventh, down 1-0, with three outs left to work with.
In the bottom of the seventh, Adam Rutt got things started with an infield single down the third base side. Freshman Clayten Arlt pinch-hit for senior Isaiah Shaw and did his job, drawing a walk and putting himself on first as the potential winning run. Marquardt elected to courtesy run sophomore Trindyn Degodt for Rutt and pinch-run sophomore Brennan Criss for Arlt. Senior Royer DeLoera then stepped up and laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing the winning run to second and the tying run to third with just one out.
The Tigers are known for their leadership and experience, with seven seniors in the starting lineup and even more in the dugout. With that in mind, senior Elliott Sidlo stepped into the left-handed batter’s box, hoping to have a big moment. On a 1-1 count, Sidlo executed a flawless bunt to the first-base side, sacrificing himself to tie the game. The Trojan first baseman attempted to throw the ball to third to catch Criss, but the throw was low and got past the third baseman. This allowed Criss to get up and race home, giving the Tigers a 2-1 victory — their third home win of the young season.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 5-3 and will travel to face the Seward Bluejays on Tuesday night.
