It was supposed to be a nice sendoff for the Trenton High School baseball seniors.
But, Tuesday’s match-up with Milan at Burleigh Grimes Field in Trenton turned into something less ceremonial as the Bulldog lineup scuffled at the plate against Milan starter Kyle Peterie. When it was all said and done, Trenton had just four hits in the game – one Milan won by a 6-4 score.
Peterie worked six and one-third innings, allowing just three runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out 12 Bulldogs.
“Peterie was pretty good,” Trenton Head Coach Andy Hight said. “I felt like because of our approach, though, we made him look better than he was. Our approach needed to be better in order for us to have a chance to be successful.”
Trenton countered with Drew Rorebeck, who worked a solid five innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits and one walk while striking out one.
The Bulldogs got into trouble in the top of the second inning allowing runners on with an error and a walk. Two wild pitches would allow two runs to cross the plate and Trenton spent the rest of the game playing catch-up.
Trenton got one run back in the bottom of the second and trailed by the 2-1 margin until the fifth. Milan tacked on one run in that frame, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. The Bulldogs tried to rally late, scoring once in the sixth and twice in the seventh, but Milan ended the threat, taking the two-run victory.
“(Milan) did a good job of putting together some innings,” Hight said. “We were able to pitch around some mistakes, but they are a good ballclub and you have to play well in all phases in order to win and we didn’t do that.”
Trenton’s offense did get a lift from Avery Cooksey, who was two-for-four on the day with a double and two RBIs. Cade Darting and Jaren Whitney each had a hit to round out Trenton’s effort at the plate.
SENIOR SALUTE
Trenton honored senior members of the team between the varsity and junior varsity contests. Those recognized included Rorebeck, Spencer Harris, Cade Darting, Brayden Herring and Conner Lovell.
UP NEXT
Trenton will wrap up the season with a two-game road swing that begins on Thursday. The Bulldogs will travel to Macon to face the Tigers with a first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. Trenton will travel to St. Joseph to take on St. Joseph Christian on Monday in the final game of the regular season.
Rorebeck fired 90 pitches in the loss and will be unavailable for Thursday’s game, but Trenton will use as many of its other pitchers as it can in the match-up in Macon.
“Johnny whole-staff,” Hight said. “We will use everyone. No one will probably go more than two innings, but everybody will throw. Hopefully we can stack some zeros where guys aren’t going to see the whole lineup more than once.”