Broncos Drop Two Close Games to TMP

HAYS-The Russell-Victoria Broncos Baseball team closed out the 2021 regular season Thursday afternoon at the same venue where they will begin postseason at next week's Class 3A Regional Tournament. 

So Thursday was a good time to familiarize themselves with their surroundings.  However, a promising start to the day ended in disappointment as the Broncos lost both games of a doubleheader to arch-rival TMP-Marian/LaCrosse 6-5 in eight innings and 2-1 on the Monarchs home diamond.

After TMP scored first in Game 1, the Broncos took a 2-1 lead in the top of  the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Cameron Farmer and a throwing error by Monarch catcher Jace Wentling.  The lead held up until two were out in the bottom of the fifth inning when TMP tied the game on a bloop single that barely eluded the glove of right fielder Brayden Gibson.

Russell-Victoria battled out of several tight spots with key defensive plays including tagging out a TMP runner after he missed home plate on an attempted double steal.

The Broncos put themselves in position to win the game with three runs in the top of the eighth inning on Gibson's RBI single and a pair of Monarch errors including one on a strikeout.

However, the Broncos were not able to make those runs stand up.  TMP benefitted from four consecutive walks in the bottom of the inning (three with the bases loaded) and won the game on a fielders choice to complete a four-run rally.

Thaddeus Wohler (0-1) took the loss for Russell-Victoria.

In the nightcap, TMP took the lead on an RBI single by Griffin Schumacher in the bottom of the second inning before the Broncos answered in the top of te third when Briar Ulrich scored to tie the game 1-1 on an error on an Infield Fly Rule play.  TMP took the lead right back in the bottom of the third on a bloop single by Mark Rack which nearly didn't happen as it appeared that left fielder Charlie Krug might have caught the ball, but after a short discussion the umpires ruled the play a hit and TMP led 2-1.

The Broncos kept the game close and in the seventh inning they appeared poised to tie the score when Ulrich led off with an infield single, went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Andrew Roth and swiped third on a wild pitch.  However, like 15 runners before him throughout the doubleheader, Ulrich was stranded at third when Jackson Cross flew out to left to end the game.  

Wyatt Middleton (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Broncos.

Russell-Victoria (8-12) will return to Hays on Monday, May 17 for the first round of the Class 3A Regional Tournament when they face TMP-Marian/LaCrosse again, this time with the season on the line.  First pitch will be at 6 p.m. between the #4 seed Monarchs and #5 seed Broncos.

The winner of the game between Russell-Victoria and TMP-Marian/LaCrosse will face the winner of the game between #1 seed Larned and #8 Beloit in a semifinal Wednesday, May 19 at 2 p.m. in Hays.  The Championship game is set for 5 p.m. Wednsday May 19 at TMP.