Wenner pitches gem as town team shuts out Belle Plaine
Posted July 14, 2016
By CJ Siewert
Sixth-year veteran pitcher Jeff Wenner kept the Belle Plaine bats silent Tuesday at Veterans Field and the St. Peter town team’s offense rattled off 17 hits in an 8-0 victory over the River Valley League rival. Wenner went the distance, allowing just six hits with five strikeouts, to move to 4-0 on the season with his second complete game and second shutout.
The red-hot Saints improved to 12-5 overall and 9-2 in the RVL with the decisive victory. After starting the season 2-4, the local nine has won 10 of its last 11 games, including eight straight wins in the league. As of Tuesday night, St. Peter remains a half-game out of first place Jordan, who holds a 9-1 league record.
RVL Standings (July 14)
- Jordan 9-1
- St. Peter 9-2
- Arlington 6-5
- Le Sueur 6-6
- Gaylord 5-5
- Fairfax 4-7
- Henderson 4-8
- Belle Plaine 4-8
- New Ulm 2-7
After four scoreless innings Tuesday evening, St. Peter plated three runs in the fifth. Jordan Wilmes doubled and scored on a single by Sam Wenner. Wenner then reached third on an error and scored on a sac fly by Jovan Rodriguez. Seth Wenner followed with a single and later scored on an error.
The Saints added two runs in the sixth as Luke Schwarz and CJ Siewert started the frame with consecutive singles. Wilmes then drove in Schwarz with another single and Siewert scored on a bases-loaded walk issued to Rodriguez.
Schwarz and Siewert got things going once again in the seventh with back-to-back hits. Wilmes followed with a single to score Schwarz and move Siewert to third. Siewert then scored on a single by Sam Wenner, and Wilmes crossed home on yet another single by Seth Wenner.
Siewert paced the team at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs. Sam Wenner (3-5, R, BB, RBI) and Wilmes (3-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI) were also productive from the dish.
St. Peter travels to New Ulm for another RVL matchup at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Johnson Park.