New Bloomfield thumps Tuscumbia in SMC play

Junior shortstop Grant Nichols had three extra-base hits and knocked in six runs to fuel a 15-hit attack as the Wildcats chalked up their first SMC victory 12-0 Thursday night.

The game ended on the 10-run rule after five innings.

New Bloomfield (5-7, 1-3 Show-Me Conference) breezed to the win by pushing across two runs in the bottom of the first inning, then heaping on four more in the second and six in the third.

Nichols went 3-for-3 with an RBI double in the first, a three-run triple in the second and a two-run double in the third. He scored three times and had two of the Wildcats' five steals.

Junior third baseman Tyler Fennewald also finished 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored for New Bloomfield, while senior second baseman Sam Niedergerke was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.

Senior first baseman Boyd Kempker went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Senior starter Brady Wiler finished 2-for-3 with a triple.

"We were facing a really good pitcher and we were just aggressive," Wildcats head coach Justin Forsythe said. "He has a good fastball and a good breaking ball. When we got into good hitting counts, we found gaps with the balls we hit."

Wiler worked four scoreless innings to collect the win, scattering five hits while striking out one and walking none.

"Honestly, Brady wasn't on top of his game - he's been sick the last few days," Forsythe said. "He knew it was his spot in the rotation and he found ways to get people out."

New Bloomfield hosts a non-conference encounter against Iberia at 5 p.m. today.