Oran baseball team continues strong season with 8-1 win against Saxony Lutheran

Oran allowed Saxony Lutheran starter Ethan Mirly to wiggle out of a jam in the first inning Tuesday.

Eagles catcher Alex Heuring didn't allow him to do it in the second inning.

Heuring one-hopped a double off the left-field wall to plate two runs with two outs in the second to help the Eagles defeat the host Crusaders 8-1.

"I was looking fastball because I knew he had to get ahead in the count with two outs and runners on," Heuring said. "I saw a fastball and I hit it."

It was a bit of redemption for Heuring, who helped Mirly get out of the first inning without allowing a run when he grounded into a double play.

Saxony Lutheran relief pitcher Jon Winkler throws to an Oran batter during the third inning.

"First at-bat, I was off balance and I knew I really needed to come up big with two runners on," Heuring said. "I got fastball down the middle and I was sitting on it. Pretty good swing on it."

Oran ended up scoring five runs in the second inning, which chased Mirly. It looked like the Eagles were headed toward an easy victory, but Saxony Lutheran relief pitcher Jon Winkler slammed the door on Oran's offense.

"He threw a little bit more of a curveball," Oran's Blake Carlyle said about Winkler.

The Eagles (10-2) only managed two singles off Winkler until the seventh inning.

"I always pitch to contact, especially a team like Oran," Winkler said. "Coach always tell me to keep the ball low. I'm not the fastest pitcher, so I'm definitely pitching for contact and my defense helps me."

Oran finally got to Winkler in the seventh inning. The Eagles collected four hits, including a single by Heuring to drive in his third run of the game, to end Winkler's day.

"I probably went with him an inning too long," Saxony Lutheran coach Paul Sander said about Winkler, who pitched 4 2/3 innings Saturday and five innings Tuesday.

Sander lamented the free bases his team allowed. The Crusaders (7-6) issued seven walks and hit three batters, although only one of those baserunners scored. Sander lumps walks and hit batters into walks and said it was the second consecutive game that the Crusaders pitching staff issued 10 free passes.

"We've really got to work hard to cut down on our walks," Sander said. "It just opens up the gates, and when you're playing a good team like Oran, you usually don't get by with it."

Saxony Lutheran slowed down Oran's offense in the middle innings, but the Crusaders' offense failed to ignite. Clayton Fritsche's liner up the middle in the third inning was the Crusaders' lone hit in the contest.

"They're really good pitchers," Winkler said. "You've got to find a way to hit the ball. Jump on the first ball. I know we'd never seen them before, but they threw a lot of first-pitch fastballs. You've really got to jump on it because they're really good pitchers so they're going to throw strikes."

Oran coach Mitch Wood used three pitchers to subdue the Crusaders. Dalton Elfrink allowed the lone hit and struck out four over three innings to earn the win. Kody Moore struck out three over the next three innings, and Heuring finished the game by allowing an unearned run in the seventh.

"We had two games this week and I've got about six kids who can throw a little bit, so I threw three of them [Monday] and three of them today," Wood said. "We've got a tournament this weekend and now we're off until Friday, so we needed to get some work in. Instead of throw a bullpen, I let them get a little live pitching."

Part of the reason for Saxony Lutheran's offensive struggles was no Crusaders batter faced the same Oran pitcher more than once. When Fritsche recorded the Crusaders' lone hit, he was erased on a double play.

"It's difficult for our kids to adjust, especially with pitchers that good," Sander said.

Oran 050 000 3 -- 8 10 2

Saxony 000 000 1 -- 1 1 2

WP -- Dalton Elfrink. LP -- Ethan Mirly. 2B -- Alex Heuring (O). Multiple hits -- Oran: Seth Ressel3-4, Heuring 2-5, Blake Carlyle 3-4. Records -- Oran 10-2, Saxony Lutheran 7-6.