In a game heard on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Olympia took advantage of a series of Monticello miscues on defense and beat the Sages 10-4 in Illini Prairie Conference high school boy's baseball action on a cold afternoon in Monticello.
Tied at four after five innings, Olympia started the inning with an innocent ground ball to the right side of the infield off the bat of Alex Kindred. Jacob Trusner at first base and Biniam Leinhart at second base both went for the ground ball and pitcher Jacob Long was late to cover allowing Kindred to reach.
Elijah Smith attempted a sacrifice bunt and a late read by the Monticello defense allowed him to reach and Kindred moved up to second base.
Leadoff hitter Adam Swartzendruber hit a ground ball to third base and the ball ricochetted off Eli Craft's hip and everone ended up moving up a base safely loading the bases.
Edwin Hohulin pulled off a surprise bunt and Long fielded it looking to first base but no one covered and a run scored to give the Spartans a 5-4 lead.
Cole Kindred singled in a run to make it 6-4 and a line drive off the bat of Josh Devore hit Monticello shortstop Joey Sprinkle in the heel of the glove and bounded to second base but again everyone was safe moving up a bag to move the score to 7-4.
The next batter Drew O'Donnell cleared the bases with a triple to center field and made it 10-4.
ISU-commit Luke Teschke struggled with control most of the afternoon. He struck out the last two batters of the first inning and the first batter of the second inning.
With one out in the second, Teschke walked three straight and that opened the door for a three-run frame capped by a Swartzendruber two-run triple. Teschke started the third inning with two quick outs but a walks and two hit batsmen later and the bases were loaded but he got out of the threat getting Alex Kindred on strikes.
Long led the Sages offense reaching base three times on an RBI single, a walk and was hit by a pitch and scored twice.
The Sages had a six-game winning streak snapped to move to 8-3 and 1-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference.
Olympia is 2-4 and 2-0 in conference play.
The Sages travel to IVC Saturday.
