Shoes handle Eagles in opener

Dillon Hardiek pitched four innings, struck out five and gave up just one hit to lead a balanced Teutopolis effort, as the defending Class 2A state champs opened the spring season with a 7-1 win over St. Elmo on Monday in prep baseball action.

    Derek Repking pitched the final three innings and struck out seven while going 3-for-4 at the plate, and a home run and three RBIs from Mark Niebrugge helped the Wooden Shoes cruise.

    T-Town jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, with Repking and Bo Blievernicht hitting consecutive singles. Repking scored when Hardiek reached on an error, and Niebrugge’s three-run homer put the Wooden Shoes (1-0) ahead for good.

    St. Elmo made it a 4-1 game in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to a solo home run from Ben Sperry, who was 1-for-3 on the day. But T-Town extended its lead with one run in the fifth and two more in the seventh.

    Connor Beasley took the loss for the Eagles

 (2-3) after giving up seven runs on nine hits and one walk in a complete-game effort.

    The Shoes return to action today at home against Cumberland, and St. Elmo is back at Deken Park today against Ramsey.