One inning unravels otherwise solid opening day for Peetz

As mostly clear skies and a warm sun greeted the first day of spring it was the perfect setting for the Peetz Bulldogs and Merino Rams to welcome the season with the schedule's first baseball game.

Unfortunately for the visiting 'Dogs the fifth inning got away from the young squad. The Rams went on to win a 12-3 non-league contest on Thursday.

Before the game unravelled in the fifth, Peetz pitcher Bradey Holtz was sailing along with a 3-2 lead. He threw mostly fastballs, mixing in a diet of knuckle balls to keep the Rams off balance.

"I was feeling good once we got past the first inning or two," said Holtz who yielded just one hit in his final two innings. "The knuckle ball was working pretty good. I don't think they knew what it was."

As the leadoff hitter Holtz was also effective. He went 3 of 4 at the plate, including a roped triple in the seventh and opened the game with a single. But he was soon erased in the first after being caught trying to steal over a wet and and sticky basepath.

After the Bulldogs sent just three batters to the plate in their half of the first, the Rams were first to score in the bottom of the inning.

Connor Fiscus, cousin of Peetz second baseman Josh Fiscus, scored the Rams run. He reached on a walk to open the inning and was moved to second as Aris Shino was hit by Holtz. Merino's Kix Conger was then eliminated on a lazy pop to Garrett Roelle at first. Trey Nestor was able to drive Fiscus home on a slow grounder to the mound after the Rams pulled off a double steal.

Though Nestor fanned three Bulldogs batters in the second inning, Logan Vach managed to score the tying run anyway. Following his single to open the second, he was moved around the bases on wild pitches.

A similar fate befell the Bulldogs in the bottom of the second when Merino was able to recapture a one-run lead. While Holtz fanned two batters in the frame, he also walked a pair that were able to advance on errant pitches.

Peetz took the lead, however, with two runs in their half of the third on a rally started by Josh Fiscus. Fiscus, who suffered from back soreness even throughout his successful basketball season, is now largely left in a full-time bunting role.

"It's been pretty sore so I'm just trying to get on base and advance runners by bunting and helping the team out any way I can," said Fiscus.

With one out, the 'Dogs second baseman laid down a perfect bunt to reach first. He then quickly stole second, though his slide nearly came up short over the slow ground. Holtz followed, spanking a single up the middle sending Fiscus to third. Not long after Holtz swiped second, the baserunners were sent home on Garrett Roelle's two RBI single.

"We have a lot of good hitters here and I'm encouraged," said Roelle. "Sure we have a lot to work on, but that's natural this time of year."

While Holtz held the 3-2 lead over the next two innings, trouble came to the Bulldogs in the fifth. After Holtz was removed, freshman Cody Wilson and junior Roelle followed him on the hill. The Rams took advantage of the inexperience on the mound and blew the game open by sending 13 men to the plate in a 9-run inning.

"We didn't want Bradey to throw too many pitches this early in the season," said the Bulldogs Head Coach Darrin Fehringer. "Despite a rough start I liked what I saw from Cody. I still like him as our number-two pitcher.

"After a few batters they were just finding holes everywhere, they weren't really hitting the ball very hard. In fact we hit the ball harder than they did but we were hitting it right at them," concluded Fehringer.

With Holtz the only returning pitcher from last season's team, Fehringer recognizes it will take a little time for his new pitchers to feel comfortable. He was also satisfield with Roelle's work on the hill. The junior managed to pitch solidly after the fifth inning despite it being his first experience pitching at the high school level.

Garrett's brother Brian Roelle will also see time on the mound.

The Bulldogs face a big challenge on Tuesday when they travel to Iliff, Colo. to meet Caliche at 4 p.m. The CSHAA has the Buffaloes ranked second in its pre-season rankings in Class 1A.

Peetz also received votes in the poll.

Linescore

Peetz 012 000 0 - 3

Merino 110 090 1 - 12

WP - Arias Shino

LP - Cody Wilson

Extra-Base Hits

3b - Bradey Holtz

RBI

Garrett Roelle 2