By Doug La Rocque
For more than a week the big winner in the spring high school sports season was Mother Nature, whose parade of tears kept the teams off the fields and in the gyms for practice instead of taking part in their scheduled season openers.[private] Things did eventually dry out this past week and the games got underway.
The Berlin Boys’ baseball team rallied in the 7th inning of their home opener against Loudonville Christian, but fell by an 8-6 margin. Senior Chris Houle led the Mountaineers attack with a pair of doubles, two rbi’s and drew two walks. Junior Josh Kluck threw five and 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs and struck out 6. Coach Josh Weaver told The Eastwick Press after the game how proud he was of his team, and how far they had come after last year’s winless season. He guaranteed a win soon. One day later Berlin took the field against Bishop Maginn and delivered on their coach’s promise with a 21-2 thrashing of the Griffins. Junior Tyler Kellar went five for five at the plate including a double and a three run homer. Overall, he batted in six runs. Junior Henry Ruebel pitched a complete game for the Mountaineers allowing only 7 hits and striking out nine BG batters.
It was a back and forth affair at New Lebanon, but Berlin’s pitchers faded in the late innings and the Tigers went on to post a 16 to 6 win. Several of Berlin’s starting players were on a school trip to Italy and not available. They are expected back for next week’s slate of games. Chris Houle carried Berlin’s scoring driving in three including a monster two run homer that landed on the top of the New Lebanon High School. Garrett Fiske went 3 for 4 at the plate, driving in two runs, scoring one and stealing a base. He also pitched 4and 1/3 innings striking out 8 batters
Girls’ Softball Opens The Season With A Pair Of Wins
The Lady Mountaineers look like a team that can make some noise in the Central Hudson Valley League this year. Seventh grade pitcher Bailey Catlin struck out nine and clouted a three-run home run to lead Berlin over the Eagles of Loudonville Christian 9 to 2.
Alyssa Bierwirth scored three times, and Gabby Hall drove in two. Coach Art Schmich credits the five strong innings of pitching by Makenna Jansen and Bailey Catlin with helping to post a 20 to 5 win over Doane Stuart’s Thunder Chickens. Berlin’s 19 hit attack stole the thunder from their opposition, with Haley Maxon and Bailey Catlin collecting four hits apiece. Mercedes Grubbe-Holst had three hits and drove in four runs.
Like the Varsity Baseball Squad, the Girls were short some players for their match against New Lebanon. The Tigers scored five times in the bottom of the sixth inning to post a 5-2 victory. Both teams are off for the Easter break, but resume play with a full set of games next week. [/private]