Baseball: Nate Stempowski’s big hit, Seth Kisner’s clutch pitching send Geneva past Yorkville

YORKVILLE – The Geneva Vikings earned their second win of the early season and first on the road, a 5-4 victory over the Yorkville Foxes courtesy of seventh-inning hitting March 21.

Nate Stempowski doubled in Kollin Mickelsen with the winning run in the top of the seventh for the Vikings.

Geneva senior Seth Kisner went the distance on the mound.

After Yorkville (2-2) scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it 4-4 on Kam Yearsley’s second two-run homer, Foxes coach Tom Cerven went to his bullpen for Preston Regnier to try to keep the score tied.

A four-pitch walk got Mickelsen on base. The speedy Mickelsen scored on Stempowski’s second double of the game, giving the Vikings the lead and putting the pressure on Yorkville in the bottom of the seventh.

“Just go up to the plate and play ball,” Stempowski said. “Do what I do and attack the first pitch or a pitch that’s anywhere near for me and take my pitch and drive it.”

Staying relaxed and competitive, Kisner struck out the side in order for Geneva (2-0) in the bottom of the seventh to remain unbeaten.

Kisner gave up a two-run home run to Yearsley in the first inning that also scored Daniel Rodriguez, but from that point retired 12 of the next 13 Yorkville batters he faced. Kisner got it done with four strikeouts and help from his defense.

“He’s kind of one of those kids that’s super competitive. He’s always working to get better every pitch,” Geneva coach Brad Wendell said. “I think if he stays relaxed, he’ll be OK. He might give up one here or there. So just staying positive, staying competitive. He’s got good stuff and we trust him.”

Geneva answered right back after Yearsley’s homer. Senior Joseph Cosentino worked a four-pitch count for a walk in the top of the second inning. That brought up the No. 6 hitter Roland Sorrentino, who tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run shot to left.

While Kisner kept the Foxes’ offense quiet, Yorkville senior pitcher Simon Skroch struggled, especially in the fourth inning when his defense made three errors.

Two passed balls and a fielding error put Vikings runners on the corners with one out. Sorrentino picked up his third RBI of the game when his sacrifice fly drove in Stempowski from third for a 3-2 lead.

Stempowski’s RBI double in the top of the sixth extended Geneva’s lead to 4-2.

Yearsley did more damage in the bottom of the sixth. After Rodriguez grounded out, Bodhi Harrison hustled on a ground ball to third for an infield single. Yearsley followed by pulling a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left for a two-run homer, tying it 4-4.

Cerven, whose team dropped its second straight game after a 2-0 start, wanted to see more offense from his Foxes.

“We did a lot of guessing today,” Cerven said. “You gotta give credit where credit is due. The pitcher came out and threw really well. That curveball kept us off balance and we never adjusted. We really didn’t get going outside a couple of swings from Kam. We have a week before our next game so we’ll definitely make sure to put in some work.”