June 11, 2015 at 1:30 p.m.
River Valley uses big fifth to turn back Dodgers
Things were going good for the Dodgers. They saw River Valley ace Lucas Price exit the game in the first inning when he couldn't find the strike zone and took the lead with a run in the first and two in the third. Valley answered the first inning run and added one in the third to stay close
But a six run fifth the Blackhawks accomplished on three walks and four hits ended up to be too much to overcome. The Dodgers chipped away with one run in the sixth but that was as close as they could get.
Levi Nagel walked, stole second and took third on a wild pitch to lead off the first then scored on a sac fly to center by Trent Jones. Price then issued walks to Brian Simmons, Jordan Olson and Jordan Larson before Elijah Alt came on in relief and struck out the next two batters.
River Valley answered quickly. Derek Bodendein singled on a 2-1 count, advanced on a grounder to second and took third on a wild pitch. He was sent home on a balk.
The game stayed tied until the third when Jordan Olson was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by freshman Zack Weber. Pat Husom's single sent Weber across the plate.
River Valley got one back when Alt singled and scored on a triple by Price.
After a pitching change and after two outs in the fifth the Hawks sent eight batters to the plate and scored six runs. Ryan Wickman walked and Alt moved him with a single. Price received an intentional pass and Wickman scored on a wild pitch. Tyler White singled in a pair. Kyle Mahoney walked before Collin Brummer singled then Beau Solomon sent three runs across with a double.
The Dodgers plated one in the sixth when Husom slammed a double, advanced on a single by Cole Sullivan and scored on an infield out.
The Dodgers had runners on in the top of the seventh as Alt was tiring but they could not score. Jordan Olson, Jordan Larson and Jack Hellmann all singled but the Hawks made the defensive plays they needed.
The Hawks had nine hits with Bodendein going 2x4, Alt 2x3 and Price 2x2. Brummer and Solomon had the other hits.
The Dodgers had six hits with Husom closing out his high school career 3x4 with a double and an rbi. Nagel, Jordan Olson, Larson, Weber, Hellmann and Sullivan had one hit each.
Alt got the win with 6 2/3 innings of work. He fanned four, walked two, spaced six hits and gave up three runs, all earned.
Price went 1/3 with four walks and one earned run.
Larson went the first four innings with five strikeouts, one walk, four hits and two earned runs. Simmons went the final three with four walks, five hits while giving up six runs.
The Blackhawks advanced to play Prairie du Chien for the Regional title Friday.
