Results from Peru for Saturday, May 11th
Tigers overcome mistakes to beat North Miami 11-7 in Miami County Classic 1st round
Peru played host to North Miami, Oak Hill, and Maconaquah on Saturday at Tiger Field for the 18th annual Miami County Classic.
Game 1 featured the host Tigers and the Warriors of North Miami, with game 2 being Oak Hill and Maconaquah.
The game started rough for the Tigers as the Warriors were able to put 2 runs on the board before an out was recorded. 3 errors and a double did the damage. The Tigers looked to respond in their half with Gavin Eldridge drawing a leadoff walk and Ian Potts singling to centerfield. Reis Bellar grounded into a double play that looked to dampen the Tiger rally, but North Miami’s pitcher was unable to find the strikezone. Jackson Manriquez walked. Matthew Roettger was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lucas Musser drew a walk, scoring Eldridge, Tel Smith came in to run for Musser. Bryce Hill reached on a error, scoring Manriquez. Roettger made a daring play and stole home in the middle of a pitch to score the final run of the inning. Peru led 3-2.
North Miami had a couple of base runners in the top of inning number 2 with a single and an error, setting up a first and third situation with 2 outs. Musser ended the threat on an attempted steal of 2nd by mowing down the runner to end the inning. Peru tacked on another run with Eldridge and Potts both drawing walks and excuting a double steal to advance to 2nd and 3rd respectively. Manriquez hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in Eldridge. Tigers led 4-2.
The Warriors only managed a walk in the top of the 3rd. Peru added on in their half of the innning. Musser doubled(Smith in to run), Hill reached on an infield single. Jackson Rogers singled to leftfield driving in Smith, Hill was called out at 3rd while trying to advance on the play. Eldridge doubled to center driving in Rogers. Peru led 6-2.
North Miami came to life in the 4th inning scoring 3 runs on 5 singles and an RBI ground out. Peru went 3 up and 3 down in the bottom half. Bellar singled but was quickly erased on a double play. Tigers led 6-5.
The Warriors took the lead in the top of inning number 5 on a single, a hit batsman, an RBI ground out and a wild pitch. Their lead was short lived as the Tigers put up the final runs of the game in the bottom half. Hill reached on an error. Fox Huppenthal walked. Rogers laid down a bunt and beat everyone to the base for a sinlge. Eldridge hit a sac fly to left to drive in Hill to tie the game. Potts reached on an error and advanced to 2nd on the play, Rogers and Huppenthal both scored. Bellar reached on an infield single to drive in Potts. Manriquez walked. Ryne Butt singled to left, driving in Bellar. Peru led 11-7.
North Miami went quietly in the 6th with only 1 base runner via a walk. Peru went 3 up and 3 down.
North Miami was able to load the bases in the top of the 7th with a single and a couple of walks, but they were unable to push any runs across to end the game.
Jaxson Manriquez got the start for the Tigers and earned a no decision, going 4 innings, giving up 5 runs(3 earned) on 7 hits, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Ryne Butt picked up the win in relief, going 2.1 innings, giving up 2 runs(1 earned) on 2 hits, walking 2 and striking out 2. Kouper Burks finished the final .2 innings, with 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 strikeouts, and 1 walk.
The Tigers were led at the plate by Reis Bellar(2), Jackson Rogers(2), Gavin Eldridge, Ian Potts, Ryne Butt, Lucas Musser, Bryce Hill all with hits. Musser and Eldridge with doubles.
Maconaquah came from behind to top Oak Hill in game to set up the evenings matchups. Oak Hill taking on North Miami in the consolation game and Peru squaring off with Maconaquah in the championship.
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Tigers slug past Braves 12-1 to win Miami County Classic
Oak Hill defeated North Miami in the consulation game at Tiger Field setting the stage for a Peru-Maconaquah rematch 3 days after Peru came back to win the TRC showdown.
Matthew Roettger took the ball to start the game for the Tigers. Maconaquah led off the game with a single who would come around to score and had another base runner via a hit by pitch. The Tigers quickly tied the game in the bottom half. Gavin Eldridge led off with a single, followed by an Ian Potts single moving Eldridge to 3rd, who then scored on a wild pitch. Reis Bellar drew a walk. Jackson Rogers drove in Potts with ground out to 3rd. Matthew Roettger singled to left, scoring Bellar. After Roettger stole 3rd, Bryce Hill reached on an infield single to score Roettger. Tigers led 4-1
The Braves went 3 up and 3 down in the top of the 2nd. Zeke Braley drew a lead-off walk and scored on Eldridge’s double to left-center field. Eldridge then scored on an RBI ground out by Bellar. Rogers singled but was stranded on the base paths. Peru led 6-1.
Maconaquah again went 3 up and 3 down in the 3rd. The Tigers followed suit with a 3 up and 3 down on their side as well.
The Braves would get their 3rd base runner of the game in the 4th with a 2-out walk, but left him stranded at 1st. Peru then buried the opposition in the bottom half erupting for 6 runs. Braley singled. Eldridge doubled again. Bellar with base hit. Rogers with a single. Roettger with a single. Jaxson Manriquez with a single. Lucas Musser with a base knock and Braley again with his 2nd hit in the inning. Peru led 12-1.
Maconaquah tried to start a 2-out rally with a single and a walk, but the next batter struckout to end the contest.
Roettger went the distance for the Tigers. He pitched 5 innings giving up 1 earned run, while scattering 2 hits. He walked 2 batters, hit another, and racked up 5 strikeouts.
Every Tiger batter that came to the plate collected at least 1 hit in the ball game. Eldridge(3), Rogers(2), Roettger(2), and Braley(2) all had a multi-hit game.
The wins improve the Tigers to 17-3(7-0 TRC) on the season. They are back in action on Monday at 5:30 pm at North Miami in a TRC battle looking to clinch a share of the conference crown. They will then head to Whitko on Wednesday for the final TRC game of the season. Peru is back home on Thursday against Mississinewa for the final home game of the year and then on the road at Carmel on Friday to end the regular season.
By Adam Butt on May 12, 2024
