RSM goes 1-2 at Spalding tournament

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) RSM's Neal Loutsch fields a ground ball during play at the Spalding tournament in Granville over the weekend. [Click to enlarge]

Nothing appears to snap the 2009 Remsen St. Mary's baseball team out of a hitting funk like a matchup with rival Gehlen Catholic.

The Hawks pounded out 16 hits as they defeated the Jays 19-14 in consolation round action at the Spalding Catholic tournament on Saturday in Granville. RSM also defeated Gehlen 16-5 in War Eagle Conference action on June 10.

Still, RSM coach Jim Klein was hesitant to call the game a 'slugfest.'

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) Gehlen's Tyler Meyer fields a ground ball during play at the Spalding tournament on Friday in Granville. [Click to enlarge]

"I don't know if it was so much a slugfest as much as way too many walks and hit batters," he said, noting the struggles of his own pitchers as well as the Jays'. "Again, that leaves our pitcher with nothing but the fastball to rely upon, and (Gehlen) hit it."

But the first-year head coach was pleased with the offensive output after his team was no-hit in a 68-pitch perfect game by Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley's Marcus Heemstra in the Hawks' tournament opener.

"It was good to see us hit the ball," Klein said.

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) RSM's Beau Pick tags out a Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley athlete on Friday during play at the Spalding tournament on Friday. [Click to enlarge]

Against the Jays, RSM pounded starter Zach Wurth for 10 first-inning runs.

The Hawks added three runs in the third and six in the fourth, but Gehlen had 10 hits and took advantage of nine walks and three hit batsmen from Hawks starter Tanner Kockler.

"He was struggling with his control the whole game," Klein said of Kockler. "We should have put (Gehlen) away early, but that didn't happen.

Billy Steichen led the RSM offense as the sophomore was 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and five RBIs. Beau Pick was 3-for-3 with a solo home run and Zane Phillips was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

"It was not a well-played game on either end as far as pitching went," Gehlen coach Marty Kurth said. "We were fighting from behind the whole game.

Gehlen received two hits each from Shaun Ryan, Michael Lamoreux, Zach Wurth and Devin Groenhagen.

Ryan drove in two runs and scored two. Tyler Meyer scored three times. Lamoreux drove in two with a pair of doubles and Wurth drove in two. Groenhagen drove in three and scored three and Schlesser drove in a pair of runs and scored three times.

"I give our kids a little bit of credit for staying with it and trying to fight back," Kurth said.

"They kept scoring runs themselves and we ran out of time. We just built too big of a deficit."

Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 8, Remsen St. Mary's 0

Marcus Heemstra of B-H/RV threw a perfect game for the Nighthawks as he struck out 12 in RSM's Spalding tournament opener. The 6-9 junior also hit a home run as he drove in two runs and scored three times.

Western Christian 12, Remsen St. Mary's 2

The Hawks dropped their Spalding Catholic finale in five innings the Wolfpack.

After pounding out 16 hits against Gehlen, RSM mustered just four against Western Christian.

Andrew Portz drove in both of the Hawks' runs with a double.

"Andrew had a good tournament," Klein said. "He's been hitting the ball really well."

Five errors hindered the Hawks' effort.

"All our errors are simple errors that have to be made by high school baseball players," Klein said.

Steichen started on the mound for RSM and Michael Wesselmann relieved. The pair combined to walk six and hit two batters.

RSM (5-11) returns to action Monday as it faces Spalding Catholic. The Hawks will look to avenge a narrow, 4-3 loss on June 8.

"We have a big week in front of us," Klein said. "I guess we're looking for a big week that hopefully is victorious."

Sioux Center 8, Gehlen 4

The Jays fell to Sioux Center in their first game of the Spalding tournament on Friday.

Wurth was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Groenhagen also drove in a run with a double.

Mitch Christoffel, Ryan, Meyer and Lamoreux each scored runs for Gehlen, who had six hits.

Schlesser started and took the loss on the mound for the Jays as the junior allowed eight runs - five earned - on 10 hits while striking out seven.

The Warriors scored five runs in the fourth inning on four hits, two walks and an error.

"It was kind of one of those deals where we find a way to hurt ourselves," Kurth said. "We're playing better baseball - we're hitting the ball better, but we still need to be more consistent at the plate and in the field."

Gehlen (4-13) host Unity Christian in WEC action on Monday.