By DAVID WOOD, for The Democrat
After two consecutive wins, the varsity baseball team appeared poised and positive entering sectionals.
Boasting a senior-heavy lineup, they sought to use their experience to avoid critical errors and make the necessary plays.
However, drawing 19-8 Sullivan in the first round proved to be too tall of a task, as they fell 13-0 in five innings on May 23, dashing any postseason hopes.
“I thought we came out and competed. … Sullivan hit the ball really well and they found some holes,” head coach Ryan Wilcoxen said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]“Eli was kind of in command for the first three innings. We just couldn’t break through with any two-out hits or consistently get any base hits. … We just ran into a great team today.”
Brown County went out-for-out with Sullivan in the first two innings thanks to pitcher Eli Snider and company. They could only hold out for so long though, as Sullivan widened the gap by four in the third, closing it out from there.
Despite the outcome, senior Jake Riehl still believes there’s positivity to glean from his final season.
“I think my freshman year we maybe won four games, my sophomore year we won four or five again, my junior year we won seven or eight, and this year just goes to show that if you put in the work, good things are going to happen,” he said.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Brown County baseball program saw a double-digit, 10-win season. The Eagles finished 10-13 overall.
“I give credit to the seniors on that; with their hard work, they kind of righted the ship and battled,” Wilcoxen said.
“Those guys were sophomores when I took over and they gave me everything they had. I’m just very proud of our senior class and what they’ve been able to accomplish individually and as a team.”
All five seniors walked onto the diamond for the last time last week, but not without building lasting memories first.
“It’s been amazing. The seniors have played together since we were really little and the bond we’ve created over the years is amazing. I think we’ll be friends for the rest of my life,” Riehl said.
“It hasn’t hit me yet, but it’s hard to think I’ll never be out here again lacing up the cleats with my friends. That’s the hardest part.”
Now it’s up to the underclassmen to pick up where Riehl and his fellow seniors are leaving off.
“I think Brown County baseball has made a name for itself … back on the map,” Riehl said.
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Jake Riehl
Brandon Leslie
Josh Parry
Bryce Walker
John Wayne Zeigler
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