Columbia’s Patrick Davis slides home safely during game one of Sunday’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Printers at Kleinschmidt Field on Sunday. (Corey Saathoff photo)

With just two games remaining on the regular season schedule, Waterloo and Millstadt are in a heated battle for the Monroe Division crown.

The Millers split two games with St. Clair Division leader Fairview Heights on Sunday while Millstadt pulled off doubleheader sweeps of Valmeyer and Charleston on Thursday and Sunday.

The Green Machine (17-7) now holds a one-game lead over the Millers (16-8) entering Saturday’s contests. Waterloo hosts  Edwardsville (1-20); Millstadt hosts a good Belleville Rockies team, which is 13-9.

If Waterloo wins both games and Belleville wins just one over Millstadt, the Millers will take the division crown because they won three of four regular season games over Millstadt this season.

“It’s never over ’til it’s over, you know,” longtime Millers manager Vern Moehrs said.

Valmeyer Lakers manager Boog Pieper and Lucille Moehrs, wife of Waterloo Millers manager Vern Moehrs, threw out ceremonial first pitches at the start of last week’s Mon-Clair League All-Star Game.

On Sunday, Waterloo pitchers Andy Galle and Corey Vogel combined for a 1-0 shutout of Fairview Heights in game one. Ethan Ruff tripled and scored the game’s only run. Craig Ohlau had a double and an RBI.

In game two, Jeremy Rettig took the loss on the mound for Waterloo in a 5-3 defeat. The Millers loaded the bases in the first inning but could only plate one run.

“We had our chances,” Moehrs said. “We just didn’t get the big hit we needed in that game.”

Garrett Schlecht had two hits and two RBIs. Ohlau had three hits and Ken Wilson added two hits.

The Millers are led on offense by catcher Lucas Wetzler (.397, 15 RBIs), Ruff (.361, 16 stolen bases), Wilson (.346) and Alex Wittenauer (.306, 16 runs).

The Waterloo pitching staff is led by Andy Galle (4-1, 3.36 ERA), Nick Hummel (4-2, 3.87 ERA) and Rettig (3-2, 3.82 ERA).

Millstadt took two games against Valmeyer on Thursday and kept the momentum into Sunday’s doubleheader sweep of Charleston.

Jared Mueth had a triple and three RBIs and Mitch Matecki and Cal Kossina added two hits apiece in a 9-8 game one win over the Lakers.

Luke Glaeser homered and Brian Lupa collected three hits in an 8-2 win in game two. Brandon Saak picked up the win on the mound in the second game.

For Valmeyer, Matt Reinholz went 3-for-4 with a homer and double in game one; Mitch Meyer and AJ Skaer had two hits apiece in game two.

On Sunday, Millstadt kept its offense in high gear, winning 9-3 and 14-0 over Charleston. Mueth and Luke Matecki each homered in game one and Rob Beatty added three hits. Mueth,  Luke Matecki, Lupa and Beatty collected three hits apiece in the second game.

The Green Machine is led on offense by Rob Beatty (.442, 24 RBIs), Tony Kossina (.429, 26 runs), Cal Kossina (.410, 17 runs), Luke Matecki (.406, four triples) and Mitch Matecki (.397, 25 RBIs).

Millstadt’s pitching staff is led by Otto Roberts (3-1, 3.44 ERA) and Ben Hankammer (3-0, 3.33 ERA).
Valmeyer rebounded from Thursday’s losses to top Edwardsville, 6-4 and 17-9. The Lakers (12-12) close out the regular season at home against Columbia this Saturday.

The Lakers are led on offense by Reinholz (.385, 15 runs), Wes Degener (.377, 17 runs), John Wuelling (.361, 15 RBIs), Jeremiah Bergheger (.348, 20 RBIs) and AJ Skaer (.341).

Andrew Bicklein leads the Valmeyer pitching staff at 5-2 with a 2.49 ERA.

Their record may not show it, but the Saints (7-16) have been competitive all summer, splitting multiple doubleheaders against the top teams in the league. That was no different on Sunday, as Columbia split a doubleheader with the St. Louis Printers.

Columbia scored four runs off the league’s leading pitcher, lefty Zach Gronek, in a 7-4 game one loss. In game two, the Saints scored early and often for a 9-3 win.

“We hit well all day,” Saints manager Doc Kleinschmidt said. “Our defense let us down in the first one.”

Columbia second baseman Patrick Davis had a strong performance, collecting three hits on the day.

“He had a good day on defense, too,” Kleinschmidt added.

Shortstop Adam Henke hit an RBI single in a three-run third inning to start the scoring in game two after Ty Kleinschmidt and KJ Spisak had singled.

The Saints batted around in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to put the game out of reach.

Johnny Lord (3-4) took the tough-luck loss in game one despite allowing just one earned run. Austin Schmidt went the distance to win game two.

The Saints are led on offense by Henke (.365), Kyle Breitenstein (.347), Spisak (.317) and Brett Jungles (.304).

Monroe All-Stars win
The Monroe Division All-Stars defeated the St. Clair Division All-Stars, 5-3, last Wednesday night at SPPS Field in Waterloo.

Waterloo’s Nick Hummel was the winning pitcher, with Belleville’s Ryan Warnecke throwing a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Belleville’s Mike Breyman was named MVP, going 2-for-4 with a single, home run and two RBIs.