Moo start second-half hosting Sodbusters for three games
Alex Burstein
Bridger Coleman finished the first-half tied for the team-lead in homeruns (1) and RBIs (11). (File photo/Mindy Wittig)
Fremont, Nebraska - After a seven-game road trip, the Moo return to Historic Moller Field Monday with a fresh slate, as the second-half of the Independence League schedule kicks off with a three-game set against the Sodbusters. It’s the start of a 16-game home stand for Fremont that stretches through June 14.
The Moo (13-11, 6.5 games back) closed out the first-half of the season in fourth place out of the five postseason-eligible teams. Caspe (19-4) took home the title to clinch a championship berth for the second straight year. Hastings (15-8, 4.0) and Spearfish (14-11, 6.0) also finished above Fremont, with Oahe (5-22, 16.0) at the bottom.
This series closes out a long stretch of games between Hastings and Fremont. By the end of Wednesday’s game, eight of Fremont’s last 10 games will be against Hastings.
The Sodbusters did get a break from the Moo this past weekend when they hosted the Nebraska Prospects for a three-game set. In a Saturday doubleheader, the Sodbusters lost game one 8-6 despite two hits from Josh Prinner, Drew Vega and Ryan Jarvis. In game two that night, Jude Sunquist had 10 strikeouts and gave up just two hits and two runs in five innings and Hastings took a 4-2 win. In the rubber match on Sunday, Hastings came back down four runs for a 6-5 win.
At the end of the first half, Sawyer Duddleston (.370 AVG), Vega (.361) and Tyler Welsh (.320) emerged as offensive leaders. No player has more than one homerun, but Secundino Morales, Prinner and Alexiel Delgado all have one homerun. Jackson Crain leads the RBI race with 10.
Jack Kruger has been the ace for Hastings, with a 3-0 record and a 1.44 ERA. Morales (5.87 ERA) and Braden Cork (1.714) both have found success out of the bullpen, with three saves a piece.
The Moo had the weekend off after five straight road games last week, concluding with a two-game sweep of Hastings. In game one Thirteen, Hastings walked thirteen and hit three Moo batters, as the Moo took a 6-4 win to break a six-game skid. Then, in the final game of the first-half Friday, the Moo took a 5-4 win to finish out the first-half.
Cooper Fuchino has led the offense this year with a .319 average after the first 24 games. Bridger Coleman is close behind with a .302 average. Stephen Espinoza, Tyrus Petsche, Fuchino and Coleman all have one homer, with Espinoza and Coleman tied for the RBI lead with 11. Dylan Brandenburg is close behind with 10.
On the mound Kadyn Van Hill (2-1, 3.50 ERA) and Robert O’Malley (2-0, .636) are the season leaders in wins. O’Malley is the probable for game one. In relief, Alex Oliver has started with three saves and a win in six appearances and a .677 ERA, second on the team behind O’Malley.
Through six games played with the Sodbusters and Moo this season, each team has won three games.
Game time for game one is pushed back from 7:05 p.m. to 8 p.m. due to severe heat in the area. Game time for Tuesday and Wednesday are set for 7:05.
SEDALIA, Mo. – Fremont Moo wrapped up its two-game series against the Sedalia Steamers on Thursday night. The Moo jumped out to an early lead but fell, 11-2. The game carried special meaning as both teams participated in Strike Out Cancer Night. During the seventh inning, players held "Today, I Honor" signs while cancer survivors and those currently battling cancer walked the bases. Ripken Fleck led off the first inning with a single to center field, and a groundout advanced him to second. Fleck stole third, and a throwing error by the Steamers allowed him to score, giving the Moo an early 1-0 lead. Sedalia answered in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to tie the game, 1-1. The Steamers took control in the third inning, scoring three runs to build a 4-1 lead. They added four more runs in the fifth to extend their advantage to 8-1. The Moo scored its second run in the sixth inning as Tyler Schroeder and Dominic Palma opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Ripken Fleck followed with a walk to load the bases, and Schroeder scored on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 8-2. The Steamers added three more runs in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 11-2. The Moo was unable to rally, dropping the series finale by that score. Fremont (13-15) will have an off day before returning home to host the Salina Sliders in a three-game series. First pitch for Friday's opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Fireworks Saturday festivities will follow the series opener.
SEDALIA, Mo. – Fremont Moo traveled to Sedalia, Missouri, to face the Sedalia Steamers in a two-game series on Wednesday evening. A dominant pitching performance from Wyatt Henry led the Moo to a 5-1 victory over the Steamers. After five scoreless innings, the Moo broke through in the sixth. Giovanni Malatesta led off with a single before advancing to second on a groundout. Easton Leahy drew a one-out walk, and Eamon O'Gorman singled to bring home Malatesta for the game's first run and a 1-0 lead. Burke Jasa followed with a two-out double to score Leahy and move O'Gorman to third. Matthew Marceau then singled to right field, driving in O'Gorman and Jasa as the Moo extended their lead to 4-0 at the end of the sixth. Ripken Fleck reached on a one-out error in the seventh before Malatesta doubled, allowing Fleck to score and give the Moo a 5-0 advantage. Sedalia scored its lone run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Moo closed out the 5-1 victory. Wyatt Henry earned the win after tossing eight scoreless innings, allowing just two walks while striking out three. Statistical Standouts Wyatt Henry: 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K Giovanni Malatesta: 3-for-5, RBI, R, 2B Ripken Fleck: 2-for-5, R Fremont Moo (13-14) will wrap up the trip in Sedalia, Missouri with a 9 inning game against the Steamers on Thursday, July 9th. First Pitch is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at Dey Field at Liberty Park.
FREMONT, Neb. – Fremont Moo hosted Salina Sliders for one nine-inning game on the Fourth of July after the previous night's game was rained out. The Moo earned a 7-3 victory behind five scoreless innings from Jackson Yanke. Ripken Fleck led off with a single down the line, while Carter McPeak was hit by a pitch with two outs. McPeak stole second before Easton Leahy singled to right field to drive him home, giving the Moo a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning. After a scoreless second inning, Giovanni Malatesta got the Moo started in the third with a two-out single to left field. McPeak followed with a single of his own to put two runners aboard. Leahy kept the rally going with his third consecutive hit of the inning, driving in Malatesta to make it 2-0. Jacob Coshenet followed with a single to right field to score McPeak, capping a two-out rally and extending the lead to 3-0 at the end of the third. After a scoreless fourth inning, Leahy and Burke Jasa opened the fifth by drawing walks. Jasa and Leahy each stole a base, and Leahy later scored on a Salina fielding error to extend the lead to 4-0. Salina got on the board in the sixth with two runs before adding another in the seventh to cut the deficit to 4-3. Coshenet led off the bottom of the seventh by drawing a walk, and Jasa followed with a single to right field to put two runners on. Eamon O'Gorman delivered a base-clearing double to score Jasa and Coshenet, pushing the lead back to 6-3. O'Gorman then stole third and scored on another throwing error to give the Moo an insurance run and a 7-3 advantage. Daren Safranski closed out the game as the Moo secured the 7-3 victory over the Sliders. Yanke earned the win, allowing just three hits over 5.0 scoreless innings while striking out four. Statistical Standouts Easton Leahy: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, R Eamon O'Gorman: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, R, 2B Jacob Coshenet: 1-for-4, RBI, R Fremont Moo (12-14) will have three days of rest before traveling to Sedalia, Missouri, to face Sedalia Steamers in a two-game series July 8-9. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. both nights.
FREMONT, Neb. – Fremont Moo wrapped up its two-game series with the Grand Island Fightin' Cranes on Thursday night. The Moo bats stayed hot as Brayden Mitchell's seventh-inning grand slam sealed a 17-6 run-rule victory. Ripken Fleck and Giovanni Malatesta led off the game with back-to-back singles to left field. Carter McPeak followed with a single to left that scored Fleck. Eamon O'Gorman kept the rally going with a single to right field to bring home Malatesta and give the Moo an early 2-0 lead. McPeak led off the third inning with a single, while Jacob Coshenet reached on an error to put two runners aboard. O'Gorman singled to left field to score McPeak, and Androvett reached on an error that allowed both O'Gorman and Coshenet to score, extending the lead to 5-0. Brayden Mitchell drew a walk before Dominic Palma tripled to center field to score Mitchell, making it 7-0. Grand Island got on the board in the fourth with one run. McPeak was hit by a pitch, and Coshenet singled before an error advanced Coshenet to second and allowed McPeak to score. Matthew Marceau then launched a two-run home run to left field, pushing the Moo lead to 10-1. The Fightin' Cranes responded with two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to cut the deficit to 10-6. O'Gorman drew a walk in the bottom of the sixth, and Androvett was hit by a pitch. Palma followed with a walk to load the bases. Fleck then singled to left-center field to score O'Gorman and Mitchell, extending the lead to 12-6. Coshenet singled with one out in the seventh before O'Gorman singled and Marceau drew a walk to load the bases. Mitchell stepped to the plate and crushed a grand slam, giving the Moo a 17-6 run-rule victory. Wyatt Throckmorton earned the win after pitching 5.2 innings while striking out four. Breken Mason closed out the game with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Statistical Standouts Ripken Fleck: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, R, BB Carter McPeak: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R Jacob Coshenet: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 R Eamon O'Gorman: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 3 R Brayden Mitchell: 1-for-3, HR, GS, 5 RBI, 3 R, BB Fremont Moo (11-14) will host a two game series against the Salina Sliders starting Friday, July 3rd with a 5:05 pm start.
FREMONT, Neb. – Fremont Moo opened a two-game home series against the Grand Island Fightin' Cranes on Wednesday night. An early offensive surge propelled the Moo to a 6-2 victory. Ripken Fleck led off the bottom of the first with a walk, followed by Giovanni Malatesta, who was hit by a pitch. Wyatt Throckmorton then drew a walk to load the bases. Easton Leahy lifted a sacrifice fly to score Fleck for the game's first run. Burke Jasa drew a walk to reload the bases before Matthew Marceau singled to left field to score Malatesta. Carter McPeak followed with a bases-loaded walk to bring home Throckmorton. Eamon O'Gorman capped the inning with a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Jasa and Marceau to give the Moo an early 5-0 lead after one inning. Marceau and McPeak each drew a walk to open the third inning. Marceau later scored on a Grand Island fielding error to extend the Moo lead to 6-0. The Fightin' Cranes scored one run in the sixth and another in the eighth, but the Moo pitching staff kept Grand Island in check to secure the 6-2 victory. Wyatt Henry earned the win with a dominant performance on the mound, tossing 7.0 innings while allowing one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Darren Safranski closed out the game with 2.0 innings of relief, allowing one run on one hit while walking one and striking out three. Statistical Standouts Wyatt Henry: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K Darren Safranski: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K Matthew Marceau: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, BB Eamon O'Gorman: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B Fremont (10-14) hosts Grand Island in the final game of the two-game series on Thursday, July 2, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
FREMONT, Neb. — The Fremont Moo hosted the Grand Island Fightin’ Cranes for a nine-inning game Sunday night at Moller Field. Fremont used a strong offensive performance to build a sizable early advantage, but Grand Island mounted a late comeback to defeat the Moo 19-12. Grand Island struck first in the opening inning, scoring on a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead. After three scoreless innings, the Moo broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Ripken Fleck and Giovanni Malatesta began the inning with singles before Wyatt Throckmorton drew a walk to load the bases. Easton Leahy delivered a two-run single to left field to put Fremont in front 2-1. Throckmorton later stole home to extend the lead to 3-1. The Moo added to its advantage in the fifth inning. Brayden Mitchell came around to score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Throckmorton to make it 4-1. Matthew Marceau followed with a two-run single to extend the lead to 6-1. Later in the inning, Jacob Coshenet launched a three-run home run to give Fremont a 9-1 advantage. Grand Island answered with two runs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 9-3. Fremont responded in the bottom half of the inning. Fleck connected on a two-run home run to push the lead to 11-3. Marceau later drove in another run on a fielder's choice, extending the Moo advantage to 12-3. The Fightin' Cranes scored a run in the seventh inning before mounting a comeback over the final two frames. Grand Island plated nine runs in the eighth to take the lead and added six more in the ninth to secure the 19-12 victory. Statistical Standouts Thomas Fraley: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 K Ripken Fleck: 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR Jacob Coshenet: 1-for-5, 3 RBI, R, HR Eamon O'Gorman: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB Fremont (10-13) concluded the first stretch of its homestand and will have two days off before returning to Moller Field on Wednesday, July 1, to open a two-game series against the Grand Island Fightin' Cranes. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
FREMONT, Neb. – Fremont Moo hosted the US War Dogs in an exhibition game on Friday night at Moller Field. The evening honored those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, while the Moo's bats stayed hot in a 16-4 victory. Eamon O'Gorman and Easton Leahy opened the game with back-to-back singles to put two runners aboard. Burke Jasa drew a walk to fill the bases before Jacob Coshenet ripped a double down the left-field line to score O'Gorman and Leahy for a 2-0 lead. A fielding error allowed Jasa to score, giving the Moo a 3-0 advantage after the first inning. Moo added another run in the second as Ripken Fleck led off with a walk before O'Gorman singled to bring him home and make it 4-0. Coshenet and Dominic Palma opened the third with walks before Tyler Schroeder singled to right field to score Coshenet. Fleck reached on a fielder's choice to move Palma to third, and Palma later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-0. The Moo continued to roll in the fourth. Leahy led off with a walk, followed by Jasa being hit by a pitch. Coshenet stepped to the plate and launched a three-run homer over the Moller Monster to stretch the lead to 9-0. Brayden Mitchell kept the inning alive with a two-out single before Fleck followed with a single of his own. Wyatt Throckmorton singled up the middle to score Mitchell and make it 10-0. O'Gorman then doubled to center field to score Fleck as the Moo built an 11-0 lead. Fremont's bats stayed hot in the fifth as Palma drew a two-out walk before Schroeder doubled down the right-field line to put two runners in scoring position. Palma scored on a wild pitch, and Mitchell drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Fleck followed with an RBI single to left field to score Schroeder and make it 13-0. The US War Dogs got on the board in the sixth with a run. The Moo answered in the bottom of the inning as O'Gorman was hit by a pitch and Leahy singled to put two runners aboard. Coshenet drew a walk to load the bases before Palma followed with another walk to force in O'Gorman. Mitchell then singled to left field to score Leahy and extend the lead to 15-1. The War Dogs added two more runs in the seventh as Tukker Horner, the Honorary War Dog of the Night, reached on a Moo error to drive in a run. Horner, who suited up for the War Dogs, was recognized for his family's strong military background. Throckmorton led off the bottom of the seventh with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball. Jasa was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Coshenet reached on an error, allowing Throckmorton to score and make it 16-3. The US War Dogs scored the final run of the game in the ninth, but the Moo secured the 16-4 victory while collecting 17 hits. Statistical Standouts Ripken Fleck: 3-for-6, RBI, 2 R, BB, 2B Eamon O'Gorman: 3-for-6, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B Easton Leahy: 3-for-5, BB, 3 R Jacob Coshenet: 2-for-4, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R, 2B, HR
FREMONT, Neb. - Fremont Moo hosted the Grand Island Fightin’ Cranes for a nine-inning game Thursday night. An early offensive surge propelled the Moo to a 5-4 victory over the Fightin’ Cranes. Ripken Fleck led off the game with a walk before Giovanni Malatesta singled to advance Fleck to second. Fleck scored on a wild pitch while Malatesta stole second to give the Moo a 1-0 lead. Easton Leahy followed with a single to put two runners on. With two outs, Matthew Marceau drew a walk to load the bases before Eamon O'Gorman followed with a walk to bring home Malatesta and make it 2-0. Brayden Mitchell then singled to score Leahy as the Moo jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage. Burke Jasa led off the third inning with a walk before O'Gorman doubled to center field to score Jasa and extend the lead to 4-0. The Fightin’ Cranes got on the board in the fourth inning, scoring two runs to cut the deficit to 4-2. Mitchell drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and advanced to second on a groundout. Malatesta lined a single to left field to score Mitchell and push the Moo lead to 5-2. Grand Island threatened in the ninth inning, scoring two runs to cut the deficit to one at 5-4, but the Moo recorded the final out to secure the victory. Statistical Standouts: Wyatt Throckmorton: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K Wyatt Henry: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R Giovanni Malatesta: 2-for-4, RBI, R, BB Eamon O'Gorman: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B, BB
FREMONT, Neb. — The Fremont Moo hosted the Hastings Sodbusters for a single nine-inning game Tuesday night at Moller Field. The Moo mounted a comeback after an early Hastings surge, shutting down the Sodbusters the rest of the way to earn a hard-fought 5-4 victory. Hastings struck first in the top of the first inning, scoring four runs for what would be its only offense of the game. Giovanni Malatesta drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, and Eamon O'Gorman followed with a single to center field to put two runners aboard. Wyatt Throckmorton then drew a walk to load the bases. Burke Jasa delivered a one-out single to score Malatesta and move O'Gorman to third, putting runners on the corners. Tyler Schroeder was then hit by a pitch to bring home another run and cut the deficit to 4-2. A pitching duel followed as both teams were held scoreless over the next four innings. The Moo broke through in the sixth inning after Dominic Palma, Malatesta and O'Gorman drew three consecutive walks to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Palma to score, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Another wild pitch brought home Malatesta to tie the game at 4-4. The Moo then took advantage of the opportunity as O'Gorman stole home to give Fremont its first lead of the night at 5-4. Fremont kept Hastings off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game to secure the comeback victory. Statistical Standouts Cody Bruss: 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K Burke Jasa: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K; 2-for-4, RBI Eamon O'Gorman: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB Fremont (8-12) will have a day off before opening a four-game homestand. The Moo will host the Grand Island Fightin' Cranes on Thursday, June 25, for a nine-inning game at Moller Field.
HASTINGS, Neb. — The Fremont Moo wrapped up the final two games of a three-game series against the Hastings Sodbusters on Sunday afternoon. Game 2 of the series was suspended after three innings Saturday due to severe weather at Duncan Field and resumed Sunday before the teams played the series finale, creating a doubleheader. The Moo earned a combined no-hit shutout in a 10-0 run-rule victory in Game 1 before Hastings edged Fremont 5-4 in the series finale. GAME ONE: Fremont 10, Hastings 0 (5 innings) Giovanni Malatesta was hit by a pitch with one out in the first inning and stole second base. Easton Leahy singled to put runners on the corners before Jacob Coshenet doubled to center field, bringing home Malatesta for a 1-0 lead. After a scoreless second inning, Leahy drew a two-out walk to spark the offense. Coshenet was hit by a pitch, and Tyler Schroeder doubled to center field to score Leahy. Matthew Marceau followed with a single to bring home Coshenet and make it 3-0. Eamon O'Gorman drew a walk to load the bases, and Dominic Palma singled down the third-base line to score Schroeder and extend the lead to 4-0 before weather suspended the game. Play resumed Sunday at 3 p.m. with the fourth inning. Malatesta was hit by a pitch, and Leahy and Schroeder drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Marceau drew a walk to score Malatesta and push the lead to 5-0. Palma led off the fifth inning with a single, and Ripken Fleck was hit by a pitch. Malatesta reached on a fielder's choice, and Fleck scored on a throwing error to make it 6-0. Wyatt Throckmorton and Leahy were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Coshenet singled to center field to score Malatesta and make it 7-0. Marceau followed with a two-run single to center field, scoring Throckmorton and Leahy. Another run came home in the inning as the Moo extended the lead to 10-0. Wyatt Henry shut the door on the Sodbusters in the bottom of the fifth as Fremont completed the combined no-hit shutout and secured the run-rule victory. Henry earned the win, throwing 3.0 innings without allowing a hit or run while striking out two. Marceau tossed 2.0 hitless innings and struck out two. Statistical Standouts Easton Leahy: 1-for-1, 3 R, 2 BB Jacob Coshenet: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R, 2B Tyler Schroeder: 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB, 2B Matthew Marceau: 2-for-2, 4 RBI, 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K Wyatt Henry: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K GAME TWO: Hastings 5, Fremont 4 Hastings came out strong, scoring three runs in the first inning and one in the second to build an early 4-0 lead. The Moo got on the board in the third when Dominic Palma drew a walk and stole second. Fleck singled to center field to score Palma and cut the deficit to 4-1. Liam Sullivan was hit by a pitch, and Throckmorton reached on a fielder's choice as Fleck scored to make it 4-2. The Sodbusters added another run in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 5-2. Palma led off the fifth with a single, and Fleck drew a walk to put two runners aboard. Palma scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to 5-3. Throckmorton drew a walk to put runners on the corners before Coshenet singled to center field to score Fleck and make it 5-4. Hastings held Fremont scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 5-4 victory in seven innings. Statistical Standouts Ripken Fleck: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R Liam Sullivan: 2-for-3 Dominic Palma: 1-for-2, BB, 2 R Fremont (7-12) concluded its stretch of 11 games in 12 days on the road and will have Monday off before returning home to host Hastings in a nine-inning contest Tuesday, June 23. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Moller Field.