Beloit Senior Legion Bandits roll over Lake Geneva 11-0 in regional opener

BELOIT — The Beloit Senior Legion Bandits know that there will be much tougher teams along its quest to win the AAA Region 6 tournament on its home diamond at the Stateline Family YMCA Youth Sports Complex.

But, the Bandits took care of the first task at hand as they rolled over a down-on-its luck squad in Lake Geneva 11-0 in a game shortened to five innings via the mercy rule in the regional opener.

Beloit had beat Lake Geneva 27-4 in its regular season finale last Thursday.

Jayden Piccione reached on an error and Brody Berg whacked an infield single before Carston Jacobson lined a triple to deep center field to quickly put Beloit up 2-0 in the first. Jacobson then scored on a wild pitch to up the advantage to three runs.

The Bandits struck again in the third as Jacobson walked and was replaced at first by Brooks Mitchell on a fielder’s choice. Jacobson and Mitchell advanced to third on a wild pitch before Brayden Ward drew the second base on balls of the frame. Hayden Frey grounded out to the shortstop to make it 4-0 and Noah Pfundheller laced a two-run single into left in the next at-bat to increase the lead to 6-0.

Piccione walked an out later, swiped second as West stole home and then went to third on a wild pitch before reaching home on a passed ball.

Jacobson smacked his second triple of the night with one out in the fourth and Mitchell’s single quickly brought him home. Ethan Halon brought Mitchell home on a single and, after Halon stole second, Pfundheller brought it to 11-0 on his single into center.

Jacobson finished with two hits, both triples, and two RBI while Pfundheller had a pair of hits and three RBI as Beloit outhit Lake Geneva 8-3.

Dustin Foss took the start and threw 4 1-3 innings and allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out six. Carson Pingel secured the final two outs of the fifth.

Beloit will next face Racine on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Steelheads fell 11-4 to Janesville on Tuesday.

• LINESCORE:

BELOIT 11, LAKE GENEVA 0

LG 000 00 — 0 3 1

Beloit 305 3— 11 8 0

Leading hitters: LG, Skilling 1x3; Bolton 1x2; Watours 1x1. Beloit, Piccione 0x2, 2 Runs; Berg 1x2, 1 Run; Jacobson 2x2, 3 Runs, 2 RBI; Mitchell 1x3, 2 Runs, 1 RBI; Ward 0x2, 1 Run, 1 RBI; Halon 1x1, 1 Run, 1 RBI; Pfundheller 2x3, 3 RBI; West 1x3, 1 Run.

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): LG, Adkins (L) 4.0-8-11-8-4-2. Beloit, Foss 4.1-3-0-0-1-6, Pingel 0.2-0-0-0-1-0.