19u Squirrels drop opening game of Golden Arches Showcase

Charleston hurler Ben Bledsoe delivers a pitch against Ste. Genevieve Post 150 Friday afternoon during a game at the 2021 Golden Arches Showcase at VFW Stadium in Sikeston.

Brent Shipman/Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo – Coming off a season-opening win against the Mobile, Alabama, Rawdogs, the Charleston Fighting Squirrels hoped to stay hot Friday as they kicked off the Golden Arches Showcase against Ste. Genevieve Post 150.

Unable to keep up with Ste. Genevieve’s bats, however, saw the Squirrels lose in walk-off fashion 14-4 in the fourth inning.

“Through two games we’ve shown some good signs and some bad signs,” Charleston head coach Michael Minner said. “We just have to keep playing. We’re always looking to find out what we’re going to do at the end of the year and see what guys want to be in there.”

Charleston shortstop Chase Crosnoe applies a late tag to Ste. Genevieve Post 150’s Keaton Boyer Friday afternoon during a game at the 2021 Golden Arches Showcase at VFW Stadium in Sikeston.

Brent Shipman/Standard Democrat

In loading the bases with no one out, the Squirrels had a chance to blow the game open in the first inning, but only managed a run before Ste. Genevieve starting pitcher got out of the jam.

Post 150 knotted the game up in the home half of the first before scoring seven runs over the next two innings to take the lead and never look back.

Leading 8-4 in the bottom of the fourth, Ste. Genevieve plated a pair of runs before loading the bases with two outs.

Shortstop Zach Boyer stepped to the plate and hit a grand slam to left field to end the game on a walk due to the showcase’s 10-run rule after four innings.

While Post 150’s 11 hits in the game fueled their effort, Charleston didn’t do themselves any favors with several defensive miscues to go along with nine walked batters and another hit by a pitch.

“That’s one of those things,” Minner said. “We’re going to make plays, but tonight we didn’t. Things snowballed and it got ugly.

“That’s a good team and they made us pay for it. We’ll go back to work tomorrow.”

Ste. Genevieve’s Quentin Wittkopf earns the win in a complete-game effort. He allowed five hits while walking two and striking out two.

Nolan Self’s 2-2 effort led the Squirrel’s offensive performance. Self doubled on his way to scoring a run and driving in another.

Lance Smith doubled with Chase Crosnoe and Dylan Thornbrough each collecting a single.

For Post 150, Josh Bleser and Keaton Boyer both ended the night 3 for 3 with Boyer doubling twice and driving in three runs. Leadoff hitter Jayden Gegg was 2 for 3 with a walk, scoring three runs.

“The score doesn’t really matter,” Minner said. “We’re trying to find out who’s going to be competitive and hit and pitch in those clutch spots.

“We’ll put this one behind us and move forward. We have another game tomorrow night and have to get rolling.”

Charleston has three more games in the showcase, playing Rippers Baseball Saturday at 7 p.m. before facing both Faultline Baseball and the Squirrel’s 17u team on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.

All Saturday and Sunday games will be played at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.

WP – Quentin Wittkopf. LP – Ben Bledsoe. Multiple hitters: Nolan Self (C) 2-2, Jayden Gegg (S) 2-3, Josh Bleser (S) 3-3, Keaton Boyer (S) 3-3. 2B – Self (C), Gegg (S), Boyer (S) 2, Quentin Wittkopf. HR – Zach Boyer (S).