Millers earn split over the weekend

Waterloo’s Trevor Davis takes a swing during a recent game. (Corey Saathoff photo)

The Waterloo Millers took two steps forward and two steps back in Mon-Clair League baseball action over the weekend.

The Millers posted two exciting wins over the St. Louis Printers at home on Saturday, only to drop both games of a Sunday twinbill at Millstadt.

With the 2-2 showing, the Millers stand at 10-9 in league play. That is good for third place in the Monroe Division behind the Belleville Rockies (11-8) and Millstadt Green Machine (10-8). The Valmeyer Lakers, who were idle this past weekend, are 9-7.

Keegan Baxmeyer and Jeremy Rettig were the stars for Waterloo on Saturday. Baxmeyer had the game-winning RBIs in both games against the St. Louis Printers and Rettig picked up both wins on the mound. 

The Millers led 4-0 after two innings, but the Printers clawed back thanks to poor defense by Waterloo. The Millers committed six errors in the contest.

With the score tied at 6-6 in the ninth inning, Ethan Ruff reached on a single and stole second base. He scored on Baxmeyer’s game-winning single.

Longtime Millers pitcher Andy Galle returned from an injury to pitch three innings in relief of starter Andrew Yancik. Rettig came on to pitch two scoreless innings for the victory.

Cory Lubinski went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Ruff went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and two runs. Lucas Wetzler went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

In game two, Baxmeyer’s two-run homer was the difference in a 3-1 victory. 

Rettig went the distance on the hill, striking out seven for his second victory of the day.

Logan Mueth went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Ruff added another hit with two stolen bases.

On Sunday, Waterloo lost 4-3 in eight innings in game one and fell 6-2 in game two at Millstadt.

The Millers trailed 2-1 after six innings in game one, but scored two in the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. The Green Machine answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh to tie it and won it in the eighth.

Baxmeyer went 3-for-3 in the loss. Noah Thaggard pitched seven and one-third innings, only allowing one earned run.

Tony Kossina led the Green Machine offense by going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs.

In game two, Kossina went 2-for-4 with two more runs and  Millstadt pitchers Brian Lupa and Andy Barton combined to silence the Waterloo bats.

Quentin Albrecht led the way at the plate for the Millers by going 2-for-3. Waterloo had only four hits in the contest.

Waterloo is led on offense this season by Mueth, who is hitting .415 with 14 runs. He is followed by Lubinski (.411, 14 RBIs), Baxmeyer (.404, seven RBIs, eight runs) and Ruff (.382, 17 stolen bases, 21 runs).

Rettig leads the Waterloo pitching staff at 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 40 innings, followed by Yancik at 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 26 innings.

Millstadt is led on offense by Tony Kossina at .403 with 13 stolen bases and 16 runs, followed by Rob Beatty at .349 with 15 RBIs and Luke Matecki at .340 with 15 RBIs.

Cal Kossina leads the Green Machine pitching staff at 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 42 innings, followed by Lupa and 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 14-plus innings.

Waterloo hosts Cape Girardeau on Friday night before hosting Belleville for two this Sunday afternoon.

Millstadt hosts Fairview Heights for two on Saturday and will travel to play the St. Louis Printers on Sunday. 

Valmeyer hosts the St. Louis Spikes for two this Saturday and hosts Cape Girardeau on Sunday. 

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Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.

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