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Clutch delivery
Tyler Udelhoven's first varsity hit lifts Potosi to a 2-1 walkoff win over Cassville
potosi bb fritz
Junior Tim Fritz struck out 15 and allowed just one unearned run in nine innings in Potosis 2-1 victory over Cassville on Monday.

     Junior Tyler Udelhoven couldn’t have picked a better time to deliver the first hit of his Potosi varsity baseball career.
Udelhoven blasted a Hunter Nix offering to deep left centerfielder for a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Chieftains to a 2-1 extra-inning victory over Cassville this past Monday night in the Six Rivers West Conference opener for both teams.
     Senior T.J. Neahaus, who led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and later stole second base, scored the winning run on Udelhofen’s clutch hit. 
     “He had struck out the first three times at bat so I’m sure he was glad to see someone other than (Cassville starter Garrett) Schauff in there,” joked Potosi head coach Ron Kading. “But he picked out a good pitch. He got a hold of it and put it in the gap. It was a no doubt game-winner.”
     Udelhoven’s walk-off double was just one of nine hits in what for the most part was a classic pitcher’s duel.
Potosi’s Tim Fritz (1-0) went all nine innings, struck out 15 Comets and allowed just one unearned run on three hits.
Cassville starter Garrett Schauff might have been even better. He struck out 19 in eight innings and allowed just one unearned run on four hits, but was lifted after the eighth inning because of a high pitch count.
     “You don’t see many pitchers’ duels like that in high school baseball,” added Kading. “Both pitchers were in complete command and had batters missing all game. We were going to have to take Timmy out if it went another inning. We considered ourselves pretty lucky to get out of there with a win. Schauff is going to hurt a lot of batting averages this year.”
     Cassville (0-2, 0-1 Six Rivers West) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore centerfielder Elijah Okey reached on a throwing error and later advanced to third on a Potosi’s second error of the inning. Okey later scored the Comets’ lone run on a groundout by junior third baseman Nolan Ackerman.
     Potosi (1-0, 1-0 SRW) tied the game just a half inning later when a Cassville error returned the favor. Junior outfielder Spencer Hawes ripped a two-out single then stole second base to get into scoring position.
     Potosi senior shortstop Tom Keene smashed a grounder to his position counterpart Ty Kartman, but a Kartman throwing error allowed Hawes to score the tying run from second.
     Nix, a freshman who relieved Shauff in the ninth, took the loss, allowed one run on two hits in just a 1/3 of an inning.
     Potosi returns to action Friday with doubleheader at home against Pecatonica. Cassville will host Black Hawk in a doubleheader on Friday.

Potosi 2, Cassville 1 (9 inn.)
(from Monday, April 9 @ Potosi)
Cassville    000    010    000    -   1   3  1
Potosi    000    010    001    -   2   6  2
Leading hitters - none. 2B - C: Kirschbaum; P: Tim Fritz 2, Tyler Udelhofen. W - Fritz (7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 15 SO, 3 BB). L - Nix (0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 SO, 0 BB).

Belmont's Kaleen McGettigan notches career win No. 200
Braves blowout Potosi/Cassville in coach's milestone victory
Kaleen McGettigan 200
Belmont girls head coach Kaleen McGettigan earned her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 win over Potosi/Cassville.

POTOSI — Belmont girls basketball coach Kaleen McGettigan collected her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 victory over Potosi/Cassville.

The Braves shot out to and maintained an early lead in Six Rivers West win over the host Chieftains (3–2, 0–2 SRW).

Potosi/Cassville claimed the opening point on a free throw, but a basket under the hoop by Morgan Freeman earned the only lead change of the night. The result was a Braves lead where the traveling team earned nearly 30 points before Potosi/Cassville tasted double figures.

“Any time we play a conference team, we know it is going to be a battle,” McGettigan said. “The Chieftains lost one of their starters the night before, but credit tot he team and their staff, they came out ready to play. Coach Nebel has done a nice job in her first month as a head coach.”

The Braves clung to a 37–16 lead at the break, nurturing it as they pushed to double Potosi/Cassville’s output over the final 18 minutes.

“I was pleased with the girls’ offensive attacks,” McGettigan said. “We are a tough team to guard because we are so interchangeable, and we need to take more advantage of that.”

The Belmont front was led by a three-headed monster of Lexi Riechers (18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals), Freeman (14 pts, 6 reb), and Kaci Riechers (12 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl). 

Carsyn Ramaker also took on an supporting role — her six rebounds and five assists were each tied for the team high.

“Lexi Riechers was a spark for us, and she got a couple things going on both ends of the floor,” McGettigan said. “Carsyn continues to see the floor well, and Hailey Bahr played the best game of her career.”

With just three opponents left ahead of the new year, the Braves’ next opportunity on the court comes at Benton on Dec. 12.

Junior Lillie Cooley scored a team-high five points in the loss for Potosi/Cassville (3–2, 0–2) which suffered its first loss.

Despite the win, McGettigan believes her team needs improvements in a few areas.

“We need to do a better job of consistently finishing around the rim,” she said. “We also need to be more comfortable  in our half-court sets.”

The Zephyrs (0–6, 0–2) most recently lost to Stockton (Ill.) on Dec. 9, 68–18, and haven’t scored more than 20 points in each of their last three games.

“We need to continue working on limiting other teams’ offensive boards, and getting to our outlet spots,” McGettigan said. “December is a slow month for us, so we need to stay focused in the gym and need to get better.”

Belmont 56, Potosi/Cassville 25
(from Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ Potosi)
Belmont 37 19 — 56
Potosi/Cassville 16 9 — 25
Belmont (2–1, 1–0) — Hailey Bahr 2, Courtney Fritz 5, Kaci Riechers 12, Morgan Freeman 14, Jaelyn Leitzinger 2, Lexi Riechers 18, Brittany Taylor 3. Totals — 25-71 2-7 56.  
Potosi/Cassville (3–1, 0–1) — Matty Udelhofen 4, Madi Weber 2, Lillie Cooley 5, Brielle Fishnick 4, Ruby Roe 3, Miranda Kieler 4, Delany McKillip 3. Totals — 8-43 8-11 25. 
3-pointers — B: 4-19 (Fritz 1, K. Riechers 2, L. Riechers 1); PC: 1-11 (Roe 1). Team fouls — B: 14; PC: 14. Foul out — none.