Shramek pitches Wildcats into first place

Last week began with three undefeated teams in Dairyland Conference play and ended with just one as neither Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran nor Eleva-Strum could catch up to Blair-Taylor ace Tavian Shramek.

Both teams struggled even to put the ball in play as Shramek struck out 19 against Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran on Monday and 17 to beat defending DC champion E-S on Friday — both by 1-0 scores. Shramek drove in the only run against E-S, homering with two outs in the fifth. 

The wins put B-T at 9-0 in DC play, ahead of E-S (6-1) and ECIL (5-1). The Wildcats have a 14-2 overall record as Shramek is 7-0 with 104 strikeouts in 41 innings. 

The Wildcats hosted Whitehall on Tuesday of this week before playing three home games next week. The team is set to welcome Melrose-Mindoro on Monday, Alma Center Lincoln on Tuesday and Eleva-Strum on Friday. 

B-T 1 ECIL 0

Tavian Shramek was in control again, striking out 19 batters, while holding the Lancers to one hit and one walk in the shutout win.

Shramek allowed a walk with two outs in the bottom of the first, but got his second strikeout of the inning to end that threat. He struck out four batters in the second as one reached on a dropped third strike. He added three more strikeouts to his total in the third. ECI’s only hit came in the fourth, but Shramek struck out every other batter in the inning to keep the team scoreless. 

The Wildcats got on the board in the sixth as Peyton Kelly and Brady Thompson both walked with one out. Travis Pettis hit into an error, allowing Kelly to score. B-T threatened with the bases loaded, but a groundout ended the inning.

Shramek continued to be efficient, striking out two in the sixth and two more in the seventh. He completed the shutout, using just 89 pitches — 65 of which were strikes. 

Pettis had all three of B-T’s hits in the game. 

B-T 1 E-S 0

The Wildcats missed chances to score early, but managed just enough for the win as Shramek and Brady Thompson combined for a no-hitter.

B-T began the game with two straight singles in the top of the first, but three strikeouts ended the threat.

Tavian Shramek doubled in the third and Austin Thompson walked, but a pair of strikeouts again ended the inning.

B-T began the fifth with two strikeouts and Shramek faced two strikes before sending a pitch over the fence in left field to give B-T a 1-0 lead.

Shramek struck out the next five batters he faced before walking two in the bottom of the sixth. With the tying run in scoring position, Shramek got a strikeout to end the inning.

The B-T junior ace struck out the first batter of the seventh before reaching the 100-pitch limit. Brady Thompson took the hill in relief, hitting one batter but getting two flyouts.

Neither Shramek nor Thompson allowed a hit, Shramek walked three and each hit one batter. 

Eleva-Strum’s Cody Gunderson was also in control, striking out 18 B-T batters.