PC Baseball Earns First Ever Victory

by Cy Siegert

Relief. That’s the feeling that best describes the way players, coaches, and fans of the Potosi-Cassville baseball squad felt after their first ever program victory against River Valley, Monday, May 13th. It was certainly a long time coming, after the PC team had previously been on an 18 game drought, looking for not only a victory, but answers as well. “Things got pretty difficult, not only were we winless, but struggling to have fun as well,” the senior shortstop Will Bierman claimed. “But, our team was able to reunite again as one, working together and communicating on what needed to be done to change things.” Things certainly did change for the PC Hitmen, as they turned things around and birthed a newfound motivation and drive to not only acquire a victory, but to just have some good old fashioned baseball fun while doing so.

“It definitely has been as fun as it’s ever been, if not definitely more,” Junior Outfielder Ty Dressler explained. Although, the teams first victory started off not like you’d expect, with the first inning-ending up in a 3-0 deficit. Another inning had passed, and not much got going for either team. The third inning began and the Potosi-Cassville Hitmen knew it was time to “get the sticks going”, as one would say. With a couple of hits and a walk here and there, the once-struggling team now found themselves with a one-run lead, with the score being 4-3. After that inning, the Hitmen gained more momentum on their side for the entirety of the game, although the game was far from over. Later down the stretch, the River Valley Baseball squad was able to tag in a couple more runs, regaining their lead, 5-4. As Junior First Basemen Brad Reynolds put it,  “We knew we weren’t running away with this one, Valley’s got a solid team”.

It was neck and neck, with both teams pitching two men on the mound, they knew this game was not only going to be won by runs scored, but also with grit. The 6th inning had come around, with the Potosi-Cassville being up one run, 7-6. The top of the inning had begun, with Senior Will Bierman on the mound finishing up the game, prior to senior Mason Infield pitching the first half of the games. Bierman struck out the first man, but the River Valley Blackhawks were able to get baserunners on. With two runners on 2nd and 3rd, the Blackhawks were able to get a man home, tying up the ballgame at 7 runs apiece. The bottom of the 6th came around, and again, the Hitmen knew, they needed to “get the sticks going”. The Hitmen managed to get a man on base, Ty Dressler, who stole his way around the bases. Bierman was now up to bat, with Dressler on 3rd. The pitch came in, and Will slapped it into the outfield, where it was caught for the 2nd out. But, thankfully for the Hitmen, being only the 2nd out, Dressler was able to tag up on the hit and make it to home plate, obtaining a one-run lead.

7th inning. Do or die for the Hitmen. All that was separating the once-winless team from a win, was three outs. And three outs they earned. The first came off of a strikeout by Bierman, and the second out came from a line drive hit fielded by Bierman, who then threw the batter out at first. Last but certainly not least, a fly ball was hit straight up into centerfield, where senior Alex Freese was waiting, as the ball gradually came down into his glove. Finally, the team was winless no more, and looking to end the season on a high note. As Alex Freese said with triumph, “This first win felt awesome, but we’re hungry to finish out the year with a couple more.”