Cavs' victory streak ends

COLDWATER - Coldwater's 2020 seniors led the summer team to seven straight wins.   

They weren't there on Monday; New Bremen's were. 

And the Cardinals became the first team to defeat the Cavaliers this summer, winning 9-2 at Veterans Field. 

Coldwater's starting lineup for its first six summer games featured mostly seniors. The class officially played their final game as Cavaliers over the weekend, however. New Bremen was playing its first game of the summer and four of its recent graduates were on the field - including pitching ace Spencer Alig. 

"We didn't have seniors with us this time, so we're still trying to figure out our identity a little bit," Coldwater coach Cory Klenke said. "Against a good ball club who had their seniors, it kind of showed." 

Throwing for the first time this summer, Alig showed little rust. The 2019 first team All-Midwest Athletic Conference and second team All-Ohio selection pitched five innings of three-hit baseball with five strikeouts to pick up the win. 

"Spencer could roll out of bed and throw strikes, whether it's in baseball or bowling," New Bremen coach Chad Wells said. 

New Bremen's offense struck early and often. 

A single put Mitchell Hays on base in the first inning. He stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Patrick Wells. 

Marcel Blasingame walked Ben Blickle and Brennan Tennerman to start the second inning. Wyatt Dicke gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead with an RBI single. Dicke later moved a base over when Alig drew a walk. A double steal by the duo would result in a Coldwater error, with Dicke scooting home for the third run. 

New Bremen plated its first trio of runs on two hits. Blasingame was pulled after two innings and five walks. Logan Schlarman was on the mound for Coldwater from the third through the fifth. 

Schlarman struck out the first hitter he faced and then walked the leadoff man Hays, who trotted to second on a balk and then stole third. A sacrifice by Kyle Tenkman made it 4-0. Aaron Vonderhaar extended the inning with two outs by roping a triple over the center fielder's head. Patrick Wells followed with his second RBI, a double down the left field line. After Zach Bertke was hit by a pitch, Blickle hit a two-run double to make it 7-0. 

"We just didn't compete up on the mound like we're used to seeing our pitchers do," Klenke said. "That comes with the youth a little bit. Again, nothing to take away from New Bremen; they've got a good ball club over there. They put some good at-bats together and exposed us a little bit." 

After three innings of no hits, Coldwater had all three of its hits off Alig in the fourth.

Coldwater's nine-hole hitter, Justin Hartings, broke up Alig's no-hit bid with a single to leadoff the fourth. Luke Sudhoff later reached base (and Hartings was forced out) on a fielder's choice. Myles Blasingame sent a rocket triple over the right fielder's head for Coldwater's first run. He later scored on an error. 

Bremen got back one run in the fifth. Nolan Bornhorst smoked a double to center and Ryland Archey followed with a single. Hays scored Bornhorst with a grounder to short.

Archey pitched scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh. Vonderhaar and Patrick Wells each had two hits. 

"This is the first time for our kids got to go against someone other than us and me, you know," coach Wells said. "Obviously, Mitchell plays with the Flames, so he's had games, but it was the first time out for everyone else. I thought that the kids did nice job competing.

"I'm happy with the effort," he added. "This summer, I'm not overly concerned about the wins and losses. I want to compete and play the game the right way." 

Coldwater travels to meet Fort Loramie at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. New Bremen visits Minster on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. first pitch. 

LINESCORE
New Bremen  124  010  1  -  9  8  2  
Coldwater  000  200  0  -  2  3  1

WP - Alig

LP - Ma. Blasingame

2B - NB: Blickle, Wells, Bornhorst.

3B - NB: Vonderhaar. CW: My. Blasingame.

Records: New Bremen 1-0, Coldwater 7-1.