by Scott Chiusano, Embrach Mustangs
Shut-down pitching and solid defence led the Mustangs to a decisive sweep of the Luzern Eagles this weekend in Reussbeul. Aided by some stellar plays in centerfield by Harry Wischnewski, starting pitcher Roger Savoldelli was able to shut out the Eagles in a 6-0 win in game one, while leftie Tim Jones allowed just four hits and two unearned runs in a 17-2 rout in game two.
The Mustangs wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the opener on Saturday. Leading off the frame, Wischnewski worked the count to 3-2 before being hit by a pitch. He stole second on the very next pitch, and advanced to third when the ball trickled away from the Eagles’ second baseman. In his first at bat returning from a brief hiatus for vacation, left fielder Bruno Albrecht hit a homerun to right centerfield that just cleared the fence, bringing in Wischnewski and giving the Mustangs an early 2-0 lead. Eagles pitcher Stefan Haltmeier settled down for the rest of the inning, getting shortstop Josh Crouse to pop out and striking out catcher Tommy Fasching and second baseman Christian Klarer.
The Eagles threatened in the bottom of the frame after Savoldelli hit third baseman James Chapman and then gave up a single to the catcher Henry Delgado. However, Savoldelli was able to work out of the jam with a ground ball to second base and a flyout to center, the first of many tests for Wischnewski on the day.
The Mustangs struck again in the top of the second. First baseman Tim Jones led off with a single and then stole second base. Third baseman Scott Chiusano drove him in with a single up the middle, plating the Mustangs third run. Embrach went on to score one run in each of the next two innings. In the third, Wischnewski led off with another hit by pitch, stole second, and eventually scored on an RBI single by Fasching. In the fourth, Chiusano hit a one out single and DH Chris Byrnes moved him over to third with a perfectly executed hit and run down the third base line. Right fielder Jason Bracko then brought Chiusano in with an RBI groundout.
Savoldelli continued to baffle the Eagles hitters, putting them down in order in the third with three straight put outs by Wischnewski, and then recording another one-two-three inning in the fourth. Both offenses were stymied in the middle innings, as Haltmeier settled down for his first perfect inning in the fifth. It wasn’t until the seventh that the Mustangs plated their final run off an RBI single by Albrecht, making the score 6-0.
The Eagles tried to make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. First baseman Tom Enz hit a rocket to deep center field that looked like it was going to give the Eagles their first run of the day. But Wischnewski leaped fort he ball, catching it and tumbling over the fence and out of play, sending Enz back to the dugout shaking his head. The Eagles followed up Wischnewski’s improbable catch with two straight singles before Savoldelli got a ground ball back to him for the second out. Though he walked the next batter to load the bases, Savoldelli was once again able to work out of the jam with a fly ball to Albrecht in left that ended the threat and game one of the double header.
With two high-velocity pitchers on the mound in Jones and Chapman in game two, it looked like both teams would need to squeak out runs in a tough pitcher’s duel. Wischnewski got things going once again for the Mustangs in the top of the first with a single up the middle. Albrecht then moved him to third with another well executed hit-and-run. With first and third, Albrecht was picked off first, but was able to get into a run down, allowing Wischnewski to score Embrach’s first run of the game.
Jones was nearly untouchable in the first three innings, striking out five in those frames. However, the Eagles finally answered in the bottom of the fourth. After a single by shortstop Yanick Probst and a single by catcher Marco Limacher, the Eagles threatened with runners at second and third. Jones got Enz to go down looking for the first big out. Chapman then came to the plate looking to help his own cause out on the mound. Jones got him to chase a curveball in the dirt for the third strike, but catcher Ollie Walser threw the ball away on the throw down, allowing Probst to score and tying the game at one.
In an almost too perfect scenario, Walser led off the next frame with the opportunity to ignite Embrach’s offense. Walser delivered, hitting a double into left-center field. It seemed that this was the spark the Mustangs needed, and they never looked back from there. Six of the next seven batters after Walser got hits – including two towering doubles by Crouse and Klarer – knocking Chapman out of the game. The Mustangs put up seven runs in the inning off seven hits, virtually putting the game out of reach.
Jones responded with a one-two-three bottom of the fifth, and then the Mustangs were at it again, putting up another seven runs on six hits in the top of the sixth. It was Walser once again who delivered the fatal blow in the form of a bases clearing double off Probst.
The Eagles mustered up one more run, but the shock of two straight seven run innings proved too much to handle. The Mustangs went on to win 17-2, improving their record to 9-4.