QUAKERS GET ONE LAST TUNE UP BEFORE TOURNAMENTS

SALEM OH-

The final regular season game at Ray Reasbeck field featured a lot of offense from both teams and another Quaker victory to put a cap on the 2021 campaign with an 11-8 win over Columbiana Monday.

The Quakers once again got off to a hot start Monday night as they put up 4 runs in the first inning to grab control of the game. A pair of run scoring singles by juniors Corey Riesen and Hunter Carlisle with a run scored on a passed ball sandwiched in between gave the Quakers the start they needed.

After a 1-2-3 first inning junior pitcher Cayden Burt got roughed up in the second inning giving up 6 runs on 5 hits, a walk and an error in the field. But Burt bounced back after the rocky second inning not allowing another Columbiana hit and if it wasn’t for Sophomore Gavin Wilms needing some work in the final two innings, probably would have finished the game for the Quakers with another strong performance.

Speaking of Wilms, the big sophomore gave the lead back to Salem in the second after fellow sophomore Donnie Oesch led things off with a double and scored on a bases loaded walk, Wilms hit a mammoth 3 run blast into the student section in left to make it an 8-6 game.

Salem would add 3 more runs in the 3rd make it 11-6 and that’s the way the ballgame would end with Wilms on the mound to shut down the regular season with the team’s 23rd victory of the year. The Quakers finished the regular season 23-3 and will host Louisville in the sectional finals on Wednesday at Ray Reasbeck Field at 5 pm.

*Contributed By Mike Debarr at salemathletics.org