FENNIMORE — Fennimore senior Maguire Fitzgerld threw a five-inning no-hitter and the Golden Eagles pounded out 10 hits in a 10–0 five-inning victory over visiting Southwestern Friday evening.
Fitzgerald was scheduled to come out of the game in the sixth inning after throwing 63 pitches though five innings with Fennimore holding a commanding lead, but junior Will Ahnen’s two-out, two-run double ended the game via the 10-run rule and gave Fitzgerald his first career no-hitter.
“I didn’t even know he had it going and he was coming out the next inning had we not scored those two runs to end the game,” said Fennimore head coach Brent Sheckler. “I didn’t think about the no-hitter because there was a play earlier in the game that we initially scored a hit, but we went back and changed it after we thought about. They hit one down to Teagan Napp at third base. He made the play but threw it in the dirt to first base and we weren’t able to scoop it.”
Fitzgerald (2–0) struck out five and walked two and allowed only two base runners in the game.
Ahnen finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a solo homer in the first inning, three RBI and three runs scored. Senior shortstop Trevor Wanek went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Junior Derek Turben went 2-for-3 and sophomore Warren Adam drove in a pair of runs.
“Maguire is pitching just like I expected him to,” said Sheckler. “His velocity is up and he has been dominant. Will looked really good as well in his only outing against Iowa–Grant. They had a couple flair hits to right field. I would put those two up against anyone in the conference, but we have to get the rest of the guys some innings and inexperience.”
Ahnen (1–0) picked up the five-inning complete game victory in Fennimore’s 17–2 win at Iowa–Grant last Tuesday. He struck out 10, walked three and allowed just one earned run on three hits.
Senior Derek Kephart went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI in the win.
Wanek (2-for-3), Maguire Fitzgerald (2-for-3), Teagan Napp (2-for-3) and MacCoy Fitzgerald (2-for-3) each had multiple hits in the win.
Fennimore (3–3, 3–0 SWAL) fell to 0–3 in non-conference games with a 16–6 loss at Lancaster Monday afternoon.
Junior Dawson Bowen went 4-for-5 with two triples, a home run, seven RBI and four runs scored to lead the Flying Arrows (3–1).
Sophomore Hayden Knapp went 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored.
“Lancaster is a potential regional opponent and a neighboring rival,” said Sheckler. “Even though they aren’t in conference that is a game we want to win. We held Maguire and Will back from pitching to save them for Tuesday night’s conference game at Mineral Point, but give Lancaster credit, they are a good hitting team and they took it to us.
“But our timely hitting in our three non-conference losses has been atrocious. We can not get a timely hit to save our lives. A single with runners on first and third is more valuable than a solo homer and as a team we have to understand that. We hit the ball well Monday night, but we just didn’t capitalize on all our opportunities. We can’t be content scoring one run when we have an inning where we could have scored five runs.”
Kephart went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI to lead Fennimore in defeat. Noah James also had two hits in the loss.
NEXT: Fennimore traveled to Mineral Point Tuesday afternoon and will now travel to River Valley on Monday before hosting Cuba City on Tuesday.
Fennimore 17, Iowa–Grant 2
(from Tuesday, April 2 @ Livingston)
Fennimore 384 02 — 17 15 2
Iowa–Grant 002 00 — 2 3 5
Leading hitters — F: Trevor Wanek 2x3, Macoy Fitzgerald 2x3, Maguire Fitzgerald 2x2, Derek Kephart 3x3, Teagan Napp 2x3. 2B — F: Magurie Fitzgerald, Kephart, Napp 2.
W — Will Ahnen (1–0, 5IP, 3H, 2R, 1ER, 10K, 3BB). L — Carter Christianson (0–2, 1IP, 4H, 5R, 5ER, 1K, 3BB).
Fennimore 10, Southwestern 0
(from Friday, April 5 @ Fennimore)
Southwestern 000 00 — 0 0 1
Fennimore 106 12 — 10 10 1
Leading hitters — F: Trevor Wanek 2x2, Will Ahnen 3x4, Derek Turben 2x3. 2B — F: Ahnen 2, Derek Kephart, Wanke 2.
W — Maguire Fitzgerald (2–0, 5IP, 0H, 0R, 5K, 2BB). L — Pearson Kephart (2IP, 5H, 5R, 5ER, 4K, 2BB).
Lancaster 16, Fennimore 6
(from Monday, April 8 @ Lancaster)
Fennimore 220 020 — 6 9 2
Lancaster 200 536 — 16 14 3
Leading hitters — F: Derek Kephart 2x4, Noah James 2x3; L: Hayden Knapp 3x3, Dawson Bowen 4x5, Caden Straka 3x4, Ryan Gallinger 2x3. 2B — F: James, Kephart; L: Straka. 3B — L: Bowen 2. HR — L: Bowen.
W — Cole Kreul (6 IP, 9H, 6R, 3ER, 4K, 0BB). L — Boston Flannery (0–1, 3.1IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 2K, 1BB).
