Ronan Baseball Drops Three Straight
The Ronan Chiefs baseball team battled through a tough week on the road, dropping three games to Sentinel, Bigfork, and Columbia Falls to fall to 5-6 on the season.
Ronan wrapped up the week with a 14-7 loss to AA Missoula Sentinel on Saturday, April 26. The Chiefs jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the second inning and added three more runs in the fifth to keep things competitive, but a five-run sixth inning by the Spartans broke the game open.
Offensively, Damien Hess led the way for Ronan with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and three RBIs. Everett Lozeau and Bayland Hess also had two hits apiece, while Hunter Luedtke and Liam Jackson each chipped in with a hit. Luedtke and Kingston Elk Shoulder both drove in runs to keep Ronan in the game early, but five defensive errors and free passes on the mound made it hard to contain Sentinel’s offense.
On the hill, Ronan used four different pitchers. Treysin Sinclair started the game and threw a clean first inning, followed by Jackson and Bayland Hess. Luedtke pitched the final two innings and was tagged with the loss after allowing nine runs, only three of them earned, as Ronan’s defense faltered behind him.
Two days earlier, Ronan fell 11-5 to Bigfork in another game where defensive errors loomed large. The Chiefs were out-hit just 8-3, but five Ronan errors helped the Vikings put up runs.
Luedtke once again swung a hot bat, going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. Luedtke also got the start on the mound, giving up five runs in two innings before Ben Mitchell took over and threw four innings in relief. Mitchell struck out five but allowed six runs, five of them earned.
Ronan opened the week with a road game at Columbia Falls on Tuesday, April 22, falling 13-3 in a contest that saw the Wildcats pull away late. The Chiefs trailed just 4-3 entering the fourth inning but couldn’t keep pace with Columbia Falls’ offense, which erupted for 10 runs over the final three innings.
Lozeau led the Chiefs with an RBI single, while Sinclair and Denzel Baltz each added hits. Errors once again plagued Ronan’s defense, with six miscues contributing to Columbia Falls’ big innings.
Jackson pitched into the fifth inning before handing the ball off to Mitchell, who allowed three unearned runs in relief.
Saturday, April 26
At Missoula
SENTINEL 14, RONAN 7
Ronan - 0400300 - 7 - 9 - 5
Sentinel - 020345x - 14 - 10 - 4
RONAN HITTING: Hunter Luedtke 1-4, Treysin Sinclair 0-5, Liam Jackson 1-4, Everett Lozeau 2-4, Ben Mitchell 1-3, Damien Hess 2-3, Kevin Pierce 0-3, Denzel Baltz 0-2, Bayland Hess 2-4; RBI: Luedtke, Elk, Hess 3
RONAN PITCHING: Treysin Sinclair (1IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB), Liam Jackson (2IP, 1H, 2R, 0ER, 4BB, 3SO), Bayland Hess (1IP, 3H, 3R, 0ER, 1BB), Hunter Luedtke (2IP, 5H, 9R, 3ER, 4BB, 1SO)
Thursday, April 24
At Bigfork
BIGFORK 11, RONAN 5
Ronan - 0120002 - 5 - 3 - 5
Bigfork - 320024x - 11 - 8 - 2
RONAN HITTING: Treysin Sinclair 0-3, Liam Jackson 1-4, Everett Lozeau 0-4, Ben Mitchell 0-2, Hunter Luedtke 2-3, Lucas Johnston 0-1, Damien Hess 0-2, Denzel Baltz 0-3, Bayland Hess 0-3; RBI: Luedtke 4; 2B: Luedtke
RONAN PITCHING: Hunter Luedtke (2IP, 2H, 5R, 4ER, 3BB, 2SO), Ben Mitchell (4IP, 6H, 6R, 5ER, 3BB, 5SO)
Tuesday, April 22
At Columbia Falls
COLUMBIA FALLS 13, RONAN 3
Ronan - 102000 - 3 - 3 - 6
C-Falls - 300163 - 13 - 11 - 2
RONAN HITTING: Hunter Luedtke 0-2, Treysin Sinclair 1-2, Liam Jackson 0-3, Everett Lozeau 1-3, Damien Hess 0-3, Ben Mitchell 0-2, Lucas Johnston 0-2, Denzel Baltz 1-1, Bayland Hess 0-1; RBI: Lozeau
RONAN PITCHING: Liam Jackson (4 and 1/3IP, 8H, 10R, 8ER, 6BB, 2SO), Ben Mitchell (1 and 1/3IP, 3H, 3R, 0ER, 1BB, 1SO)