Geneseo Uses Strong Fifth Inning to Break Through Rock Island High School Baseball – QCVarsity.com

That’s what Geneseo baseball coach Joe Nichols preaches to his team — especially with grassroots runners.

Jaden Weinzierl did just that to provoke the four-run fifth shift that opened the gates for an 11-1 win under the six-over rule over Rock Island on Tuesday at Richmond Hill Park.

Rock Island led 1-0 at the bottom of heel, but Genew’s Andrew Cotty led the inning with a single — the first for the Maple Leafs since the first inning. Caleb Craterfield and AJ Weller followed the walks, and then Geneseo freed himself.

Nash Clementz tied the game of choice in third, but that all changed when Weinzierl hit the chopper down the middle.

The Rocks (3-7, 0-3 WB6) appeared to have a chance to undo a double play late in the inning – which would have sent them into a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning – but the ball bounced high lips of the grass and bounced off Rocky’s brief stop into right field.

The runner scored on the first miss, but the shot from the right flew over the third seed’s head and went into the dugout, making the Maple Leaf’s second series 3-1.

“I thought it was going to be a doubles game, but it wasn’t an easy routine game,” Nichols said. “He had to go a long way to get it. It’s a perfect example of the ball being in play, we have a chance.”

Genesis pitcher Thomas Henson fielded Weinzierl in a single and scored to make it 4-1. Henson was the one to keep Genese (8-3, 4-1 WB6) in the game, despite Rock Island’s Dylan Martin going four innings without a goal to start.

But during the warm-up, Henson’s start was questionable.

“Before the game he told us he wasn’t sure if he could walk,” Nichols said. “I don’t know if he was completely relaxed, but after he threw away his pen, he said he wanted to try. He got through the first shift and then he just kept going.”

Rock Island outplayed two cars in the first inning to win the race. Henson drew the first two sticks, but Martin selected the left and placed the Xander George RBI single in left field.

“At first I didn’t have a lot of confidence because of my hand, but once I settled down I started to get it,” Henson said. “I knew I could throw in the middle or hit corners and my teammates would play.”

And that’s exactly what he did. Rock Island smashed the shot from time to time, but Henson kept Rocky’s bat off balance by changing his speed and allowing his position and defense to do the work.

“It’s just my throwing style,” Henson said. “I try to hurt the corners so they don’t direct the ball as easily.”

Martin allowed two runners in the first game, but then didn’t allow another goal until the fifth inning. The day ended with five strikeouts.

“He’s been really good for us, he’s given us a chance to win a few games,” said Rock Island coach Jake Scudder. “He’s one of our workhorses with three or four starts. We just have to find a way to win tight games when we get the chance.”

After Geneseo scored 4-1, Rock Island fought back at the top of sixth place and loaded the bases with just one car against Clementz. But Geneseo Reliever got a strikeout and jumped out to get out of the crowd.

“It was really great not even letting her go there,” Nichols said. “I went out and told him it was a 4-1 game so guess what. I knew our defense would play.”

Two half-changes that changed the dynamics of the game in a hurry.

“Whoever ends the game with momentum wins and we had that in the first 4 2/3 of the innings but then they got a few hits and we sprayed it off the bench,” said Scudder. “We gave them opportunities and they took them.”

Geneseo became much more disciplined towards the end of the game – which Nichols says was intentional – and it worked. The Maple Leafs earned four moves in the seventh inning and set a seven-run frame.

Cooper Mathews sent it all home with a 3-RBI triple that broke deep down the center right. He missed the Grand Slam for what looked like a few inches but still sent it all home.

“Cooper’s one of those guys who does his dick,” Nichols said. “He works hard and does exactly what we ask of him. I think he would tell you that he fixed some mental things this year. It was really great to see his racquet keeping him in the lineup.

Next, Geneseo plays Riverdale at home on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Rock Island will try to come back home against Rock Falls on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.