GRUNDY CENTER- Gladbrook-Reinbeck mustered just four hits in star pitcher Tyler Tscherter’s final game as a Rebel, falling 3-0 to Don Bosco in a Class 1A district final contest at Grundy Center on Saturday night.
“It’s a team thing. It seemed like we were a little flat footed tonight, but everyone has those days. I mean, that’s what baseball is,” Tscherter said. “At the end of the day, anybody can win on any day.”
Dons ace Lewis Havel tossed a gem on the mound with nine strikeouts and just four hits allowed in a seven inning complete game, and Don Bosco (16-1) played small ball to build a lead that the Rebels (9-8) could not overcome.
“We had some runners in scoring position in three innings. We just didn’t come through with it,” G-R coach Scott Kiburis said. “We were really close to dropping that ball into right field in the first inning, (and) we’re up 2-0 (if that happens). That’s just baseball, the way it is.”
G-R nearly got on the board in the top of the first inning when Keegan Giesking singled and stole second, Luke Riffey got on base, and a wild pitch put the runners at second and third. After Cullen Eiffler hit a ball that barely went foul down the right field line and eventually struck out, William Kiburis walked to load the bases with two outs, but Havel retired Aiden Wyatt to escape the jam.
The Dons manufactured a run in the bottom of the first when Cael Frost walked, stole second and third and scored on a Fischer Ohrt RBI groundout. Tscherter, who finished with six strikeouts on the mound, caught Dillon Welter looking to end the inning.
Both teams were retired in order in the second inning, and Tscherter hit an infield single in the top of the third before a double play ended the Rebel threat. Frost hit a double to deep centerfield in the bottom of the third, and Havel singled to bring him in and push the lead to 2-0. The Rebels went down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth, and Ryan Naughton hit an RBI single in the bottom of the inning to make the score 3-0. After an intentional walk, Tscherter struck out Havel to get out of the jam.
Tscherter and Giesking both singled in the top of the fifth, but G-R was unable to turn it into a run as a Nick Tscherter groundout ended the threat. Easton Larson doubled down the right field line in the bottom of the inning, but Tscherter struck out Mason Denton and got Cedric Yoder to pop out to get out of the jam without allowing a run.
The Rebels were retired in order in their final two plate appearances, and for the fourth time in five years, the season ended at the district finals. For Tyler Tscherter, Eiffler and Wyatt, it was their final game in a G-R uniform. Kiburis thanked them for their contributions to the program and looked forward to the 2021 campaign in his postgame comments.
Kiburis also singled out Tscherter, who has been a cornerstone of the program since he saw his first varsity action in eighth grade and will continue his baseball career at Kirkwood, for praise.
“He’s an excellent pitcher and wants to compete. He’s won a lot of games for us and thrown a lot of pitches for us, and it’s fun to watch him play,” Kiburis said.
