BASEBALL: Tomah outdueled by Black River Falls in season-opening scoring bonanza

The start of the baseball season can sometimes bring with it rust for players to kick off. That seemed to be evident for both Tomah and Black River Falls, who put up plentiful runs combined with some shaky defense in their season opener.

The Tigers (1-0) outlasted the Timberwolves (0-1) for a 16-12 non-conference victory to begin the 2024 campaign on Thursday, March 28 at Dennis Senz Memorial Field in Tomah.

Black River Falls got out to an early 5-0 lead until Tomah tied things back up with a five-run rally in the bottom of the second that featured a bases-loaded walk by freshman center fielder/pitcher Owen Laudon and a two-run single courtesy of junior infielder Tucker Frandsen.

The Tigers responded by scoring the game's next eight runs, which the Timberwolves answered with another five-run rally in the bottom of the fourth — including junior shortstop/pitcher Jackson Steffel's RBI single, sophomore right fielder/second baseman Breckin Sheldon's bases-loaded walk and a two-run single from senior first baseman Jake Squires — that cut the deficit to 13-10.

Black River Falls tacked on a few insurance runs by scoring twice in the fifth inning and once more in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 16-10. Down to its last out in the bottom of the seventh, Tomah pushed a couple runs across the plate on an error but couldn't continue the comeback bid any further.

Squires led the way at the plate for the Timberwolves by going 2 for 4 with a walk, a run and three RBIs while Frandsen, Steffel and junior left fielder Cameron Finch each collected a hit as well. Black River Falls junior center fielder William Sedelbauer went 2 for 3 with a double, two walks, two runs and an RBI in the win.

The two teams combined to commit nine errors on the day.

UP NEXT

The Timberwolves are scheduled to play their Mississippi Valley Conference opener against the Aquinas Blugolds on Monday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Seminary Field in La Crosse. The next day they are slated to host Marshfield in a non-conference game Tuesday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m. in Tomah.