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It seemed like only a few hours after we stepped foot off the puddle jumpers that we were back and boarding the Lamers bus. To be truthful, it was about only 12 hours later that we were on the road. A pretty quick turnover, considering we just spent a full day of energy toward one game, however thats how baseball is.
This time our destination was Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tenn. This was about a nine to 10 hour bus ride depending on the stops. The luxury of flying planes was all but a memory with us aboard the humble bowling alley carpet-covered Lamers bus. After a couple of movies (40 Year Old Virgin and The Girl Next Door), we made our routine stop at the Marion, Ill., Ryans Buffet. After indulging in fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and of course ice cream, we continued down the final stretch towards warmer weather. We finally arrived in Clarksville, Tenn., and checked into the Riverview Inn. This has been the humble abode for us for the last couple years while we played Austin Peay. Situated on top of a large hill, this hotel provided us with 70’s style rooms, 26 inch Zenith rounded screen TV’s, and belly button reaching shower heads. However old-school this hotel may be, it was located in a prime spot for eating options. With Hooters, O’Charleys, Wendy's, Subway and a Chinese buffet within walking distance, we were assured to be reaching our caloric needs each day. Tonight we arrived a little too late for us to grab a bite, so we just got our room assignments and got prepared for the Austin Peay Invitational.
The Austin Peay Invitational included four teams. Ourselves, Austin Peay, Dayton, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Our first game was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. versus the host Austin Peay. The pregame routine was a bit skewed with a game occurring before us. We had to take batting practice off to the side in cages and stretch in that same confined area. After batting practice we had about an hour and a half of downtime due to the geriatrics of the previous game. Dayton and SIU Edwardsville battled with a combined 25 runs and several big innings, extending our waiting time. After the game was completed, we took the field and got ready for our turn. After infield and the longest rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, the game was underway.
Getting the start for us was sophomore Kyle Schmidt. He pitched pretty well while only making one mistake, a three-run homerun. This game overall was a sloppy one for our side, with five errors in the field and no energy, physically or mentally. Anytime we come out and play like that we cannot expect to win. To make things short we ended up losing the game 9-1 and were completely embarrassed. Post game discussion consisted of understanding that the baseball we played would not warrant us a win all year. Coach Scott Doffek made it quite clear that he will not put up with sloppy baseball. After apologizing to our parents for the horrible show we put on we headed back to the hotel.
With the memory of losing on everyone’s minds, we showered and went to eat. Coming back to the hotel on a full stomach, a good chunk of us cleared our minds with a life changing game of trivia located on sporcle.com. Senior Tim Patzman showcased his knowledge of the world around him basically winning every category we chose. Some speculate that he was screen cheating, however to his credit he is quite the nerd deep down. When this game ended the group that was in his room returned to our own and passed out, understanding that the next game is the most important for us.
Waking up and delighting ourselves with the continental breakfast we hopped on the bus at a gut-wrenching time of 8:30 a.m. To some players dismay we were scheduled for two 7-inning games against SIU Edwardsville. These games would prove to be our first home-away-from-home games of the season, with us wearing our white jerseys and batting in the bottom half of the innings. The routine was once again broken with us not partaking in batting practice before the game. This may or may not have been a good idea, but after the result of the following game I suppose it was phenomenal. The game began with freshman Eric Semmelhack on the mound. However, after working two innings of scoreless baseball, he was pulled from the game with injury concern, thus giving way to junior Cuyler Franzke.
While this was going on the offense of the Panthers was shattering records, so to speak. Senior’s Ben Long and Dan Buchholz both hit homeruns, as well as junior Doug Dekoning joining in the fun with one of his own. Long had three RBI’s in this game with three solo homeruns. Buchholz had four RBI's on his homerun, as it was a grand slam. Other notable offensive weapons were the whole lineup, top to bottom. Sophomore Paul Hoenecke provided doubles of his own, as well as junior Jim Lundstrum. Seniors Shaun Wegner, Nino Guerrero and Tim Patzman also joined the hit brigade en route to a 20-2 victory.
Cuyler Franzke, junior Jayme Sukowaty, seniors Bob Stone and Jeff Gordon got the nods on the mound and shut down the dangerous SIU offense.
This was the type of game we were looking for. All three aspects of the game were on the same page, with very few mistakes, clutch hitting and pitching, as well as flawless defense. We got a feel for what it takes to set a tone for the day and we were not looking to get tentative for the next 7-inning game.After a brief gathering with family and friends along with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, we resumed our baseball focus in an attempt to sweep SIU Edwardsville. For the third straight game we were facing an opposing left-handed pitcher. With no discontent in mind, we took the field with the same energy as the first game. Chad Pierce got the nod for us on the mound looking for his first victory of the year. After a scoreless first from both sides, Edwardsville took a 2-0 advantage in the top half of the second with a solo homerun and an infield single that plated another from a throwing error. With a little concern from our dugout about a lack of focus, we bounced back and tied the game in the bottom half. Pierce then went out and threw two scoreless innings, as we added three in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth. With a 6-2 advantage going into the fifth, Edwardsville was unwilling to lay down and fold. They added two in the top half of the inning putting pressure on our defense to hold the lead. After two hits in the top of the sixth, Pierce managed to get Edwardsville’s nine hitter to roll over to second base closing the threat. We were again blanketed in the bottom of the sixth going down in one-two-three fashion.
Chad Pierce’s day was done and in entered sophomore Cameron Amsrud. He made it interesting by giving up a leadoff homerun to push the Cougars to within one. Cam regathered himself and got a groundout from the two hitter. Unfortunately, with one out and no one on, a triple was laced to right center field making the final inning uneasy. With Amsrud’s “no-fear, I’ve been here before” attitude in mind, he made a quality pitch to get a ground out to third base holding the runner and pulling himself closer to a save. Pierce, nearly having an anxiety attack in the dugout could barely stand to watch. The stage was set. Runner on third, two outs, and a chance to tie the game for Edwardsville. Fortunately, for us, Amsrud prevailed. Cam got a hard hit ground ball to Ben Long at first base that Long scooped up, ending the threat and closing the game. Panthers won 6-5 and took the sweep on the day. As we cleaned up the dugout and changed out of spikes and into turfs we met briefly with the coaching staff preceding the two victories. Coach Doffek mentioned that in general he thought we played pretty well. He also highlighted that we now had the opportunity to turn what looked like a bleak weekend into a really positive result. The possibility of going 3-1 on the weekend lay in front of us tomorrow with a tough opponent in the University of Dayton.
Rising early, the majority of us got up and took advantage of the continental breakfast for the last time. Seniors reminisced about leaving Clarksville, with many proclaiming that they will never come back. Cleaning up rooms, packing suitcases and recharging ipods and computers is usually how Sunday mornings play out. Following all the meticulous clean up, we left for the field at 9:30 in the morning. After a short bus ride, we arrived at Raymond C. Hand Park. With the opportunity to close the weekend on a positive note, the energy and focus was high as we took care of pregame duties. Although unusual, once again, we took just batting practice and no infield outfield. This did not seem to have any effect on the outcome of the game. Senior Jordan Herbert pitched five scoreless innings while only giving up two hits. Luke Annen, fellow senior, took care of the rest. Annen close the game with four scoreless innings in a bounce-back performance from last weekend. The offense provided six runs on 13 hits giving the team all we needed. With a 6-0 victory the team and coaching staff was more than excited with the way the weekend turned out. Assistant/pitching coach, Cory Bigler, gave the final words in the post game huddle. He highlighted the majority of the positives from the weekend and reinforced the importance of coming out and playing with energy and passion. The team dispersed and gathered their equipment. Saying good-bye to family and friends that came to support, we hit the showers and prepared to depart back to Milwaukee.
Following showers, we ate in town at Clarksville’s local Chinese Buffet right on the river. After shoving our faces with General Tso’s Chicken, Crab Rangoon and sushi we boarded the bus and did not stop for another five hours. With the majority of us either sleeping or catching up on homework for the first half of the trip, the atmosphere was quiet and relaxing. About two hours in, the anxiousness of getting home reignited. It did not help that the Lamer’s bus was nearly 105 degrees (not really, but hot enough). Ben Long was topless and others were stripping of fleece pants and other garments that were containing heat. The trip lasted another seven hours, with much restlessness. Another episode of “Panther Life” was filmed and another stop at yet another McDonald’s was made. We reached Milwaukee at approximately 1:00 a.m and we were delighted to see the majority of the snow melted. Home sweet home. Another trip, another 12 hours, another opponent starting on Thursday as we head to the University of Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks in a three game set on starting Friday afternoon.
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