Exira-EHK out-duels East Mills in substate opener

Exira-EHK hurler Tyler Petersen mixed speeds and hit spots and East Mills never seemed to catch up.

Peterson’s 15 strikeout, five hit, complete-game gem lifted Exira-EHK to a 5-1 win over the Wolverines in the Class 1A, Substate 7 opening round last Monday in Sidney.

Exira-EHK advanced to meet Sidney’s in Tuesday’s quarterfinals in Exira.

East Mills coach Lee Christians said his team pressed more and more as the game went on and Petersen got into a groove.

“He was hitting his spots and we couldn’t adjust,” Christians said. “He was very aggressive attacking with his fastball early, hitting both corners and we got in a hole. We were playing the adjustment game, we just couldn’t catch up.”

Petersen allowed a leadoff hit to the Wolverines’ Mason Crouse before retiring nine straight, six by strikeout. The Spartans got on the board first in the third inning when Dane Paulsen’s flyout allowed Tyler Kingery to tag up and score from third base.

East Mills would answer in top of the fourth with back-to-back, two out hits by Ethan Meier and Andrew Jackson. Meier singled followed by Jackson but a throwing error allowed Meier to come all the way around and score to tie the game at 1-1.

The Spartans would have an answer of their own in the bottom of the frame. A bloop hit and an error scored Easton Nelson and then a pitch perfect suicide squeeze would allow Paulsen to slide in safely for the 3-1 lead.

Wolverines would load the bases with no outs once more in the fifth. Singles by Lincoln Palmer and Crouse and a walk by Davis McGrew set up the plate but a fielder’s choice, a Petersen strikeout and a base running error would end the potential rally before it could start.

Exira tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth and Petersen retired the Wolverines in order in the sixth and seventh.

Christians said starting pitcher Jack Anderson threw “fantastic” but his team’s offense and ability to generate runs when they needed them, never got going.

“The big difference in the game was when they had guys at third base with less than two outs they found a way to get him in,” he said. “We had bases loaded with no outs and we couldn’t get anyone in. Honestly I thought we played well defensively. We just made a few mental errors.”

Anderson went the distance on the mound, striking out five and scattering five singles and no extra-base hits.
The loss ends East Mills’ season with a record of 6-16.

Two seniors and one junior will move on from this year’s squad and all three will be sorely missed, according to Christians. Seniors

Jackson Wray and Anderson and Meier are longtime contributors to the Wolverine program.

“Jackson and Jack have been around forever,” Christians said. “They were (team) managers when they were seventh graders. They were playing baseball in Glenwood during the day and coming to our games at night helping keep book and carrying equipment. Those guys are great players and leaders and hard workers that have been around a long time.”

Meier, a junior, will graduate early and will also not return next season.

“That kid has come a long way,” Christians said. “He had never played baseball before seventh grade and he ended up being one of our better arms, better bats and better outfielders. He worked his butt off to get where he is.”