Fighting Squirrels suffer season-ending 4-2 loss to Hopkins, Minnesota

The Charleston Fighting Squirrels put up a late fight but came up short in its quest to advance to the Senior Babe Ruth World Series for a third straight season Monday afternoon.

Hopkins, Minnesota, rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the top of the fifth inning and hung on for 4-2 win against the Fighting Squirrels in a semifinal of the Midwest Plains Regional at Battershell Field in Lyons, Kansas.

"Whenever you get in a close game you need some breaks to go your way and we didn't create any for ourself," Fighting Squirrels coach Michael Minner said. "We just didn't play well enough defensively to win and that's what it boils down to today. In a close game with a regional championship on the line you have got to make the close plays. Unfortunately, a couple plays didn't go our way today defensively and they made a couple big plays that got them out of innings."

Killian Quinn and Bradley VanTatenhove collected consecutive singles to start the top of the fifth inning rally for Hopkins. Charleston starting pitcher Ty Householder followed by recording the first out of the frame when Riley Martin hit into an infield fly. Quinn and VanTatenhove then moved up a base to second and third on a wild pitch.

The next hitter Bridger Pavelka hit a ground ball to third base that was fielded by third baseman Adam Pope and thrown home to catcher Blake Wolferding. Wolferding lost the ball during a collision at home plate and Quinn was called safe to tie things up at 2-2.

Oliver Hager lined out for the second out before VanTatenhove advanced to third base and Pavelka moved to second base on a wild pitch. Coby Hair followed with a game-winning 2-RBI single to set the final score.

"We couldn't get it done today, but I thought Ty Householder was remarkable," Minner said. "That may have been the best game thrown out here by a kid. He was tough for seven innings. He made pitch after pitch. A couple plays didn't go our way and he allowed four unearned runs."

The Fighting Squirrels had two hitters reach base in the bottom of the fifth inning and two more in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Householder collected a one-out double and Cameron Clark was hit by a pitch with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Hopkins starting pitcher Martin escaped the jam when he got the next hitter Wolferding to fly out.

Pope collected a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hopkins centerfielder Joe Nelson erased the trouble when he turned a double play after making a diving catch on a ball Wyatt Pratt hit to center. Chandler Young followed with a double with the bases empty before Tim Fox popped out to end the sixth.

"We just couldn't get the big hit," Minner said. "We had some good at-bats, but popped up too much. I'm not making any excuses, but it was also different for me out here this week because we played on a smaller field. The infield grass was up to my knees and routine balls to the shortstop were tough plays for the shortstop because you weren't sure if they were going to get to you. It changed the way you went about things.

"I'm a guy that likes to bunt and move guys over, but it wasn't going to do any good to bunt a runner to second base here because you weren't sure if you bunt a guy to second a hit would score him," Minner continued. "It was a small yard this weekend and that's not typical with all the regionals we've been to. The thickness of the grass really changed the way I approached it mentally. I'm aggressive, but it's one of those things we had to play for two or three hits in a row this weekend. But no excuses, the other kids were just better than us today and took advantage of a few miscues."

Martin retired all three hitters he faced in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a complete-game victory for Hopkins. Martin allowed two runs, nine hits, struck out one, walked one and hit a batter.

Householder allowed four unearned runs on four hits in a complete-game effort. Householder struck out four and walked two.

The Fighting Squirrels took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Fox drew a two-out walk, Colton Averett collected a two-out single and Hunter Cook followed with a two-out RBI single.

Hopkins made the most of its first hit off of Householder when Nathan Nelsen collected a two-out single in the top of the fourth inning. Nathan Nelson advanced to second base on a wild pitch and later scored to tie things up at 1-1 when the next hitter Joe Nelsen reached base on an infield error.

The Fighting Squirrels took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Pope collected a leadoff single, stole second base, advanced to third base when Pratt grounded out and scored on a one-out single by Young.

Pope and Householder both finished 2 for 3 at the plate.

Wayne County Lumberjacks beat Riverton, Kansas, 6-0 in the other regional semifinal. Wayne County played Hopkins Monday night for the right to go to the World Series that begins Aug. 8 in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Minner said the Fighting Squirrels plan to travel after Monday's loss and return home about midnight Monday.

"Now our job after having a great run that sort of ends this year is to go get ready for 2016," Minner said. "We'll talk about all the memories on the way home of this season and when we get home try to work on next year and make sure we are right back where we need to be. I think it's starting to get a little bit easier to find kids that want to play because of the success we have had. We told the guys after the game 'the past couple years we've found a way to win close ones and while we won some close ones this year we lost a lot of close ones and the really good teams find a way to win those.' When 3-2 and 4-2 games are going the other way you've got to find a way to do things a little better."

The Fighting Squirrels finish its season with a record of 19-24. It is the ninth straight season the Squirrels have advanced to the Midwest Plains Regional.

"There wasn't anything out here we hadn't seen this year," Minner said. "We finished 19-24, but our schedule prepared us to win this thing. I thought we had challenged ourselves enough and we were ready for anything that could be thrown at us. We just didn't get it done."

The Fighting Squirrels graduate Hunter Cook, Cameron Clark, Jason Mattison, Colton Averett, Adam Pope, Chase Urhahn, Tim Fox and Austin Aldridge off its 2015 squad.

"Ultimately, I want to thank our sponsors and the people that take care of us, and my wife that puts up with me," Minner said. "Then all of our players and parents who have helped us build a great organization.

"Then Mr. Mike McIlroy and his city staff that take great care of Hillhouse Park," Minner continued. "We go all over the place and have attended nine straight regionals. Each park has its unique quirks and is enjoyable, but there is not a park we have gone to the past nine years that I would rather play at than my home field Hillhouse Park. That's because how great of a job Mr. Mike McIlroy does keeping it ready and making sure we can play at a quality facility every day. Charleston is a great place and it's where I'm going to be the rest of my being. We are going to find a way to get a few more home games at Hillhouse next year and start working on our rosters pretty soon."

Hopkins, Minnesota, 4, Charleston Fighting Squirrels 2

MINN 000 130 0 - 4 4 0

CHAR 010 100 0 - 2 9 1

WP - Riley Martin. LP - Ty Householder. 2B - Householder (CH), Chandler Young (CH). Multiple hits - Charleston: Adam Pope 2-3, Young 2-3.