HTL: Utica opens the season with a victory, Cambridge defeated by Jefferson

The Evansville Jays had no answer for the pitching of Brock Wanninger on Saturday, May 11.

Wanninger pitched a complete game, recording 14 strikeouts and allowing just three hits as the Utica Association kicked off the 2024 Home Talent League season with a 3-2 win over the Jays at Utica Park.

Wanninger retired the Jays in order in both the eighth and ninth innings. Wanninger recorded a strikeout on a 3-2 pitch in the ninth to close out the game.

With Wanninger limiting the Jays’ offense, Utica got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Max Gartzke drove in Ben Hildebrandt on an RBI single.

In the third, Ryan Ellingson broke a 1-1 tie by scoring two runs on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded. Hildebrandt and Gartzke scored on the play.

Utica is 1-0 on the season.

Jefferson 3, Cambridge 1

In a rematch of last season’s Home Talent League Southeast Section Championship, the Blue Devils got the better of the Blues again.

Jefferson opened its HTL Sunday League slate by topping Cambridge 3-1 at Fischer Field on Sunday, May 12.

The Blues struck first, plating a third-inning run as Jake Willey singled to lead off the inning, stole second and scored from there on Colton Ehrke’s one-out single to center.

The Blue Devils stranded two runners apiece in each of the first two innings before rallying for a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Isiah Hoffman opened the frame with a single before Tyler Butina drew a walk.

Roby Schlesner dug in next, doubling to right field on a line shot to tie it up. After Heath Renz and Thomas Schlesner struck out against J.T. Parish, Brandon Laesch lined a run-scoring single to give the Blue Devils the lead for good.

Ehrke and Tyler Kledzik singled in the eighth against Renz, who had just entered in relief of Ike Roth. After Connor O’Brien struck out with men on the corners, Renz induced a 6-4 double play to end the threat.

The Blue Devils took advantage of consecutive hit batsmen and a single by Spencer Wade to load the bases in the eighth before scoring an insurance run on pitcher Sam Mickelson’s error.

Renz worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save. Roth pitched seven effective innings to earn the decision, fanning seven while walking none. He allowed an earned run on six hits.

Parish took the loss for the Blues, allowing two earned on six hits with five strikeouts, four walks in six frames. Mickelson then allowed a run on one hit in two innings.

Cambridge is 0-1 on the season.

Nate Gilbert of the Jefferson Daily Union contributed to this article.