Flashback: Big Valley 11/12s bats come alive in Regionals

By Kenny Varner
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Updated: July 31, 2015

FREDERICKSBURG – In their quest to get back to playing Red Land, the Big Valley 11-12 year olds had just West Suburban standing in their way in its quest for a Regional crown.
The two will meet again.
In the end, Big Valley put on a hitting clinic, finishing with a 16-0 victory.
Over the weekend, Big Valley went 1-1 in Regional action with a 17-2 win over New Bethlehem and a loss to Red Land.
Big Valley went with Brycen Hassinger on the mound while West went with Landon Weeks.
Early on Big Valley provided the muscle, posting 15 quick runs, all with no outs.
After Hassinger pitched out of a first inning jam, collecting three strikes while leaving the bases loaded.
“The first game we played we didn’t really hit the ball that well but the last two games we started hitting the ball hard and that’s what we need to do,” Big Valley manager Gary Eichhorn said.
Offensively, Big Valley lead off hitter Marshall Maidens walked.
Colby Bodtorf smoked a pitch deep over the centerfield fence, making it 2-0. Ethan Eichhorn followed with a base hit up the middle.
Hassinger showed patience on the mound as well as at the plate walking on six pitches, putting runners on first and second.
Kaden Milliron smacked an RBI single to left center, allowing Eichhorn to score.
Cole Knable,Austin Wagner and Brody Schnell both followed with walks. Schnell’s walk left the bases loaded.
Milliron stole home and Anson Wagner roped a 2RBI slow single, upping the lead to 7-0.
In his second at bat of the inning, Maidens and Bodtorf picked up back-to-back singles, loading the bases.
Eichhorn blasted the pitcher once again, this time the result was a grand slam home run, upping the Big Valley lead to 12-0.
But Big Valley wasn’t done yet.
With a runner on, Milliron hit the third home run of the inning, adding two more to the lead, 14-0.
With only one out, Big Balley added two more before sending West Suburban’s second pitcher out of the game.
When all was said and done in the first Bug Valley had brought 16 runs across the plates and 20 batters to the plate.
Hassinger, who finished with six strike outs, and company were more relaxed going into the second inning and was able to keep the momentum going, setting Suburban down without a run once again and only allowed four batters up in the inning.
In the third, Bryce Yoder gave West Suburban its first run of the game as he singled in teammate Tyler Mosorsak, making it 16-1.
With the two inning shortened games, Big Valley still has depth coming on the mound.
“We are looking good at pitching. We have Colby Bodtorf going for us tommorrow, Eichhorn said. “I think we got a pretty good shot.”
In the last two games, Big Valley has outscored its opponents by a 33-3 margin as it heads into its rematch with Red Land.