By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
Two weeks ago, Burlington High School baseball coach Scott Staude knew his team was entering a critical stretch of the season, with two games each against Wilmot and Waterford.
With three of the four games now behind, Staude is pretty confident in his squad.
A 2-0 win over Waterford at Waterford Tuesday improved the Demons to 10-3 overall and 6-1 in the SLC. With Wilmot’s loss to Westosha Central Tuesday, the Demons now have a one-game lead in the SLC.
Judging from what Staude is seeing from his team, the Demons might be able to make that lead hold up.
“Our pitching is definitely a strength of our team,” the coach explained. “We have found that out within the last three games.
“The positive would be the defense and the pitching,” he added. “Offensively, we’re struggling a little bit, but we’re seeing good pitching, so it’s hard to say.”
In the Waterford game, senior Austin Smith put together a near-perfect game in picking up the complete-game win.
“The Waterford game, honestly, was dominated by Austin Smith,” Staude said. “He’s definitely our No. 1. I don’t know that there are many better pitchers in this part of the state right now.”
Of the 23 batters Smith faced, 17 were delivered first-pitch strikes, and 15 grounded out in the infield. Smith allowed just two hits, and struck out three while walking none.
In his last 26 innings, Smith is 4-0, has struck out 20 and walked just three batters – and given up no earned runs.
Burlington gained its two runs in the top of the fifth inning, both after two outs. Luke Syens reached on an error, then stole second. Chandler Meseberg then had an infield single to put runners at the corners.
Syens scored on a wild pitch, while Meseberg went to second. Jack Simenson then hit an RBI single to right field.
The Demons were coming off a 3-2 loss to Wilmot at Wilmot last week, a home-and-home split for the two squads.
“We had so many opportunities,” Staude said. “We just could not get that big hit to put us ahead or even tie the game.
“We knew we were going to go through a few of these bumps.”
Zach Borkowski was 2-for-2 with a run scored for BHS, while Nolan Friend was saddled with the complete-game loss, striking out four and walking one. None of the runs in the game were earned for eithe
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