By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

ROSHOLT – A Central Wisconsin-South matchup between Rosholt and Almond-Bancroft at Brooks Field turned into a defensive battle on May 4. 

Both teams scored in their half of the first inning, but that’s all that crossed the plate in the Hornets’ 2-1 win.

“Well for us, we’ve been kind of in a schneid for a while. It’s good to get off it and get those runs early,” Rosholt coach Scott Pettersen said. “We are struggling at the plate, but it’s good to know that our defense came around today.”

Rosholt and Almond-Bancroft only had two hits each in the game. 

The Eagles grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. 

Shane Klismith drove in TJ Lamb with one of the two Almond-Bancroft hits.

The Hornets answered to tie the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the first. 

Rosholt took the 2-1 lead on a throwing error to first base on a strikeout.

After that, things turned to the pitching staff of both teams. 

Rosholt’s Thomas Lemancyzk retired Almond-Bancroft in order in two of the following three innings. 

Lamb and sophomore Brody Dernbach got on base in the third, but Rosholt’s defense got out of the jam without any damage done.

A similar pattern occurred at the top of the fifth with the same result.  

Pettersen said Lemancyzk did a good job of limiting the Eagles’ hitters.

“Knowing that [Lamb and Dernbach] are going to get their hits. Letting those guys have what they get and just not letting anybody else do anything.”

Defensively, Lamb went a strong four innings for the Eagles on the mound, striking out six batters.

Freshman Emmitt Stiles replaced him and threw two no-hit innings to keep Almond-Bancroft in the game. 

Lemancyzk’s day was cut short after six and two-thirds innings because of the 100-pitch rule. 

He struck out 11 batters on the day. 

Tyler Hintz came in for the final out, getting it in three pitches. 

Rosholt couldn’t get any more insurance runs but will look to improve in the batter’s box.

“We are working on our plate approach and just the whole mental side of the game. We need to start owning the strike zone and knowing what it is. We have changed our approach from being selective to being more free swingers.”