It seems like it's been forever, but finally the Bethany Swedes can savor not one, but two doubleheader sweeps in a row. Going in, the team knew that it was going to be a tough week, facing first place (and undefeated in conference) Sterling, Kansas State in a non conference game, and today Friends. The Swedes had no problems rising to the occasion in all five games, and are sitting in second place at 6-4, a mere two games out of first. We are well on our way to having a championship race that could go down to the final games on the final week of the season. Everything is shaping up well for a Bethany-Sterling showdown in Sterling on May 2 that could well be the deciding factor. Tabor and Ottawa still could have something to say about who wins as well, being only a few games back themselves. Anyhow, it's time I stopped trying to look into my crystal ball and time to start giving you all a review of what happened this week.
After our disappointing split at Ottawa last Saturday, the Swedes got angry and were ready to get down to business on Tuesday versus Sterling at home. The Warriors were the unfortunate victims of the Swedes taking out their frustrations from the previous week and a half. In the first game, BC jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Darren Kaustinen walk, Pat Patterson sacrifice bunt, and a pair of SC errors. After an unearned Sterling run in the fourth off of Clay Witt, the Swedes got three more, all with two out in the fourth, when Chris Tusant singled home Kaustinen (walked) and Mike Jackson doubled to right-center, scoring Brad Schrader (walked) and Tusant. 4-1 Swedes. Sterling came back with another run in the fifth, but it was not enough to beat Witt, who allowed only four hits en route to his fourth victory of the season. Jeremy Cantrell was just as good or better in the second game. He had the Warriors looking foolish at the plate all day long. It seems as though if he threw an off speed pitch that they weren't expecting, the hitters were screwing themselves right into the ground with their mighty swings that came up empty. It didn't hurt either when, after retiring Sterling 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Bethany hitters gave Cantrell three runs to work with in the bottom half of the inning. Jackson led off with a triple to left-center, and then scored on a single to right by Bobby Richardson. After Richardson was erased on a fielders choice by Sean Spoonts, Jason Schmeiser doubled down the left field line, bringing him home. Schmeiser then scored on two wild pitches uncorked by Sterling pitcher Kurt Riske. The Swedes then padded their lead in the fourth in yet another two-out rally. Schrader doubled to left and Tusant reached on an error by the second baseman, sending Schrader to third. After Tusant's steal of second, David Bard (taking over for Jackson after his leaving the game in the second) singled bringing the two runners home and sealing a 5-1 Swede win.
The next day, Bethany went to Manhattan to face the Kansas State Wildcats from the Big 12 Conference in NCAA division 1. With a couple of breaks, the final score would have been 3-2 Swedes, but instead K-State came away with the win, 3-1. Clint Strassburg threw four shutout innings, allowing just three hits, keeping BC close. Daniel Regan took over in the fifth, and pitched pretty well himself. His only real problem was in the sixth, when after a walk and single, Mark English doubled to right field, putting the Wildcats up 2-0. With one out in the seventh, Sean Spoonts hit an absolutely breathtaking home run to right field, landing 3/4 of the way up on the roof of the KSU baseball fieldhouse. Some players estimated that the homer traveled anywhere between 450 and 500 feet. Were it not for the building, we have no idea if the ball would have landed yet or not. In the eighth, the Wildcats added another run a single by Kasey Weishaar with runners on first and third. The only problem was that had our shortstop not been covering second base on an attempted steal, the ball would have been hit right to him, ending the threat. In the eighth with one out, Mike Jackson started things off by reaching on an error. He went to third on a single to right by Bobby Richardson. David Bard was then called upon to pinch hit for Sean Spoonts, who had injured his shoulder slightly in the eighth. He then hit a grounder to third that was bobbled. Somehow, the third baseman got the ball to second and back over to first in time for the game ending double play. We missed coming up with a huge upset by just a little bit, and you could see the disappointment in the players and coaches faces. There was no time for sulking as Friends was waiting to play us in three days.
The Falcons shot themselves in the proverbial foot numerous times today, committing five errors in each game of the doubleheader, leading to four unearned runs in each game, which the Swedes were more than happy to accept. Clay Witt was outstanding in the first game, surrendering only one run and three hits over seven innings of work. The offense gave him early help, scoring three runs in the first inning, with the help of three of Friends' five errors. A key single to right by Nate Sungy brought home Mike Jackson with two out. Jason Schmeiser also scored on the play, advancing from third on a throwing error by the right fielder. Sungy came home when the pitcher, who was backing up home on his single threw the ball into center field trying to get the runner advancing to second. The Swedes scored two more in the third and two in the fifth in coasting to a 7-1 win. Game two showed that Jeremy Cantrell could still get people out regularly even when he didn't have his best control. Cantrell walked three on the day, which is two or three more than usual, but faced only five batters over the minimum in a 10-3 victory. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in his complete game victory. Darren Kaustinen went 2-3, scoring two runs, and driving in one to lead the way. Five other Swedes had one RBI, showing a very balanced offensive attack. Credit also has to be given to our friends in the 352-club (students behind the left field fence during games) for their overwhelming support today, showing up in droves at the game.
This next week features round two of the KCAC season as the Swedes travel to Tabor College on Wednesday, seeking revenge for two games that Tabor won on April 4. Saturday, the BC-KWU rivalry continues in Salina, with the previous two games having been split amongst the teams. It's the week where the men are separated from the boys and the front-runners for the championship are going to standout. I'll settle for 3-1, but 4-0 really sounds nice. Being in first place would be a special treat for when the Swedes return to Lindsborg for the home finale on Tuesday, April 28 versus the Ottawa Braves. Hope to see you all out at the ballpark, cheering Bethany to victory.
Return
To Main Baseball Page