GUYS MILLS – Eisenhower opened up its 2018 baseball season against Maplewood, falling to the Tigers by a score of 17-12.

Maplewood jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, as conditions were awful, played in a rain/snow mix. The Tigers scored four runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit.

Ike came storming back with 7 in the third. Lead off walks to Owen Trumbull and Teagan Gray. Drew Williams, Nick Smelko and Paul Swanson all had two RBI’s on singles. Zach Rohlin drove in the other run as he reached on an error.

In the 4th, EHS scored two runs. Gens lead off with a single. After Smelko reached on an error, Dakota Chase drilled a two run double to left center.

Williams got the scoring going again in the 6th with a led off single. As the Knights were super aggressive on the bases, Smelko and Chase reached base and scored on errors and an RBI groundout by Paul Swanson.

Maplewood was powered by a pair of home runs.

Coach Joe Troxell was very pleased how the boys never quit.

“We could have given up after being down by 10 runs, but we kept putting the ball in play and hitting the ball hard and we clawed back into it. This is a very spirited team with a lot of fight. Our young players got some very good experience in their first varsity game,” he said.

– – –

Eisenhower 0 0 7 0 2 0 3. 12

Maplewood 4 6 3 3 0 1 X. 17

Name At bat/Runs/Hits

Williams 4-2-2, Gens 3-2-1, Smelko 4-3-1, Chase 4-2-1, Swanson 4-1-1, Rohlin 4-0-0, Trumbull 1-1-0, Alexander 2-0-0, Gray 4-1-1, Benson 4-0-0

Pitching

Drake Gens pitched the first two innings

Nick Smelko pitched the 3rd and 4th

Drew Williams pitched the final two