MURFREESBORO, TN — It’s a trip that is tradition for Crawfordsville baseball. The Athenians began their 2024 spring break trip down in Murfreesboro, TN on Thursday. Crawfordsville is one of 60+ teams from surrounding states competing in the Warrior Spring Classic. The Athenians took on Watkins Memorial, OH in their first game and it proved to be a great one between the two talented teams. Cville ended up falling 3-2 and fell to 0-2 on the young season.
The game saw Crawfordsville jump out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Sophomore Maddox Ball walked and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches which allowed Bryce Dowell to get CHS on the board with a an RBI single. Wyatt Motz reached on an error, and on an attempt to steal second, the Warriors threw down to second base and allowed Dowell to score the second run.
Watkins Memorial responded however with three of their own in the top of the third and that was all the scoring that would be done.
Crawfordsville loaded the bases in the first but couldn’t bring in a run. In total CHS left 10 runners on base in the game including in the bottom of the seventh. Two straight hit batsman saw Dowell and Motz get on. Jude Coursey then grounded into a fielders choice which saw Motz out at second. With the tying run 90 feet away at third Kale Wemer struck out and Kaden Patton put a charge into the ball but it was caught in deep center field for the final out of the game.
“We’re doing a lot of things well,” Crawfordsville coach Brett Motz said. “Now the last piece of that is finding a way to come out on top in these close games and making the plays that are necessary to win. We’re still only two games in and there’s things that we’re continuing to learn about this team and this group of guys. I want these guys to be able to know it takes to win these tight games and in these first two games we haven’t been able to do that.”
Crawfordsville (0-2) was held to just four total hits, all which came in the first three innings. Dowell, Motz, Patton and sophomore catcher Matt Miller all had one hit each.
On the mound Wemer gave CHS six strong innings as the Purdue commit struck out 12 and walked just two. Wemer gave up four hits and two earned runs.
“Kale deserves to be 2-0 instead of 0-2 right now,” Motz said of his senior ace. “I know that is going to take that and create additional energy for himself and his teammates. When Kale is on the mound, everyone in an Athenian jersey knows we have a chance to win the game. We have to play better behind him and play better offensively to make sure that he gets the support he deserves.”
Crawfordsville is back in action on Friday with a pair of games. CHS takes on Beavercreek, OH at 1 p.m. (2 p.m EST) and later that night will take on Paige High School (TN) at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. EST) as the Athenians look to capture their first win in 2024.
