MAAA baseball teams get first at-bats

BUNKER – Sam Fisher went 3-5 with four runs scored as the Bismarck Indians opened the season with a 16-hit effort to defeat Bunker 16-6 in six innings Monday night. Fisher also started the game, pitching three strong innings in which he allowed one run on only one hit. He struck out seven while walking one batter.

The Indians took advantage of some early miscues and built a 4-1 lead after one inning. Bismarck would score again in the third to make it 5-1 before an eight-run fourth inning put the game out of reach. Leading 13-6, the Indians tacked on three more runs in the bottom half of the sixth to put the 10-run rule into effect and earn a 16-6 victory.

Kyle Cooper relieved Fisher in the fourth inning and pitched 1/3 of an inning, giving up four runs on five hits. Ralph Scherffius relieved him and pitched 2/3 of an inning, striking out two and walking one. Tyler Henson took over on the mound in the sixth and finished out with two strong innings. He struck out five and walked one while allowing one run on one hit.

Bismarck is now 1-0 on the season. The Indians play again on Wednesday when they host Grandview.

Ste. Genevieve 8, Perryville 7

STE. GENEVIEVE – Andy Miller picked up a win with two scoreless innings in relief and Dane Werner broke a 7-7 sixth inning tie with an RBI single, leading the Ste. Genevieve Dragons over Perryville 8-7. Werner also hit a three-run homer in the third inning, giving him four RBIs for the day.

The Pirates got on the board first with two runs in the third, but Ste. Genevieve quickly bounced back with six in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead. Perryville rallied for five runs in the fifth to retake the lead at 7-6, but the Dragons struck back with runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Miller pitched a scoreless seventh, and the Dragons held on to win 8-7.

Jake Donze started for the Dragons and pitched five innings, giving up five earned runs. Donze allowed four hits while walking three and striking out seven. Miller pitched the final two innings, giving up only one hit while striking out three.

Ste. Genevieve is now 1-0 on the season. The Dragons return to action on Wednesday when they host Jackson.

North County 7, Sullivan 5

SULLIVAN – Lucas Hulsey batted 3-4 with three doubles and two RBIs and Shea Brady struck out 11 batters in five innings as the North County Raiders edged the Sullivan Eagles 7-5. Albert Cooley picked up the save with two scoreless innings in relief.

The Raiders nearly lost it after getting off to a strong start. North County scored two runs in the first and two in the third while Brady held the Eagles scoreless for four innings. Brady struggled in the fifth however, giving up five runs before getting out of the jam. The Raiders scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead and held on behind Cooley’s superb pitching to win 7-5.

Brady pitched five innings, giving up five runs on four hits. He struck out 11 while walking six. Cooley wrapped up the game with two scoreless innings. He struck out four while giving up only one hit.

The Raiders begin the season at 1-0. Their next scheduled game is set for Wednesday at home against De Soto.

St. Vincent 7, Fredericktown 1

FREDERICKTOWN – The St. Vincent Indians and their strong pitching staff were too much for the Fredericktown Blackcats to overcome Monday night. Tyler Halpin’s fifth-inning home run was all the offense Fredericktown could muster, and St. Vincent won 7-1.

Joaby Sikes started for the Blackcats, going five innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out two. Steve Weinecke pitched the final two innings in relief, giving up one run on two hits and striking out a batter. D.J. Hinkle went 2-3 to be the only Blackcat with multiple hits.

Fredericktown is now 0-1 on the season. The Blackcats play again today when they travel to Crystal City.