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PLAINVIEW - The Hartington 14U baseball team used two big wins last week to take the Quad County League regular season title and the No. 1 seed into the league tournament.
Hartington used a couple of strong pitching performances to beat Plainview 7-0 on July 1 here in Plainview and also defeated the Irish Quad County 7-0 on June 29 in a game played in O’Neill.
Micah Cattau hurled a one-hitter against O’Nell to close out the regular season for the Hartington Pony team in six innings of work before giving way to Dawson Dresden who closed out the seventh without allowing a hit as the Hartington squad improved to 14-2 on the season and a perfect 10-0 in loop play.
“Micah pitched lights out for five innings then Dawson came in and closed the door behind some stellar defensive plays,” said Hartington coach, Cale Haberer. “The boys ran the bases well and we had some timely hitting.”
Hartington stole 14 bases in the contest including three each for Cattau and Hudson Whitmire.
Cattau also helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-2, scored twice and drove in two runs including a first-inning home run with two outs which provided all of the runs he would need in the game.
Cooper Hochstein was hit by a pitch to open the Hartington first then stole second and third.
Back-to-back pop fly outs ensued before Cattau hit his blast to left field to make it 2-0.
The Hartington 14U plated another run in the second on a walk by Hudson Dendinger and a double by Mark Heimes then added a couple in the third without a hit.
After a ground out to open the third, Whitmire and Grady Haberer were hit by the Plainview pitcher.
While Cattau drew a walk, Whitmire and Haberer advanced to third and second then Dendinger was walked after Whitmire stole home.
Haberer also scored on a wild pitch before a fly ball to left field ended the scoring.
Whitmire singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Haberer in the fifth then Cattau scored after singling back up the middle in the same frame to end the scoring on the night.
Rylan Fischer took his turn on the mound against O’Neill Irish Quad County pitching one out past five innings, allowing only two hits with Whitmire registering the final two outs of the game on the hill.
“Rylan Fischer pitched very well,” Haberer said. “He threw strikes and the boys played solid defense behind him.”
Whitmire walked with one out in the first inning then scored on an error in right field on a ball hit by Grady Haberer, which scored both runners.
Fischer came to the plate and doubled with two outs but was caught trying to swipe third base to end the Hartington half of the inning.
Neither team scored in the second frame, then Whitmire drew a walk with two outs in the third. Haberer was hit by a pitch and the two runners stole second and third.
Whitmire scored on a wild pitch which advanced Haberer to third where he would score on an error by the pitcher while Cattau was at the plate.
Cattau eventually singled, rifling a ground ball into left field, stole second and third and scored on a passed ball.
Haberer would score again in the sixth after a single up the middle and Fischer also scored in the inning after reaching on an error, one of six the Irish committed in the contest.
Hartington will open play in the Quad County League Tournament on July 11 where it will take on the winner of a game between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeded teams which will be played on July 10.
The double elimination tournament will continue through July 14 before a champion is crowned.
“These boys are such a joy to coach,” Haberer said. “A lot of them have a real passion for the game and it shows with all the extra work they put in and the questions they ask. Hartington baseball will be very good for a while.”
Hartington 14U Pony League defeats Plainview 7-0. H212020X-750 P000000X-010 WP: Micah Cattau LP: Aiden. 2B: Mark Heimes (H); Colt (P). HR: Micah Cattau (H). Hartington 14U Pony League defeats O’Neill Quad County 7-0 H203020X-740 O000000X-026 WP: Rylan Fischer LP: F. Greyson. 2B: Rylan Fischer (H).
