It’s been a rough start to the season for the Gillett High School baseball team.
The winless Tigers logged just four hits in a doubleheader against Peshtigo, ranked 10th in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association poll, losing 16-2 and 17-2 in five innings in both games.
On a sunny afternoon in Gillett with temperatures reaching the mid-50s, Peshtigo (10-1 overall, 4-1 Marinette & Oconto Conference) had its sticks working, tallying 22 hits in the sweep.
“I had hoped to go seven innings instead of five-inning games,” Gillett coach Pat Nelson said. “We’re sort of getting fed up with these short games. The kids are getting down a little bit after we get down a couple of runs because we haven’t been scoring that many runs.”
In the opening game, Gillett (0-8, 0-8 M&O) was unable to battle a no-hit pitching performance by Peshtigo starting pitcher Zach Neumann, who struck out the first 11 batters he faced in a 14-strikeout performance.
“He’s always around the plate, he’s got good control,” Peshtigo coach Pat Robbins said. “He’s got a good breaking ball, good curveball.”
Derek Zahn was on the hill for Gillett. The team’s ace made the Peshtigo hitters put the ball in play, but the Tigers’ defense struggled, committing three errors in the third inning when the Bulldogs plated 13 of their 14 batters.
Peshtigo had nine hits in the game as Darius Dohl went 3-for-3.
Peshtigo got off to an early lead in the second game scoring nine runs in the first two innings.
“Peshtigo hits the ball good,” Nelson said. “They’ve got some good kids on their team.”
Gillett had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the third inning as Benny Taylor singled with one out and Wade Wasmund walked. However, Zak Pickl struck out the next two hitters.
Down 11-0, Derek Zahn and Eric Fischer had back-to-back singles to start the fourth inning for the Tigers. Zahn came around to score on a Bryce Cibulka sacrifice fly, and Fischer plated a run on a wild pitch. Dylan Boucher later singled with two outs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Boucher replaced starter Brian Zahn on the mound and didn’t fare too well. The first four Peshtigo hitters reached base before Jordan Berth unloaded a grand slam to left field to cap what turned into a six-run inning to make it 17-2.
At this point in the season, Nelson knows his team isn’t as far along as he had desired.
“I had hoped to have a couple of wins,” Nelson said. “At the beginning of the year we were hoping for five, get a couple against Niagara and Lena. Strength-wise, we’re about the same as those two teams. We were hoping to take four games from them and get one from Crivitz.”
Gillett will have a chance to notch its first win Thursday at Crivitz.
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