Kris Ransberger delivers a pitch in the first game of the Sturgis Invitational.
(Photo by Michael Caywood)
Upping its season record to 4-2, the Trojans baseball team finished runner-up to Vicksburg Saturday at the Sturgis Invitational.
Sturgis won the first game against Rudyard, 10-1, and lost the second game to Vicksburg, 10-3. “We hit pretty well, but we just made too many errors,” sophomore Tristen Stewart said. “We needed to come out and be errorless to win that game.”
In first-game action, the Trojans cruised behind the excellent pitching effort of Kris Ransberger, who pitched a complete game and allowed one run and three hits.
“Kris threw lights out in game 1,” Keim said.
The Trojan bats were solid through the whole game also, plating a run in each of the first four innings. Leading the offense was Tristen Stewart, who collected three hits and a RBI. While his brother, Chance, went 2-for-4 with his second home run of the season. He also picked up two RBIs.
Ben Sisson also knocked one over the fence for his first homer of the year.
“I knew the [bat] hit squared and that the [ball] was over the center fielders head,” Sisson said. “It felt really good, and it was definitely a confidence booster. Sisson also batted in a pair of runs. Tyler Cain recorded a triple, and Cain, Jack Caywood, Oakley Stevens and Bryce Jasper each finished with a RBI.
Sturgis cooled off at the plate in the finals against Vicksburg. The Bulldogs took advantage of some costly fielding errors by the Trojans to take an early lead.
“In the finals, we made uncharacteristic errors defensively that hurt us,” Keim said.
The Bulldogs scored all their runs in the first and second innings, while the Trojans scored their runs in the second. Sisson went 3-for-3, while Ransberger picked up two RBIs, a double and a single. Kalvyn Bowdish had a single and RBI to go with a stolen base, and Chance Stewart, Caywood and Cain all finished with singles.
“Overall, it was a good day for Sturgis baseball. We hit the ball real well all day,” Keim said. “I love the fight this team has.”
The Trojans look to bounce back Tuesday at home in a SMAC East doubleheader against the Spartans of Battle Creek Lakeview. The first game of the doubleheader starts at 4 p.m.
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