‘Dogs go home with tails between legs

By: 
Mickey Alvarado

Sam Benschoter (30) earned a 3-1 victory over Chelsea. Photo by Mickey Alvarado.

Facing possibly the best pitching they would see all season, Chelsea’s Bulldogs were unable to pick up a varsity baseball win and were swept at Tecumseh on Monday with a pair of losses. Tecumseh sent the Bulldogs home with Southeastern Conference losses of 3-1 and 6-4 and improved to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in the conference. 
 
Senior Sam Benschoter earned the win in game one, pitching all seven innings and giving up one unearned run on five hits, walking five and striking out 14.
 
Benschoter was just 1-for-3 at the plate but the hit he had was a big one. He hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie.
 
Jordan Patterson (double, triple, run) and Trey Mitchell (run) each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Tecumseh.
 
“The first game was a good baseball game between two very good pitchers,” said Tecumseh coach Tom Bullinger. “We didn’t have a lot of base runners in that game, but we did a good job of scoring the runner from third when we got them there.” 
 
In game two, Dylan Smith (4ip, 3 runs, 5 hits, 6 BB, 1 K) started on the mound and was relieved by Will Sparrow (3ip, 1 unearned run, 3 hits) who earned the win.
 
Tecumseh’s offense was led by Jakob Shadley (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Jakob Coker (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI), Patterson (1-for-3, triple, RBI) and Benschoter (1-for-2, 2 RBI).
 
“I really liked our approach in the second game,” said Bullinger. “We had different guys step up and get a big hit for us. Jakob Coker’s base hit to break the tie in the sixth was huge. We need clutch hits from everyone in our lineup if we want to compete in this league.”
 
The first home games for Tecumseh took place on Tuesday, April 13, and the Indians swept the Flying Dutchmen with wins of 11-0 and 8-2.
 
The first game against Manchester lasted just five innings with Benschoter earning a no-hitter from the mound. He pitched all five innings and gave up no hits while striking out two and walking two with 16 strikeouts.
 
Tecumseh’s offense was led by Trey Mitchell (3-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Shadley (2-for-3, 3 runs, RBI), Aaron Luci (2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI) and Coker (2-for-3, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI).
 
“We worked on hitting all break and for a few of our guys it really showed,” said Bullinger. “We still have to continue to improve on offense, but we put the ball in play today and hit some balls hard.”
 
Luci started on the hill for the Indians in game two against Manchester and earned the win after throwing three innings. He gave up one run on two hits while walking two and striking out three.
 
Smith pitched two innings for Tecumseh and gave up one hit while striking out three.
 
Sparrow was also sent in on relief and pitched two innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.
 
“Our pitching was very good today,” said Bullinger. “Sam [Benschoter] is a true number one and all he wants to do is win. We still have to figure out the order of some of our other guys, but I like the competition it will bring out in our number two, three and four pitchers.”
 
Tanner Fugate (3-for-4, 1 run, RBI) and Luci (1-for-3, double, RBI) led the Indians’ offense.
 
In an SEC crossover on Saturday, April 16, the Indians lost 4-2 against Ann Arbor Pioneer and 8-7 to Ann Arbor Huron.
 
Spencer Cowen (4ip, 3 runs, 7 hits, 3 BB, 2 K’s) recorded the loss.
 
Sparrow (3ip, 1 unearned run, 2 hits, 3 K’s) pitched in relief for the Indians.
 
Tecumseh’s offense was led by Luci (2-for-3, RBI) and Benschoter (1-for-2, run).
 
Against Ann Arbor Huron, Luci (5ip, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 5 K’s) started on the hill and was relieved by Smith (4 runs, 1 hit, 2 BB). Sparrow (2/3ip, 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 K) and Drew Cameron (1/3ip, 1 BB) also pitched in relief. Benschoter (1ip, 1 unearned run, 0 hit) recorded the loss.
 
The Indians’ offense was led by Cowen (3-for-3), Patterson (2-for-4, 2 doubles, RBI), Shadley (2-for-4, RBI) and Benschoter (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
 
“I liked our approach at the plate today. We saw some good pitching and I hope that gets us ready for league play,” said Bullinger. “I also liked the way Aaron Luci pitched today. He kept a good hitting team off the board and only gave up one hit. We can’t give the other team that many freebies and expect to win though. Too many errors and too many walks. Those lead to runs and that cost us today.”

Category:

Tecumseh Herald

 

110 E. Logan St.
P.O. Box 218
Tecumseh, MI 49286
517-423-2174
800-832-6443

Email Us

FacebookTwitter

Latest articles

  • America Beltran, a 23-year-old graduate of Tecumseh High School was arrested by ICE agents in February.

    Wed, 03/27/2024 - 2:58pm
  • Tohni Campbell (l) and Kathy Lucha inside Selma’s Opal in downtown Tecumseh. Photo by Jim Lincoln.

    Wed, 03/27/2024 - 2:55pm
  • LISD Tech Center FFA student Camden Grodi, left, and Tecumseh Rotary Club President Holly Willey work on a water pasteurization indicator at the tech center on March 21. Submitted photo.

    Wed, 03/27/2024 - 2:34pm

Please Login for Premium Content