Potosi dominates clash of division powers

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

STE. GENEVIEVE - The Valle baseball team welcomed the chance to face another powerful non-conference opponent at Yanks Field on Friday, but only visiting Potosi would have reason to celebrate.

Landon Young crushed a towering grand slam during a six-run sixth inning, and junior Patrick Reeves delivered another tremendous effort on the mound, as the Trojans posted a resounding 13-0 victory in six innings.

Young added a single to finish 2-for-4 and Tanner Glore went 2-for-3 while reaching base four times to highlight an eight-hit attack by the co-leaders of the MAAA Large-School division.

Potosi (12-2) likely clinched no worse than the second seed for the upcoming league tournament with its sixth consecutive win, and will battle North County for a conference title on Tuesday.

Valle (13-4), which stands atop the Small-School standings and is currently ranked No. 1 among Class 2 teams in the state, committed five defensive errors while three pitchers combined to issue 10 total walks.

Reeves worked efficiently with just three hits allowed and recorded three strikeouts to earn his second straight shutout just four days after twirling a no-hitter against Lesterville.

The lead-off batter reached safely for Potosi in every frame except the first, and Glore opened the scoring in the third against Valle ace Nathan Geile with a stinging RBI double that scored Devin Hampton.

A throwing error increased the margin in the fourth, and Chad Smith broke open the contest with a three-run double in the fifth after reliever Andrew Bader walked Blake Gilliam to load the bases.

Potosi carried a 7-0 advantage into the sixth, and the unlikely 10-run rule was invoked when Young hammered the first pitch from Aaron Basler well beyond the left-field wall.

The Warriors nearly pushed across a late run following singles from Cole Bieser and Geile, but Glore and Young each made difficult stops up the middle to record a pair of force outs at second base.

Sophomore Zach Weiler made two impressive outfield assists from left field for Valle. He first gunned down a runner at third base in the third inning, then made a strong throw home to complete a double-play in the fourth.

Smith scored three runs overall while Dylan Eye and Gilliam contributed singles for Potosi.

Geile fanned three batters and yielded six hits before departing in the fifth, and finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Valle will attempt to lock up a conference crown at West County on Tuesday.

Potosi  001 156 - 13  8  0

Valle  000 000 - 0  3  5

WP - Reeves 6i 0r 3h 3k 2bb.

LP - Geile 4i 4r 3er 6h 3k 3bb 1hp.

Hitting:

Potosi - Glore 2-3, Young 2-4, Smith 1-1, Hampton 1-2, Gilliam 1-3, Eye 1-5. 2b - Glore, Smith. GS - Young.

Valle - Geile 2-3, Bieser 1-3.