Butler
tops Knoch in game of auditions
The Knoch baseball team held open auditions for pitchers.
Butler had a lineup that resembled a recreation softball league as Tyler
Stepski batted 12th in the expanded order and had two hits and an RBI.
The Knights-Golden Tornado game at Pullman Park Friday afternoon was less about
winning and more about a crash course in player evaluation.
They did keep score, though. Butler tallied nine of its 10 runs with two outs,
including a seven-run outburst in the fourth inning, to topple Knoch 10-4.
The real games — the section contests — begin next week. Both Knoch coach Curt
Schnur and Butler coach Dave Florie want to know just what cards they have in
their hands before they have to play them.
"We're still searching," Florie said. "Just like everyone else,
we're still at the learning stage. We're looking to see who is going to
compete, who is going to work hard out there. We only have a couple more
ballgames left before we open up the section, so there isn't a whole lot of
time left to evaluate."
Butler had a lineup featuring 13 players. In the seven-run fourth inning, they
all batted.
Knoch got two quick outs before the Golden Tornado pounded out seven hits,
including two triples that rolled to the center-field wall in cavernous Pullman
Park, two walks and a run scored on a balk.
Butler had three triples in the game.
"We had more what I call barrel shots," Florie said. "I told
them there is going to be a lot more triples at Pullman. Hopefully we're the
team that will end up with the most of them. This is a pretty big
ballpark."
Cullen Hinderliter also had a triple for Knoch.
The Knights used four pitchers. Starter Nathan Junk pitched well, striking out
four and walking three in three innings. Robert Zanella also had a solid
one-inning of scoreless relief.
But Schnur is still looking to round out his staff.
"We're in search of some pitchers," Schnur said. "That was a
question mark coming into the year and we need to find some pitchers. We've
given three, four guys a shot a game."
Butler also used four pitchers. Starter Matt Monnie was dominant, striking out
five of the first six batters he faced in his three scoreless innings.
Zach Sessa relieved him in the fourth and yielded one run in two innings to
pick up the win.
Florie is still assessing his pitching staff.
"I always told my kids from day one, 'Just go out and play baseball,'
which is pitching, defense and timely hitting," Florie said. "That's
what I look for. Wins will come if you play fundamental baseball."
Knoch 000 101 2— 4 3 1
Butler 201 700 x—10 13 0
WP: Zach Sessa (2 IP) 1 strikeout, 2 walks. LP: Nathan Junk (3 IP) 4
strikeouts, 3 walks
Knoch (0-3): Andrew Wirtz 1B, RBI; Robert Zanella 2B, RBI; Cullen
Hinderliter 3B
Butler (3-1): Cody Herald 2B, 1B; Bobby Swartwout 1B, 2-RBI; Tyler
Stepski 2-1B, RBI; Dustin Uhlman 3B; Tanner Master 3B, 1B, 2-RBI; Evan Oswald
2-1B, RBI; Roman Bargo 3B, 2-RBI; Tanner McCaw 1B, RBI