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Kuemper topples Atlantic in Regional Quarterfinals

Sports

July 10th, 2019 by admin

The Kuemper Catholic Knights jumped up early and made enough plays late to secure a 6-5 win over Atlantic in the Class 3A Region 7 Quarterfinals on Wednesday night. The Knights racked up 4 runs in the opening frame to grab the lead. Atlantic would fall behind 5-1 before squaring the game up in the 4th. Kuemper got a run across in the 5th that ended up being enough for the win.

Kuemper got an RBI single from Alli Mertz to open the scoring in the first. Kenzie Schon would follow with a 2-run homer to put the Knights up 3-0 through 4 batters. Anna Wanninger would score later in the frame on a passed ball. Atlantic got one run in the 1st with an RBI single from Oliva Engler but later had a runner picked off and left one aboard. Engler had a stellar night at the plate as she went 4-4 with 3RBI. She had a 2 RBI Single in the big 4th inning for Atlantic. Alyssa Derby had a 2 RBI single in that 4th inning spurt as well to tie the game.

Kuemper’s winning run in the 5th came on a misplayed bloop off the bat of Isabel Schwabe. Kyndall Hilgenberg was on base after leading off the inning with a single and Schon was walked. Schwabe popped up what would of been the final out of the inning but Caroline Pellett’s attempt to back up and track it down was unsuccessful as the ball bounced off the tip of her glove. That allowed Hilgenberg to score and give the Knights the 6-5 lead.

Atlantic then left the tying run standing on third in both the 6th and 7th innings. Engler doubled with one out in the 6th and courtesy runner Ava Rush was able to get to third on a ground-out by Madison Botos. Alyssa Derby then hit a nice shot to deep right-center but Cassidy Christensen made a nice running snag to end the inning. In the 7th Atlantic got a lead off hit from Kennedy Goergen. She was moved over to 2nd on a sac bunt by Reagan Pellett. Caroline Pellett then pushed one through on a shallow hit near 2nd base and they had to put the brakes on Goergen at 3rd. McKenzie Waters then hit one at the shortstop Mertz and she chose to go home to get Goergen out before scoring the tying run. Atlantic still had the tying run at third but Baylee Newell swung at the first pitch she saw and drove it into foul territory in left. Isabel Schwabe made a terrific running back-handed snag to secure the final out and send the Knights into a Regional Semifinal on Friday against Southeast Valley. The Jaguars defeated Carroll 8-3 to advance to that Friday contest.

Carly Ventiecher went 3 1/3 Innings for Kuemper Catholic, exiting with the Knights up 5-3. Freshman Kamryn Venteicher went the rest of the way, responsible for just one earned run, allowing 3 hits with 1 strikeout and 1 walk. Olivia Engler went the distance for Atlantic allowing 6 hits with 5 strikeouts, 3 walks, and 1 hit-batter.

Atlantic ends their season with a record of 27-9. Kuemper Catholic improved to 16-18 and will play Southeast Valley in the Regional Semis on Friday.