Paulik, Ferverda homer, Beck fans 7 as Zebras clinch 3rd in TRC

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Brant Beck

Baseball

Rochester 7, Lewis Cass 1 (Thursday): Carson Paulik and Colton Ferverda both homered and Brant Beck allowed one run over five innings while striking out seven as the Rochester baseball team clinched third place in the Three Rivers Conference with a road win over Lewis Cass Thursday.

Gavin Young had two singles and three RBIs at the plate, and he also threw two scoreless innings on the mound in relief of Beck to close the game out.

Owen Cotner-Graves scored Lewis Cass’ lone run on Beck’s wild pitch in the second.

Young’s RBI single in the first with the bases loaded put Rochester ahead for good.

In the second, Paulik took Lewis Cass pitcher Wyatt Orpurt deep for a two-run homer, and Young later added a two-run single to make it 5-0.

Ferverda homered to lead off the third to make it 6-1.

Brady Beck contributed a sacrifice fly in the sixth to complete the scoring.

Brant Beck also had two hits at the plate. Paulik, Ferverda, Brady Coleman and Parker Casper added two hits each. Tanner Reinartz reached base four times on a double and three walks.

Lewis Cass pitchers walked seven and hit a batter.

Brant Beck retired the side in order in the first and fourth innings. He had three strikeouts in the fifth inning, including one of Wade Tocco with two on base to retire the side.

Lewis Cass had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth before Young escaped the jam.

In other TRC action Wednesday, Peru handled Whitko 12-3, and Manchester routed Northfield 16-1 in five innings.

Peru and Manchester shared the TRC title with 8-1 records. Rochester finished third at 6-3.

Rochester will play Manchester in the Class 2A, Sectional 36 quarterfinals at Wabash at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Rochester 7, Lewis Cass 1

Rochester 141 001 0 – 7 13 1

Lewis Cass 010 000 0 – 1 5 2

WP – Brant Beck (5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)

LP – Orpurt (5 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K)

2B – Colton Ferverda (RHS), Tanner Reinartz (RHS), Tocco (LC)

HR – Carson Paulik (RHS), Colton Ferverda (RHS)