Hunter Larson struck out 10 in five innings Friday as the Eagles shut out Weston in a non-conference game played at the Woodside Sports Complex in Mauston to remain undefeated on the season at 15-0. Mason Durst paced Barneveld offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Leam Genrich added two hits, including a double.
Genrich’s double in the third inning with two outs put Barneveld up 2-0 as he scored Mason Haesler and Durst who both singled.
Barneveld erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early. Genrich and Haesler were both on base when Durst’s single scored both runners. Larson was hit by a pitch, and with runners now on the corners, Durst would score on a passed ball allowing Hunter to reach third base. He then scored on a passed ball making it 6-0.
According to Game Changer, after back-to-back singles by Landon Beicher and Ty Thousand and a walk to Aaden Bomkamp, the bases were loaded. Brigham Schauff, pinch running for Beicher, scored on a passed ball which advanced the other base runners. Then Thousand scored on a passed ball. Genrich reached base with an error with his ground ball, which scored Bomkamp making it 9- 0. Durst ultimately singled home Genrich to close out the game 10-0.
Barneveld Head Coach Lance Schmitz likes the maturity of his team and how they are playing, but mindful to keep his team grounded as the Eagles are now 15-0 in the season. “We’re mature, this is the most seniors I’ve ever had in 28 years of coaching. To have six seniors and all of them start and they’re all accomplished players, it changes things at D4 very quickly,” he said. “I’ve done this for a long time, you’re as good as the game that you played. This is the one sport where the #14 team can beat the #1 seed. And unfortunately, I’ve been on the back side of one of those, I know that, so I just try to keep my boys grounded and I’m sure they would say that.”
On Larson’s ten strike outs in five innings, “In my opinion, Hunter is the glue to our team, and he has played in some awfully big games in his four years with me. He’s been a three-time all-conference player which is a very, very difficult feat to accomplish. He just keeps impressing me with not only his ability, but his character is top-notch first class.”
“Ty Thousand has had a phenomenal couple of weeks both as a hitter and a fielder. He’s undefeated as a pitcher, he’s exceptional as a hitter, too,” Schmitz said. And regarding his freshman Durst, who struck out eleven in his game against Belmont, “you know, he’s 6’6″ he commands the zone, he knows where the ball needs to be thrown, he’s extremely crafty, he’s quick, and he’s only a freshman.”
“And I want to put a plug in for our catcher Kaleb Maier. I think he’s the best catcher in the conference, unfortunately he hurt his knee swinging and it popped out, so we are very cautious with him. Our lineup would be stronger if he batted, but we don’t want to take a chance with our defense with him batting.”