Beavers win 23rd Game With District Semifinal Win

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor

  WILTON — Wilton junior Jared Townsend pitched a one-hitter and Wilton won their 23rd game of the season, beating Durant 5-0 in a 2A district semifinal game at home on Tuesday, July 10.

  Wilton improved to 23-5 overall. The Beavers advanced to the district final game for the sixth time in seven seasons. The Beavers avoided being upset in their first district game. The Beavers last lost their first postseason game in the 2011 season when they lost to West Liberty 7-6 in walk-off fashion. The Beavers will face West Branch in the district final. The Beavers swept the Bears in the season opener this summer by scores of 8-3 and 11-7.

  Wilton swept the Wildcats on Monday, June 11 in Durant by scores of 4-0 in game one and 7-2 in game two. Durant reached the district quarterfinals after a 2-0 win in Tipton over Louisa-Muscatine on Saturday, July 7.

  Wilton scored the game’s first runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cory Anderson scored when while on third base, Durant catcher Curtis Lilienthal tried to pick him off at third. A throw by Lilienthal, was high and ended up in left field. Anderson scored, giving Wilton a 1-0 lead. Later, in the inning, a Brock Hartley infield pop up was dropped by Durant shortstop Mason Compton. The play was ruled a hit, that scored Jared Townsend, who had reached base via a walk earlier in the inning. The run gave Wilton a 2-0 lead after one inning.

  Wilton extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Colin McCrabb walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI single by Tyler Hartman. The Beavers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two runners on base, Chantz Stevens smacked a 2-run double to set the score at 5-0.

  Townsend pitched a complete game and struck out 16 batters. Townsend needed only 94 pitches in the game and did not walk a Durant batter. He allowed only three baserunners, two from dropped third strikes and another from a fielder’s choice.

  Brendan Paper took the loss after starting and working 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven beavers and had four walks. He gave up five runs on four hits. Nate Dierickx pitched the final two outs in the sixth inning. He struck out one and did not give up a run or hit.

  Curtis Lilienthal had the only hit in the game. Durant did not have a walk or stolen base in the game.

  Wilton had four hits in the game. Brock Hartley led Wilton in the game, going 2-for-3 with a double. Chantz Stevens had a double and 2 RBI’s and Tyler Hartman had a RBI single. Colinn McCrabb, Jared Townsend and Cory Anderson each reached base via a walk. Anderson had two stolen bases and Brian Stillman had one stolen base.