Elmwood, Spring Valley wins tighen up D-SC Small race

• Spring Valley's Andy Bune

Andy Bune in his throwing motion during Thursday's contest vs. Alma/Pepin.

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The Elmwood High School baseball team's big 18-1 win over Glenwood City Thursday wasn't unexpected. But Spring Valley's rally over Alma-Pepin for an 8-5 win at home has unexpected scrambled the title race in the Dunn-St. Croix Small Division.

Elmwood and Alma/Pepin are now tied for first place in the D-SC Small, both with 6-5 records and Spring Valley's win keeps them alfoat at 4-4.

The Eagles grabbed an early 3-0 lead off three hits in the second inning with two outs, but Spring Valley chipped away at the lead in the next three innings. Andy Bune drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a double in the sixth as the Cardinals put up four runs in the inning.

Alma/Pepin (8-6, 6-5 Dunn-St. Croix) struggled on the mound with three walks and hit four batters. Those mistakes led to three runs for Spring Valley.

The Eagles had four hits in the second inning, but had just three the final five innings. Charlie Raethke, John Nuzum, Zach Vreeland and Dylan Bjork all finished 1-for-3. Bjork and Vreeland had an RBI each.

Valley's Zach Newton belted a home run and drove in two runs while Joe Helmer had two hits and a run. Despite the bad second inning, Bune stayed on the mound and got the win, which snapped a three-game losing streak and puts their overall record at 6-7.

Elmwood and Alma/Pepin square off for first place Monday at Elmwood. First pitch is at 5 p.m. Spring Valley will be at Plum City. The Cardinals also play at Boyceville Thursday, have a doubleheader vs. Glenwood City Friday and then close their conference play May 21 vs. Mondovi. Elmwood, by contrast, wraps up league play next week at Plum City Thursday.

If Valley wins its remaining five games it would claim the league title outright as they did last season with a 9-4 record. The Cardinals still have a one-loss cushion to work with as Elmwood and Alma/Pepin both have five losses.

Tags: prep baseball, spring valley, sports, prep