Saints notch first victory of season

The Saukville Saints adult baseball team got on the right side of the scoreboard in a big way on Sunday.

The Saints, in front of a home crowd at Dickmann Field in Saukville, allowed just five hits to the rival Cedarburg Mercs in a 3-0 victory.

Aaron Brockman started and went 4-2/3 innings before leaving with an injury. He whiffed seven, walked none and allowed two hits.

Ben Kleist came in and kept the shutout, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out three in the final 4-1/3 innings to earn the victory.

The Saints broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Alex Elenteny singled and Kleist was hit by a pitch.

Jimmy D’Angelo clocked a double to plate the Saints’ first run.

They added another run in the seventh inning on singles by Jimmy and Jordan D’Angelo and Max Pruefer.

The Saints scored one more in the eighth inning. Elenteny singled and was forced out at second by a Mike Pruefer grounder. Kleist walked, and Jimmy D’Angelo’s single brought in Pruefer.

 The Saints had 12 hits led by Jimmy D’Angelo’s three. Steve Dickmann, Max Pruefer and Elenteny each had two hits.

For the Mercs, now 1-3, Joe Daniels started and went six-plus innings. He allowed two earned runs on nine hits, walked one, struck out one and hit a batter.

Taylor Piel went the final two innings, allowing one earned run on three hits, walking one and whiffing three.

Sunday was nearly win No. 2 for the Saints. On Friday against the Rubicon Red Sox in Slinger, the Saints lost a 2-1 heartbreaker in 10 innings.

Logan Mantz sent the home team home happy with a base-loaded walk-off single in the 10th inning.

Tom Hartwick started and pitched a gem, allowing one earned run through seven innings. He gave up nine hits and two walks, whiffed three and hit three batters.

The Saints scored first in the fourth inning. Dustin Kesner and Jimmy D’Angelo walked, and Kleist knocked in Kesner with a single.

Alex Unikis led off the Sox’ fourth with a home run, the only run Hartwick allowed.

Andrew Biertzer relieved Hartwick and allowed one earned run and four hits in two-plus innings. He walked three and whiffed four.

The Saints’ defense and pitchers made key plays throughout the game. While the Sox had 13 hits, they stranded 17 runners.

The Saints managed five hits and stranded 12.

The Saints (1-3) play at Hartford (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.