GAME OF THE WEEK (May 2–May 8)

PREP BASEBALL: Shullsburg/Benton 10, Cuba City

CUBA CITY – Senior Nolan Strang did everything he could to secure a milestone for his head coach and father in Cuba City last Thursday.

N. Strang tossed four and a third scoreless innings and went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and two runs scored as the #4-ranked Shullsburg/Benton baseball team rolled over the host Cubans, 10-0, in non-conference action for head coach Tim Strang’s 300th career victory.

“I have definitely been blessed by having the opportunity to coach baseball at the high school level. The credit for the accomplishment needs to go to the hundreds of young men I have been able to coach. They are the ones who put in the hard work and dedication to make this program a success,” said Coach Strang, who currently holds a 302-228 career record in 26 seasons as head coach. “The game against Cuba City was particularly special for me because my son was on the mound for that win.”

The Miner-Zephyrs (16-1 overall) jumped into the lead with a four-run rally in the top of the second inning, going up 1-0 on a RBI-single by senior Nick Jansen and then adding three more runs on a base-clearing double by N. Strang.

The co-op tacked on an insurance run in the third, three more in the fourth and added two in the top of the fifth to go ahead 10-0.

N. Strang left the mound with one out in the home-half of the fifth, however he registered the final out of the game in his father’s 300th victory when he tracked down a deep fly ball hit by Cuba City senior Dylan Timmerman locked down the run-rule decision.

Jansen finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run, and senior Jacob Berendes chipped in with a double, a RBI and a run scored in the win. Sophomore Brandon Hoppman drove in two runs, while Brooks Tiedeman and Brad Goffinet each scored twice for the co-op.

Timmerman singled twice in the game to account for two of the Cubans’ three hits.

The Miner-Zephyrs (9-0 Six Rivers) extended their winning streak to 16 games after sweeping Monticello/Albany, 10-0 and 14-1, in a crossover doubleheader at MHS on Friday, May 3.

Senior Nathan Mowry (5-1) fired a four-hit shutout in the opener with no walks and 12 strikeouts and went 4-for-4 at the plate on the day with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored, while Tiedeman (1-0) surrendered one run over four innings with six Ks and no walks to earn the win in the nightcap while going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, five runs scored and two RBI for the co-op.

Senior Alex Wand was 3-for-5 on the day and drove in three runs in each game. Berendes went a combined 4-for-6 with a double, four RBI and four runs scored.

N. Strang went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and three runs, while Hoppman had two RBI in each game. Senior Griffin Wiegel had three hits and a RBI in game one, and junior Will Lawrence went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored in game two.

Over the last seven games, the Miner-Zephyrs have outscored their opponents, 99-5, and the team has allowed just 14 runs over their 17 games this season.

            “Hopefully we can keep rolling as a team and keep hitting the ball as well as we have been pitching and playing defense all season. Baseball has a way of making you humble quite quickly, but no matter what happens we are going to have fun and continue to enjoy this ride,” commented Coach Strang.

Shullsburg/Benton’s Six Rivers West game at Highland on Tuesday, May 30, was postponed and rescheduled for Monday, May 20, at 5 p.m.

The Miner-Zephyrs has upcoming Six Rivers games scheduled at home against Potosi/Cassville on Thursday, May 9 (5 p.m.), at home against #3-ranked Pecatonica in a crossover doubleheader on Friday, May 10 (4:30 p.m.), and at River Ridge on Tuesday, May 14 (5 p.m.).

Shulls/Bent…. 041  32 – 10  10  0

Cuba City…… 000  00 –   0    3  5

Leading Hitters: S/B– Nolan Strang 2x4, Alex Wand 2x2, Nick Jansen 2x3.  2B– Jacob Berendes, Jansen (2). CC– Dylan Timmerman 2x3.

WP- Strang (4.33 In, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K).

LP- Justin Hasken (4 In, 8 R, 8 ER, 10 H, 2 BB, 4 K).

At Cuba City, on Thursday, May 2

GAME ONE

Shulls/Bent….. 204  112 –  10  13  1

Mont/Albany… 000  000 –    0    4  2

Leading Hitters: S/B– Brooks Tiedeman 2x3, Jacob Berendes 2x4, Alex Wand 2x4, Griffin Wiegel 3x4. 2B– Tiedeman, Nolan Strang, Nathan Mowry, Wand, Brandon Hoppman. M/A– None.

WP- Nathan Mowry (6 In, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 12 K).

LP- Kelley (4 In, 6 R, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 0 K).

GAME TWO

Mont/Albany… 000  10 –   1    4  0

Shulls/Bent….. 446  0x – 14  15  1

Leading Hitters: M/A– None. S/B– Nolan Strang 2x2, Jacob Berendes 2x2, Nathan Mowry 3x3, Will Lawrence 2x2. 2B– Berendes, Mowry, Alex Wand, Lawrence.

WP- Brooks Tiedeman (4 In, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K).

LP- Anderson (1.33 In, 7 R, 7 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K).