Monday’s baseball celebration at Simon Kenton was noticeably hoopla-free.
The defending Eighth Region champion Pioneers won their fourth straight 32nd District title, 6-2, over Walton-Verona. What you noticed was the absence of dogpiling in front of the pitcher’s mound.
Simon Kenton pitcher and most valuable player Caleb Uhl, who struck out three over five inning to improve to 4-1, didn’t think excessive revelry was appropriate.
“When we owned the district the past four years, it’s not a surprise that we come out here and play our own game of baseball and just play Simon Kenton baseball all around,” Uhl said. “Hard work, putting our bodies out on the line, every play, pitch by pitch, facing adversity.”
Simon Kenton was state runner-up in 2014 and 2017. That sounds like a lot of pressure, but Pioneers coach Brady Smiley doesn’t run away from it.
“We preach to them that pressure is a privilege,” Smiley said. “So to be able to have that level of success and to have teams know that you’re the team that they want to beat, that’s a blessing.”
Simon Kenton shortstop Jacob Piper and center fielder Logan Judd each went 2-for-3, and Judd had a double. Piper and his teammates thought about the 6-3 loss to Walton-Verona on April 9.
“Right before we took infield, we said, think about how happy they were and how much they celebrated after beating us in a regular season game and just knowing we’d get another opportunity,” Piper said.
Monday’s first inning was a mirror image – Uhl and Walton-Verona’s Bronson Corpus each allowed a hit but avoided any damage by striking out two.
The second inning was equally scoreless but via different paths. Corpus struck out one and forced a couple and infield grounders, and Uhl relied on three outfield flies.
“(Uhl) throws three pitches for a strike in any count, which is tough,” Walton-Verona coach Andrew Sien said. “At the end of the day, it was timely hitting from them and not us.”
Uhl said his fastball stayed on the outside corner most of the night.
“My changeup was down very well, and I had my curveball in my arsenal if I really needed it,” Uhl said.
After Corpus struck out the side in the third, the Bearcats’ Ben Milner opened the bottom of the frame with a double and scored three batters later on Aidan Kerns’ single.
Simon Kenton (17-10-2) sort of solved Corpus in the fourth. Corpus struck out two – and eight for the game – but designated hitter Jag Ruebel’s single plated right fielder Tyler Ruete.
“I’m a little tired towards the middle of the game, but (I) still tried to push through and make something happen for my team,” Corpus said.
The Pioneers took the lead for good in the fifth when Logan Lawson and Piper each drove in a run.
Ruete’s defense was as noteworthy for two reasons. He threw out William Hurles at third for the fifth inning’s first out, and a catch he did not make in foul territory in the sixth left deep scratches on his left leg and arm.
“My leg got stuck under the fence,” Ruete said. “I thought I caught the ball. Next thing I know, I slid right into the fence … My leg’s pretty banged up.”
Simon Kenton scored three times in the seventh. Judd doubled and scored on an error, Ruete scored on Lawson’s fielder’s choice, and Piper came home on Luke Lawson’s bases-loaded walk.
Walton-Verona fell to 19-14. The Bearcats and Pioneers both advance to next week’s Eighth Region tournament. Simon Kenton will host a district runner-up out of the 29th, 30th or 31st District while Walton-Verona will face a district champ out of one of those districts.
PIONEERS 6, BEARCATS 2
SIMON KENTON 000 120 3 – 6 7 2
WALTON-VERONA 001 001 0 – 2 9 1
Uhl, Beach (6) and Bockmon; Corpus, Kerns (6), Dryden (7) and Bauwens. WP-Uhl (4-1). LP-Corpus (5-4). 2B-Milner (W-V), Corpus (W-V), Judd (SK). Records: Walton-Verona 19-14, Simon Kenton 17-10-2.
All-tournament team
Williamstown: Kyle Kinkelo
Grant County: Xavier Camacho
Walton-Verona: Miles Lehmkuhl and Kainan Held
Simon Kenton: Tyler Ruete and Brett Bockmon
Most valuable player: Caleb Uhl, Simon Kenton