By Dan Hardenbrook
The Newberry Varsity Baseball team is playing some of its best baseball in years after an impressive string of victories that has them climbing into conference and district title contention. Following dominant doubleheader sweeps at Atlanta and home against Cedarville-DeTour on Saturday, plus a split in conference games against powerhouse Rudyard Monday, the Indians are now 7-4-1 on the season. The recent run of success included a six-game win streak, also one of their longest in several seasons.
The Indians went below the bridge for a matchup with the Atlanta Huskies last Wednesday and had an offensive explosion, soaring to 12-0 and 19-1 wins. The Indians totaled 24 hits in those games, which both ended early due to mercy rules. Matthew Rahilly continued his unbelievable senior season, batting 3-for-3 with a home run while pitching four shutout innings and striking out seven Atlanta batters.
Kade Schroeder came on in relief for Rahilly to close the game-one shutout. Oscar Woodall and Matthew Luebkert both knocked in a pair of runs in the opener, and Taliesan Cox also coming up with a multi-hit game.
Rahilly delivered again in game two, hitting another home run, his third of the season, and finishing 5-for-5 at the plate with 2 doubles and 8 RBIs.
Newberry scored 8 runs in the first inning of game two and ended things with a statement, scoring 9 more in the fourth. Every Newberry player that entered the game reached base, and Levi Maki and Logan Thiele had a pair of RBIs each. Cox added another two hits in the win. Schroeder, Xander Stilson, and Thiele combined for the win on the mound.
The Indians’ first EUP Conference play was at home against the Cedarville-DeTour Islanders on Saturday. It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams, as the Islanders are in their first season as a program. Newberry took advantage of their edge in experience, cruising to a quick 17-0 win that was called off in the third inning.
The Indians only needed two turns at the plate, scoring 10 runs in the first inning and the other 7 in the second. Cox led the Indians with 4 RBIs, Rahilly and Stilson added three apiece, and Thiele and Schroeder both brought in two. The Indians put on a show with 5 extra base hits, giving Rahilly plenty of support in a two-hit shutout for the Indians ace. Rahilly again struck out 7 in the win. The hot hitting continued in the second game, with Ethan Pavey driving in 4 runs. Stilson cleared a bases loaded situation with a three-run double, and Cox and Rahilly both continued to roll, with 3 runs batted in for each.
With those wins under their belt the Indians went into one of their biggest matchups of the season Monday, taking on the yearly state title contender Rudyard Bulldogs, Newberry had a chance to make a major statement with a monumental win. They delivered on that mission in Monday’s opener, coming from behind to stun the Bulldogs 3-2.
Matthew Luebkert was phenomenal on the mound, using his best pitching performance of the season. In the six-inning game, Luebkert only allowed two hits and struck out seven to earn the win.
Rahilly was at it again, hitting two more doubles and driving in the go ahead run. Rahilly also stole home plate with the Indians down early in the game, sparking the comeback victory.
Logan Thiele had a big run, scoring a single to bring Newberry its first baseball win against Rudyard in many seasons.
The Bulldogs salvaged a split in the second game, using Jaxon Clark and Tanner Baker to combine for a no-hitter against the Indians. That brought Newberry’s winning streak to an end at 6 games, but they are still tied with Rudyard at the top of the EUP Conference standings.
The two sides could meet again in a winner take all third game in the MHSAA District tournament later this month.
