Klump, Ste. Gen Tops Jackson

By ERIC X. VICCARO

EVICCARO@STEGENHERALD.COM

JACKSON — The Ste. Genevieve High School baseball team came into Wednesday’s game versus Jackson needing a pick-me-up.

Meanwhile, the Class 6 Indians had been an early-season undefeated juggernaut, including an 8-7 conquest over Valle during the Old Settlement Tournament.

But, that’s why they play the game as Ste. Genevieve defeated Jackson 9-6 — following that with a 4-1 road victory over Arcadia Valley last Thursday — in improving to 4-5 on the season.

“This game was a real shot in the arm to our team to prove the potential they have day in and day out,” Ste. Genevieve head coach Michael McDaniel said. “There were moments during the game where we tried to give it away, but our guys refused to accept defeat. We were relentless in the pursuit to find a victory.”

McDaniel said the Dragons are still a “work in progress” trying to plug players into different spots — both in the field and in the batting order.

Carter Klump earned the win while Aiden Boyer pitched the sixth and seventh innings — recording a save.

Klump allowed six runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out seven and walked just two — with 97 total pitches (55 of them for strikes, 56.7 percent).

“I can’t say enough positive things about the job Carter did on the hill for nearly the entire game,” McDaniel said. “Everything he threw moved, and their hitters couldn’t get a beat on him because he was constantly throwing from ahead in the count.”

The Dragon defense committed three errors behind Boyer and him, but Ste. Genevieve battled through that adversity to win. Boyer struck out two and allowed only one walk.

Adrien DeRousse’s infield single scored Aiden Boyer and Andrew Glassey later pushed across a run on a Jackson error — giving the Dragons the insurance runs they needed during the sixth inning.

Aiden Boyer and Quentin Wittkopf both provided needed extra-base hits in the win, with Aiden Boyer and Glassey both going 2-for-3 at the plate.

DeRousse, Wittkopf and Boyer all provided two RBI, with Aiden Boyer, Zach Boyer and Glassey plating two runs each

Zach Boyer earned the win versus Arcadia Valley, but complete statistics weren’t available on GameChanger.