Green Devils hound the Bulldogs
OSAGE — Connor Tabbert hit his first home run of the season as the Osage baseball team topped visiting Hampton-Dumont 6-4 on Wednesday.
br
The Green Devils also nearly had a complete game from Drew Tusler, who improved to 1-1 this season.
br
“It was a good outing for us,” coach Mike Henson said. “We played well.”
br
Tied at 2 in the fourth inning, Tabbert launched his home run off of Mario De La Cruz to give Osage the lead for good.
br
“It was a lot of first-pitch strikes so I took that first pitch and I went with it,” Tabbert said. “That was the best feeling. Right off the bat I knew it was gone. It was the best feeling watching that go over and run the bases. Amazing.
br
“That felt really good, to come out and perform, especially against a bigger game to show we can beat these guys and compete with anybody.”
br
Henson added, “Connor Tabbert hit his first of the season, so good for him. Hampton-Dumont is a great program. They have some kids who can hit it. Their pitcher did a great job tonight, kept us off-balance. We were able to put a couple of good innings together. It was a good outing a lot of fun.”
br
Drew Tusler nearly went the distance, going six and two-thirds innings with two strikeouts and scattering six hits.
br
“Drew did a great job for us,” Henson said. “His third outing and each time he’s given us a quality start. I know he wanted to finish it there, and wanted to give him every opportunity, but he did a great job.”
br
The Bulldogs had the go-ahead run at the plate, but Carson Nasstrom got Payton McNealy to strike out to end the game.
br
Osage improved to 4-3 overall.
br
“We’re making progress,” Henson said. “The more they are coming together. We are seeing good things out of them. It’s still early. Despite the fact that we’re a third of the way through the season, it’s still early. I’m happy with the progress we are making. If we keep building on nights like tonight, it will be a good year.”
br
Tabbert added, “I think we’re getting better and better every game. This game was by far our best on the field and hitting. We’re going to keep getting better as the season goes on.”
br
H-D/CAL1001002-463
br
Osage200220x-680
br
Winning battery — Drew Tusler, Carson Nasstrom (7) and Cade Machin. Losing battery — Mario De La Cruz, Tucker Heeren (6) and Cal Heeren. Two or more hits — H-D (De La Cruz); O (Tusler, Spencer Krabbe, Connor Tabbert). 2B — H-D (De La Cruz); O (Tyler Oberfoell). HR — O (Tabbert). SB — H-D (Marco Guerrero 2, C. Heeren 2, Kyle Helmke 2, Payton McNealy). RBI — H-D (De La Cruz, McNeal); O (Krabbe 2, Tabbert 2, Max Gast).
