Edwardsburg’s baseball team failed to capitalize on its numerous scoring opportunities in Saturday’s Division 2 regional semifinal game against Vicksburg as the Bulldogs prevailed, 3-0.

The Eddies, who finish at 22-10, left seven runners on base and grounded into two double plays.

“You’ve got to score to win,” said Edwardsburg baseball coach A.J. Gaideski. “Their pitcher did a nice job. He kept us off balance. We had some opportunities. We just couldn’t get the big hit in big situations. They got big hits in big situations. That was the difference in the game.”

P.J. Callahan’s RBI single with two outs in the first inning gave Vicksburg a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the fifth. Lucas Perry and Matthew Holman singled to start the inning. Holman’s hit came on a bunt. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Trace Slancik collected a two-run single.

Those runs were more than enough for Vicksburg starting pitcher Brenden Lovell, who consistently wiggled out of jams. Lovell tossed a three-hitter, struck out five, walked five and hit a batter.

In the first inning, the Eddies had runners on first and second with two outs. After an error was committed on a ball hit by Ben Robertson, Vicksburg tagged out Damion Pompey in between third base and home.

“But, who knows what happens after that,” Gaideski said. “(Pompey) slipped trying to stop. If they threw to first we were going to keep on going.”

Edwardsburg left runners on first and third in the third inning, had runners on first and second with one out in the fifth and got consecutive walks from pinch-hitter Joe Hess and Dylan Layher with one out in the seventh. Those runners wouldn’t score as Pompey hit a grounder to third and Vicksburg third baseman Hunter Van stepped on third and threw to first to get a double play to end the game.

Eddies’ starting pitcher Joe Raab was solid in defeat. He allowed four hits, struck out five and walked four.

“He did well,” Gaideski said. “He got the ball up a little bit. But we’ve got to be able to score runs. (Raab) is going to be tough. He’s just a sophomore.”

Edwardsburg loses seniors Jesse Reinebold, Dalton Raymond, Derek Pierce and Jackson Gaideski. That foursome helped the Eddies win the overall Wolverine Conference title and win their first district title since 2004.

“Those four seniors were really good,” Gaideski said. “They’ve been great leaders and done a great job for us.”

 

Division 2 Regional Baseball

At Edwardsburg

Semifinals

VICKSBURG 3, EDWARDSBURG 0

Edwardsburg            000     000     0 – 0 3 1

Vicksburg                   100     020     x – 3 4 1

Joe Raab (L, 8-1) and Zach Plummer; Brenden Lovell (W) and Trace Slancik.

Varsity records: Vicksburg 25-7, Edwardsburg 22-10