This is a printer friendly version of an article from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. Posted with the permission.
Back to WRACS

Posted April 15, 2008

Royals K Panthers
By Michael Kommer
For the Daily Tribune
Strikeouts were the order of the day for Assumption High School.

Ben Kinzel and Tyler Hafermann combined for 11 strikeouts to lead the Royals to an 8-1 win over Pittsville during Marawood Conference South Division action on Monday at Witter Field.

Kinzel struck out four of the first six batters he faced while getting six total during his five innings of work. The yielded just one hit.

"Both of our pitchers were sharp," Assumption coach Mike Schulte said. "We were able to get favorable pitch counts and we were able to get the strikeouts. We really played hard today."

To compliment Kinzel's performance on the mound, the Royal's offense was able to get after Panthers pitcher Chase O'Keefe early and often. The Royals pounded out four of their 10 hits, including three doubles in the first inning alone, to give the Assumption an early 3-0 lead.

In the second, O'Keefe earned both of his strikeouts and held the Royals scoreless but his teammates were unable to muster any scoring opportunities.

Pittsville's lone hit against Kinzel was a triple hit to deep left field by Ryan Schwanebeck, who eventually scored on a pitching error by Kinzel to cut the Royal's lead 7-1. Kinzel avenged that run by scoring one himself to put the Royals up 8-1 going into the sixth inning.

Pittsville relieved O'Keefe after the fourth inning with Patrick Minor who allowed one run in his one inning of work, and in the sixth inning Zach Copeland took the mound and struck out one batter while walking two.

Assumption's Tyler Hafermann came on in the sixth inning and finished the game. He allowed only one hit, while striking out five Panthers to seal the victory.

"Assumption is a nice team," Pittsville coach Bill Urban said. "We faced one of the top pitchers in the conference, and their first four hitters are very solid. We didn't play well today, but hopefully we can do better the next time we face them."

Assumption's Kyle Steele, left, goes up for the catch as Pittsville's Jordan Rayburn slides in safe on the steal during their game at Witter field in Wisconsin Rapids Monday. DOUG ALFT/DAILY TRIBUNE

Assumption's Ben Kinzel pitches Monday in Wisconsin Rapids. DOUG ALFT/DAILY TRIBUNE