New Munich- ­Spring Hill’s bats came alive late in the game, but that was soon enough for the Chargers to claim a 7-5 win over New Munich, Sunday, July 13.
 

New Munich had taken a 3-1 lead in the third inning as Nick Stangler and Grant Johnson singled, and Jon Gaebel hit a two-run triple.  SilverStreak pitcher Jim Thull, while giving up a double to Eric Terres, and an RBI ground out to [Shawn Schonberg] in the first inning, for the most part kept the Charger bats fairly quiet, until the eighth inning.  “He knows where to throw,” said Charger manager Randy Schoenberg.  “He is a veteran pitcher.”  Spring Hill’s pitchers were having problems keeping SilverStreak runners off of the bases in the early going, primarily because of walks.  New Munich was not always able to capitalize on those opportunities.  “We’ve got to hit better with men on base,” said New Munich manager Paul Sand.  “Walks are one thing, but if you don’t do anything with them…You can’t go up there looking for a walk.”  The Charger pitchers issued eight walks.  Chad Funk, who scored in the SilverStreaks’ three-run third, started that rally with a walk.  In the fifth inning the SilverStreaks added another run as the relief pitcher Cody Eichers walked in a run. Spring Hill used four pitchers in the game and all of them walked at least one batter.  They had planned to use at least three pitchers in the game.  “We knew nobody was going to throw more than three innings,” said Schoenberg.  “I’m glad we used everybody, because everybody needed some work.”  Spring Hill started to figure out how to get in runs in the sixth inning.  After a walk and hit, batters place runners on first and second, Nathan Terres doubled in one run.  In the eighth inning the Charger batters started getting their hits.  Eric Terres singled and Jamie Terres was hit by the pitch before Shawn Schoenberg and Corey Schoenberg singled.  That brought Andrew Gieske to the mound.  He got one out on a force out, but then Eichers delivered a grand slam, and Spring Hill had a 7-3 lead.  New Munich came back for one more in the ninth inning as Nolan Anderson singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice by Funk to end the game’s scoring.
 

“We didn’t throw strikes,” said Schoenberg of the early innings for the Chargers.  “That’s what you got to do.  Throw strikes and play defense.  That’s what we do.  Cody Eichers also had the big hit for us.”
 

The win gave Spring Hill a 12-1 regular season record and first place in the SCL-North they open playoffs Sunday hosting Meire Grove. New Munich will be at Elrosa.  Teams that win in the first round are guaranteed a spot in the Region 15C tournament.
 

In the SCL-South Lake Henry will host Roscoe and St. Martin hosts Richmond.

(Melrose Beacon)