Hawks fall 9-1 to Spalding in WEC play

(Sentinel photo by Bethany Kroeze) RSM's Michael Wesselmann prepares to throw the ball to first base during the Hawks' 9-1 loss to Spalding Catholic on Monday. [Click to enlarge]

The Remsen St. Mary's baseball team fell 9-1 at home to Spalding Catholic on Monday in War Eagle Conference baseball action.

Hawks starter Beau Pick spotted the visiting Spartans a 4-0 lead in the top of the first and Spalding added two more runs in the third and three in the fifth to pull away.

Pick surrendered nine runs - five earned - while allowing nine hits and three walks. He also fanned three, but the Hawks committed four errors behind him.

"Again, (we had) silly little errors and if we don't have those errors, it's a closer ball game and we don't know what the outcome would have been," RSM coach Jim Klein said.

The Hawks scored their lone run in the second inning. Freshman Cody Colling led off with a hit and Pick followed with another hit. A Spalding error moved Colling to third and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Zane Schroeder.

Despite the loss, Klein said the feeling in the dugout was more positive than it has been during other losses this season.

"I told the boys afterward that I don't like losing and I know they don't either," Klein said. "The one thing I saw tonight was the atmosphere in the dugout. The guys were talking about picking it up and getting outs...if we'd had that atmosphere all year long, we'd be a lot better ball club."

RSM had six hits - Colling had two and was the only Hawk with more than one.

The Hawks also received a boost as junior Matt Arens returned and played second base. Arens took a line drive off the cheek during the Hawks' 20-10 loss at South O'Brien on June 19.

Klein was pleased that the Hawks struck out just three times - the final three outs in the seventh inning. Thirteen of RSM's 21 outs came via the fly ball.

RSM (4-11, 3-8) travels to Le Mars on Wednesday to take on rival Gehlen. The Hawks have already defeated the Jays twice this season.

"The kids all felt (tonight's improved atmosphere)," Klein said. "They realized it was a better atmosphere and hopefully we can carry that into the next few games and get things turned around."