Landsharks Victorious Tourney

Crack! The sound of a wooden bat hitting a baseball takes a spectator back into America’s past, while enjoying the present-day game that undoubtedly builds toward the future generations awaiting their chance to be on the field for a wood bat tournament.The Fairbury Wood Bat tournament was held May 28-29 at Quinn Field in Fairbury.As a tune-up for the Fairbury Landsharks, their first game of the season was on the road against B.D.S. on May 23. The Landsharks were down 2-4 heading into the top of the fifth with the Landsharks amassing seven runs to an 11-5 victory.Pulling away by the bats of Jayden Schmidt singling on the first pitch of that at-bat scoring two runs, Jacob Martin drew a walk bringing in one run, Blake Starr drew a walk scoring one run as well, and Brody Kroll singled on his first pitch of that at bat scoring two runs to bring seven across.Kroll pitched the Landsharks Seniors to victory going three innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out eight.Jayden Schmidt, Dylan Starr, and Austin Novotny each put in good work in relief helping close the door on B.D.S. to get the first win of the season.Fairbury would then have to deal with lack of practice due to weather conditions heading into the Wood Bat tournament. Taking on Sutton in the first round proved to be a challenge as Fairbury Landsharks found themselves in a hole down 1-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh. It was that inning that the Landsharks brought across seven runs to take the lead needed to grab the win 8-4.Racking up a dozen hits with Blake Starr leading the team with three hits at four at-bats, Austin Novotny and Brody Kroll each collected two hits as well. Novotny was able to lead the team with two RBI in that game and got the win after pitching over three and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking zero.Fairbury would then move on to face Palmer Greely Woblach (P.G.W.) with both teams trading runs early in the game. Staying at 1-1 until the top of the sixth where Fairbury would take the lead and push on further in the seventh inning with Fairbury getting two runs each inning to push a 5-2 lead toward victory.The Landsharks collected nine hits on the day in that game with Jacob Martin and Kroll each collecting two, while Blake Starr, Ethan Smith, Brendon Runge, Jayden Schmidt, and Auggie Judd each contributed a hit as well. Kroll would homer in the sixth run as a solo home run as well leading the team with two RBI. Blake Starr took the mound allowing six hits, and two runs over seven innings work while striking out six and walking one.On May 29 the Landsharks found themselves down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third when Fairbury would finally break the bats free and score eight runs the next three innings. A big boost of offense came from Brendon Runge and Austin Novotny both getting multiple hits in that game with Novotny giving the biggest lift with a home run shot over the left field in the bottom of the 5th accounting for his two RBI. Blake Starr, Ethan Smith and Auggie Judd each contributed a hit to that game as well. It took three pitchers for the championship game for the Landsharks and it was Brendon Runge who took the win after surrendering one run on two hits over three and two-thirds innings, striking out two as well. Fairbury Landsharks move to a record of 4-0 and will be taking on Hartington-Newcastle on Friday June 3rd.

Looking Back 6.1

Rick Siebert

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