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Speltz pitched a complete game four-hitter and struck out 12, while piling up 148 pitches over nine innings, to lead the LeJetz past the Rochester A’s 2-1 in the opening round of the First District playoffs Tuesday at Loughrey Field.
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Winona LeJetz's Jake Wanek, left, attempts a double play from second base after the force out of Rochester's Jared Samuelson Tuesday during the first round of the distric playoffs at Winona State University's baseball field. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News) |
All season Hoeppner closely monitored Speltz’s pitch count as the ace right-hander, fresh off a redshirt season at Minnesota-Duluth, continued his recovery from a strained rotator cuff suffered at the end of his high school career at Winona High.
On Tuesday night Hoeppner allowed Speltz to test his arm as rigorously as he’s been able to since high school.
“That’s by far the most he’s gone,” Hoeppner said. “But he’s built his arm up all summer with the intention that come tournament time he might have to go (deep into a game).
“We kept checking on him. Going into the seventh he said he had one more in him, then he went through the eighth pretty quick. Before the ninth he said, ‘let me finish it for you.’ It was pretty personal. That was a gutsy performance.”
Speltz just wanted to honor his coach the best way he knew how.
“I told the guys before the game, right as we were breaking, ‘let’s get this one for Hepp,’” Speltz said. “He’s put a lot of time into it and he’s never been to a state tournament. We really want to get one for him and this is a starting point. We lose our first game and we’re in a lot of trouble.”
Arran Davis hit a solo home run in the second inning, his first home run since two seasons ago at Cotter High, and Andy Wolfe scored on a wild pitch in the third to squeak the LeJetz (20-12) past Rochester ace Mike DeBolt on just four hits.
DeBolt struck out six in an eight-inning complete game.
“The score didn’t surprise me one bit,” Hoeppner said. “Both guys are quality pitchers and that’s what you get.”
The LeJetz will face Owatonna at 4 p.m. Thursday at Hudson Field in Rochester. They’ll take a three game winning streak and lots of momentum with them.
“That was huge,” Hoeppner said. “Beating a quality team like that in a well-played game, you cant ask for anything better.”
