Strong Middle Innings Help the Bulldogs Fend Off the Crusaders
- RoMoAthletics
- Mar 28
- 6 min read
March 25th 2026
It was an incredible spring day for the Bulldog Baseball home opener on Wednesday March 25th when the Helias Crusaders came to town. Trailing 0-1 entering the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs plated 4 runs on their way to a decisive 11-2 victory over the Crusaders.
Momentum in the Middle
The Bulldogs scored all 11 runs in the 3rd through 5th innings to move their season record to 3-1 with the win over Helias. While the start was slower than Coach Hohe would have liked, working through the nerves of your home opener is something that can be expected. “We struggled early to find our footing at the plate, but in the 3rd, 4th, & 5th we put up big numbers.”
While the Bulldogs bats were unleashed, the Crusader runs, both were unearned as the Bulldogs recorded 3 errors on the day.
The top 3 in the line-up scored 5 runs in large part to the bottom part of the line-up. “The 7, 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup (Sr. Ruger Covey, Jr. Blaine Sbabo, and Jr. Chase Hudson) combined for 4 hits, 3 RBI, & 5 runs. When you get production throughout the lineup it makes it tough for the opposing team to pitch.”
Senior Landon Richter went 3 for 3 with 2 Runs and an RBI while Senior Jenson Thomas drove in 5 runs on 2 for 3 hitting giving him 9 RBIs in the last two games.
Sbabo Gets the Dub
Sbabo earned the win for Bulldogs allowing two hits and two runs (zero earned) over three and two-thirds innings, striking out none and walking three.
“Blaine Sbabo did an excellent job of competing,” said Hohe. “He didn’t have his best stuff on the mound but found a way to get us 13 outs and only give up 2 runs. He competed & battled all night.”
Sophomore Connor Hirtz and Sr. Ruger Covey each came on in relief to pitch three and a third scoreless innings giving up 5 hits while striking out 4.
Next Up
Bank Classic Washington/Union Tournament - Friday and Saturday
Friday the 27th vs Union (2-2) 11:30 am
Friday the 27th vs Lafayette (St. Joseph) (1-1) 2:00 pm
Saturday the 29th TBD at Union, MO
The Scorebook: Rolla Bulldogs 0, Helias Crusaders 5
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
Helias (1-3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
Rolla (3-1) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | X | 11 | 10 | 3 |
Rolla Bulldogs
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
C. Petersmith | CF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
L. Richter | C | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
J. Thomas | SS | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
C. Williams | DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
R. Snodgrass | 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
L. Jenkins | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
— Z. McWilliams | 1B | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
R. Covey | LF,P | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
B. Sbabo | P,2B,LF | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
C. Hudson | RF | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TEAM | 26 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 7 |
2B: Landen Richter, Riker Snodgrass
3B: Jenson Thomas
TB: Jenson Thomas 4, Landen Richter 3, Chase Hudson 2, Riker Snodgrass 2, Blaine Sbabo 1, Colton Petersmith 1, Ruger Covey 1
HBP: Colton Petersmith
SF: Jenson Thomas
SB: Landen Richter
E: Jenson Thomas, Riker Snodgrass, Ruger Covey
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
B. Sbabo (W) | 3.2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
C. Hirtz | 2.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
R. Covey | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
TEAM | 7.0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
WP: Blaine Sbabo
HBP: Blaine Sbabo
Pitches-Strikes: Connor Hirtz 37-18, Ruger Covey 18-11, Blaine Sbabo 58-24
Helias Crusaders
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
B. Holee | SS,P | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
D. Heislen | CF,P | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
B. Carden | LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
M. Miller | C | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
B. Blanton | 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
B. Means | 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
L. Bruemmer | 2B,SS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Z. Schulte | RF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
M. Malmstrom | P, CF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
TEAM | 28 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
TB: Miles Miller 2, Beau Blanton 1, Ben Holee 1, Brayden Means 1, Drew Heislen 1
HBP: Miles Miller
SB: Ben Holee, Max Malmstrom
E: Max Malmstrom
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
M. Malmstrom (L) | 2.1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
D. Heislen | 2.0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
B. Holee | 1.2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
TEAM | 6.0 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 7 |
HBP: Drew Heislen
Pitches-Strikes: Max Malmstrom 61-35, Ben Holee 30-21, Drew Heislen 33-15
Batters Faced: Max Malmstrom 14, Ben Holee 9, Drew Heislen 11
Bulldogs JV Can’t Keep Up With the Crusaders
In what looked to be a shootout after the first inning, soon turned into an offensive showing by the JV Crusaders. After giving up two runs in the top of the first, the Bulldogs responded with three of their own to take the lead.
Crusader put up another three runs in the top of the second and then held the Bulldogs scoreless. The Crusaders put the game away in the next inning exploding for 5 runs on their way to a 15-6 victory.
Coach Hohe shared his thoughts after the game and despite the lopsided loss, he kept it all in perspective. “Our JV took one on the chin, but we were able to get a lot of guys their first JV innings on the mound.”
“We need to do a better job of commanding the strike zone and getting ahead of hitters. It is hard to pitch when you are constantly 2-0 or 3-1.”
Despite the loss, Coach Hohe was sure to recognize the areas to build on. “We scored 6 runs and took advantage of some miscues on Helia's part. Charlie Voigt and Rodrick Perry had big RBI base hits.”
The Scorebook: Rolla Bulldogs JV 6, Helias Crusaders JV 15
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
Helias JV | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | x | x | x | 15 | 11 | 3 |
Rolla JV (1-1) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | x | x | x | 6 | 5 | 3 |
Rolla Bulldogs JV
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
K. Ace | 2B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
C. Hirtz | SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
W. Richards | 3B,P,3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
G. Hohe | C | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Q. Girondo | CF,P,CF | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
T. Jenkins | P3B,LF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
D. Spinaio | LF,CF,P | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
B. Lukefahr | DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
C. Voight | RF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
R. Perry | 1B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
TEAM | 18 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
TB: Charlie Voigt 1, Connor Hirtz 1, Dominic Spinaio 1, Rodrick Perry 1, Ty Jenkins 1
SB: Gibson Hohe 3, Ty Jenkins 3, Dominic Spinaio 2, Quentin Girondo 2, Charlie Voigt, Connor Hirtz, Kyllian Ace, Rodrick Perry
E: Kyllian Ace 2, Westin Richards
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
T. Jenkins (L) | 2.0 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
W. Richards | 1.0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Q. Girondo | 0.2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
D. Spinaio | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
TEAM | 4.0 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 4 |
WP: Dominic Spinaio
HBP: Ty Jenkins
Pitches-Strikes: Dominic Spinaio 17-5, Ty Jenkins 40-25, Westin Richards 34-16, Quentin Girondo 34-17
Batters Faced: Dominic Spinaio 4, Ty Jenkins 11, Westin Richards 9, Quentin Girondo 7
Helias Crusaders JV
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
O. Miller | SS | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
— C. Verslues | P | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
H. Reinsch | CF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
D. McDaniel | RF | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
L. Talken | P | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
J. Bailes | 3B | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
G. Mcelloway | 1B | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
G. Holtgrew | C | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
P. Loethen | 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TEAM | 22 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 4 |
2B: Dodge McDaniel, Hayden Reinsch, Oliver Miller
3B: Jameson Bailes
TB: Jameson Bailes 4, Hayden Reinsch 3, Dodge McDaniel 2, Oliver Miller 2, Colton Verslues 1, Gavin Melloway 1, Grant Holtgrewe 1, London Talken 1, Parker Loethen 1
HBP: Grant Holtgrewe
SB: Dodge McDaniel 3, Gavin Melloway 2, Grant Holtgrewe 2, Oliver Miller 2, Colton Verslues, Hayden Reinsch, Jameson Bailes, London Talken
E: Colton Verslues, Jameson Bailes, Oliver Miller
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
L. Talken | 0.2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
C. Verslues (W) | 3.1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
TEAM | 4.0 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
WP: Colton Verslues
Pitches-Strikes: London Talken 34-11, Colton Verslues 69-44
Batters Faced: London Talken 7, Colton Verslues 17
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