OZARK, MO – Grand View played their first game of the Heart of America Conference Tournament today! They received the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament and faced off against the No. 5 seed Park University.
Kaleb Krier, who was just named Heart Pitcher of the Year, made his way to the mound, looking to continue his dominance into the postseason. Krier gave up a hit and a walk in the top of the first and the Pirates struck first in this one.
Grand View tied the game in the bottom of the first, as Dane Schwirtz doubled down the line in left, and first team All-Conference first baseman, Erik Broekemeier, drove him in.
Park added a couple more in the second inning, but Grand View matched this once again. Carson Wadel singled which gave the Vikings wheels on the bases. Partrick Bergkamp followed with a single of his own and Brock Johnson showed his power at the leadoff spot, ripping a two RBI double in the right-center field gap.
Krier settled into a groove after this. Krier went four more innings and gave up three hits in those innings. The right-hander threw 114 pitches in six full innings for the Vikings.
Grand View took the lead just before that, with a two run fifth inning. Brock Rinehart brushed off a ball that came too far inside and the Vikings had a base runner early, as Connor Canny came in to pinch run. Broekemeier singled to right field on the next at-bat and both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. All-Conference first team selection, Hank Himrich, singled up the middle and brought in two runs to regain the lead for GV.
Noah Kueter came in to pitch the top half of the 7th and the Pirates picked up two runs to tie the game, one on an awkward dribbler to first.
The Vikings broke the tie again in the bottom half, with great team ball. Stalder pinch ran for Broekemeier who led the inning off with a single. Evan Borst moved Stalder to second on a sacrifice bunt. After the bases loaded up on a few walks, Bergkamp took advantage with a poke into center and a 6-5 Grand View lead.
Jacob Wolver came in for relief in the top of the eighth and showed his fight. Park loaded the bases with on Wolver with just one out. Wolver delivered a ground ball to first and Erik made the quick throw home to earn the force out at the plate. Then with two outs, Johnson retrieved the fly ball in right field, and the Vikings maintained the lead.
With nothing going in the eighth for GV, Devin Doyle came in for another save opportunity. The closer got to his pitches early and on a 1-2 count, earned a strikeout to get the first batter. The next at-bat, Park hit a blooper but into the shift of Grand View and Schwirtz made the catch in shallow right. And on the next pitch, a pop up to Broekemeier ended the night. Grand View advances on the championship side of the bracket, 6-5!
GAME NOTES
UP NEXT
Grand View will play the winner of No. 2 seed Central Methodist and No. 3 seed MidAmerica Nazarene tomorrow, May 3rd, at 8:30 PM. The winner advances into the Heart of America Conference Finals.
