March 19, 2025
Shaw Local
NewsSubscribePrep SportseNewspaperObituariesFriday Night DriveNewsletterStarved Rock CountryEvent CalendarGames and Puzzles

Princeton tops Hall for first time in 7 years

Baseball: Princeton 5, Hall 2

By Kevin Hieronymus
Hall's Drake Garland makes it back to the bag as Princeton first baseman Ean Compton tries to catch the pickoff throw.

Hall's Drake Garland makes it back to the bag as Princeton first baseman Ean Compton tries to catch the pickoff throw. (Mike Vaughn)

SPRING VALLEY – The Princeton Tigers put the W on coach Wick Warren’s name for the first time against Hall.

The Tigers took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning and freshman pitcher Jordan Reinhardt pitched out of one-out, bases-loaded jam to preserve the win.

The win was the first for Warren as head coach against the rival Red Devils, a stretch over six years [five on the field excluding the 2020 COVID-19 season] of 11 losses, and Princeton’s first over Hall since 2015.

“It was a good win,” Warren said.

Junior right-hander Danny Cihocki scattered three hits over six innings, with both runs unearned and struck out six for the win.

“It means everything. We had the one inning where we struggled, but we came back and got the dub [the win],” Cihocki said. “I was very happy to beat Hall on their home field, and we’ll do it again Thursday, too.”

“It was just good to see Danny do what he did. That’s Danny. He’s only going to get better,” Warren said.

Princeton pitcher Danny Cihocki fires a pitch against Hall Friday night at Kirby Park.

Princeton pitcher Danny Cihocki fires a pitch against Hall Friday night at Kirby Park. (Mike Vaughn)

Hall (3-2, 1-1) made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh when Riley Coble doubled with one out against Tigers reliever Wyatt Baker. Ethan Plym walked, and Dominic Guerrini was plunked in the helmet to load the bases.

Cool as a cucumber, the freshmen Reinhardt came on in relief and looked more like a seasoned veteran, striking out the first man he faced, Drake Garland. He then induced a pop out by Payton Dye, which first baseman Ean Compton snagged just inside the fence to end the game.

“We had all the confidence in the world (Reinhardt) was going to come in there and just go right after them, and he did,” Warren said

Princeton (2-2, 1-1) got on the board first with three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth.

Matt Lucas and Reinhardt drew one-out walks off Plym, the Hall starter. Freshman Noah LaPorte singled sharply to right field to load the bases. Freshman catcher Ace Christiansen hit a nubber in front of the plate and beat catcher Kyler Lapp’s throw to first for an infield hit and RBI.

Plym caught leadoff man Bennett Sierens looking, but Augie Christiansen picked him up with a two-out, two-run single to put the Tigers up 3-0.

Hall scored both of its runs in the fourth with the help of two errors to start the inning.

Dominic Guerrini wound up on third on a throwing error on a ball hit to third. He scored when catcher Ace Christiansen dropped Cihocki’s throw home on a nubber to the mound by Drake Garland and just missed getting the tag at the plate.

Garland scored on a fielder’s choice by Gabe Lucas to make it 3-2.

The Tigers got one run back in the top of the fourth when the Red Devils returned the favor with a throwing error on a ball hit to third by Ean Compton. Jimmy Starkey walked before Lucas ripped a RBI single to center.

Ryan Brucker stroked a two-out RBI double to left-center in the fifth to make it 5-2.

“Ryan Brucker got a big hit. We hit the ball well,” Warren said.

The game was anything but well played for either team as each committed seven errors.

“Seven errors, I think four of their five runs were unearned, and I think we left 12 on base. Need I say more,” Hall coach Tom Keegan said. “If we could have punched a few across the first couple innings, maybe it’s a little different. Again, defensively we could not get out of our own way. Could not get the big hit for anything. We move on.”

Hall had just three hits to Princeton’s nine.

The rivals are scheduled to meet again Thursday with Compton (1-0, 1.00), the senior southpaw, in line to take the mound for the Tigers.

At Kirby Park

Princeton 000 311 0 - 5 9 7

Hall 000 200 0 - 2 3 7

WP: Cihocki.

LP: Plym.

Princeton short stop Ryan Brucker comes up throwing as Hall's Mac Resetich rounds second base Friday night at Kirby Park. The Tigers won 5-2.

Princeton short stop Ryan Brucker comes up throwing as Hall's Mac Resetich rounds second base Friday night at Kirby Park. The Tigers won 5-2. (Mike Vaughn)

Hall second baseman Max Bryant turns a double play as Princeton's Jordan Reinhardt slides into second base Monday at Kirby Park.

Hall second baseman Max Bryant turns a double play as Princeton's Jordan Reinhardt slides into second base Monday at Kirby Park. (Mike Vaughn)

Hall's Dominic Guerrini sneaks in ahead of the tag by PHS catcher Ace Christiansen for the Red Devils' first run of the game in the fourth inning Monday.

Hall's Dominic Guerrini sneaks in ahead of the tag by PHS catcher Ace Christiansen for the Red Devils' first run of the game in the fourth inning Monday. (Mike Vaughn)