Big 6th inning helps shaky Highland down Ballwin in Elsberry, Missouri, Tournament
It was anything but a pretty showing for the Highland Bulldogs 18U baseball team for the first five innings Saturday as the Bulldogs got leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before defensive lapses sidetracked them.
A fifth inning rally kept Highland even with Ballwin at 5-5. Then, in the sixth, shortstop Jack Korte and outfielder Carter Wiegmann saved the day for the Bulldogs.
Korte ripped an RBI-single in the top of the sixth for the go-ahead run and, after after Kolby Frey reached on walked with the bases loaded to scored a run, Wiegman blasted a grand slam to right center field, as Highland parlayed a six-run explosion into a win 11-5 over Ballwin a wild six-inning affair in the second game of Pool B play in the Elsberry AAA Tournament at Elsberry Post 226 Legion Field.
“It was a little rough at beginning,” Highland manager Kyle Schmitt said “We weren’t sharp defensively. We were kind of slow as they were throwing off speed pitches and they were really throwing our guys off. It was good that they changed pitchers and they had a little more velocity. I was glad we were able to break through.”
Highland went ahead 2-0 in the top of the first on Chase Wilson’s single to center.
Ballwin cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second on a run-scoring double to right by Chance Woley, as Colton Fisk, who walked off Highland starter Chad Barker, scored from second base.
The Bulldogs got that run back in the top of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third, Highland’s defense scuffled. Ballwin’s James Norman reached on an error and, after Chris Miller singled to right, Ballwin scored on a hard grounder Frey mishandled.
After Alex Venturella popped out, Fink singled to right to tie the score at 3-3.
Ballwin pulled ahead in the bottom of the fourth, as Barker was replaced by reliever Tyler Robards. Hoffman then ripped a wicked high-hop two-run double down the third base line to give Ballwin a 5-3 lead.
Frey then came up big with an RBI single in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to one. Wiegman followed with an RBI-single to left to tie it again at 5-5.
“It was an exciting way to come back,” Schmitt said.
Next it was Korte’s and Wiegman’s turn in the sixth to help the Bulldogs pull away. JD Barnes and John Walker reached to start the frame and then Landon Oestringer struck out.
Korte followed with a run-scoring single to put the Bulldogs back in front.
“I was trying to put something in play and it ended up working,” Korte said. “It felt good (to come through there). I was just trying to get to the next hitter.”
Wilson and Frey followed with bases loaded walks, making it 7-5.
Wiegman stepped up next and blasted a line drive shot over the right center field fence for for a grand slam that sent the Highland bench and fans into delirium, as the Bulldogs surged ahead 11-5.
The grand slam was a huge relief for Wiegman, who had been off a week and struggled at the plate in Highland’s opening tournament game, a 6-1 win over Hannibal on Friday night.
“Yesterday was pretty rough going 0 for 2 and it been a rough tournament so far, but that felt really good to get something out over the fence,” Wiegman said. I was looking for anything I could hit or anything I could drive at least two runs in with. I was pretty surprised (it got out that quick).”
Highland finished out the Pool B play portion of the Elsberry/Washington Tournament with a 7-4 quarterfinal round win against host Elsberry on Saturday night.
This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 12:27 AM.