Witt-Birn Legion splits games with Omro

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood Legion baseball team split a pair of games against Omro on June 16 in Wittenberg, winning game one 9-7 in seven innings before falling 4-0 in a pre-determined, five-inning game two.

The two games were almost polar opposites for the Witt-Birn offense.

In game one, the team posted six hits to go along with eight walks. In game two, Witt-Birn had just three hits and three walks.

“It’s all about having fun. That first game, it was all fun. Everyone’s cheering the whole time,” said Witt-Birn’s Pierson Potrykus. “The second game, it felt like everyone was past their bedtime a little bit. That first game we were all higher energy, and that’s what wins baseball games usually.”

After Witt-Birn starter Mason Meverden put up a zero in the top of the first inning in game one, the team put up four runs in the bottom half to take charge.

Ben Wesolowski doubled in Bryce Zoromski to start the scoring. Potrykus later singled in Wesolowski and Meverden before Austin Worzalla scored on a passed ball.

After Meverden put up another zero in the second, Zoromski singled in Carter Herb to make it a 5-0 lead after two frames.

Omro finally pushed a run across in the third, but the hosts responded with two more in their half. Nathan Waupekenay delivered a two-out, two-RBI single that scored Worzalla and Chase Krull.

Witt-Birn looked to be in cruise control, but Omro quickly got back within a run with a pair of bloop hits to right field in the fifth. The first hit produced two runs before a triple scored two more, and an error on the play made it a little league homer and a one-run contest.

The hosts regained control with two huge insurance runs in the fifth. Krull doubled in Worzalla for the first run before Herb drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Potrykus.

Meverden was replaced by Ian Salvesen in the sixth, and the righty got the final six outs to seal up the win.

After walking the first two batters he faced in the sixth, Salvesen was able to settle in, pitch to contact and let his defense make plays behind him to get out of the inning unscathed.

Omro loaded the bases in the seventh inning and plated one run on a one-out single to right field. Witt-Birn right fielder Evan Meverden threw out a baserunner at home for the second out in the frame, and then Salvesen got a popup to end the game.

“Well, I don’t throw very hard and I don’t pitch very often but we needed a pitcher so I went in and tried to throw strikes,” said Salvesen after earning the save. “All the defense, they make plays and are pretty good.”

Mason Meverden got the win after striking out five batters over his five innings.

Serving as the away team for game two, Witt-Birn’s best chance to score was in the top of the first when it loaded the bases. A groundball ended the threat, and Witt-Birn wasn’t able to get much else going the rest of the game.

Zoromski posted two of the team’s three hits, with Salvesen having the other. Worzalla was hit by a pitch, while Mason Meverden, Potrykus and Herb walked for the team’s other baserunners in the contest.

“I don’t think the intensity (or) the energy was there the second game,” said Salvesen.

Waupekenay pitched all four innings for Witt-Birn. He struck out four batters while allowing five hits and four walks. Two of the runs he allowed were unearned after three team errors.

“It’s about having fun, having each other’s backs. When you have a bad play, when you’re having fun it doesn’t mean as much, you’re not going to be down for a couple innings,” said Potrykus. “We’re just trying to have fun to start the year, then by the end we’re going to try and run it up try to win a Legion state title.”

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