Coming off of a first place performance in the Bismarck tournament and two of its three wins of the season, Steelville High School’s baseball team hoped to continue its positive play in a Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) road game in Bourbon. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they ran into a Bourbon buzzsaw in pitcher Ian Muller on April 14, and were shutout in their only game of the week. The Cardinals are now 3-10 on the year with seven scheduled games remaining in the regular season. Steelville had six days off before hosting Crocker on April 21, which began a stretch of six straight games at Steelville City Park. 

The Cardinals will host Sullivan on April 24, Viburnum on April 27 and St. James on April 28, Bismarck on May 1 and Belle on May 4 before playing their last regular season game on May 11 in Owensville.  

Cards’ bats go quiet in Bourbon

Bourbon’s fan base came out in droves for their home opener and combined with Steelville’s supportive crowd, created a buzzing atmosphere at the Bourbon Sports Complex. However, there would be little for Steelville’s crowd to get excited about.

After scoring 15 runs against Kingston, Steelville’s hot bats went ice cold in Bourbon. The senior southpaw Mueller masterfully picked apart the Cardinals for all seven innings, striking out 13 in an efficient 73 pitches. 

Steelville had its best opportunity to score in the first inning after leadoff hitter Ripken Halbert reached on an infield single. Halbert then stole second and advanced to third on a groundball. But the Cardinals were not able to get Halbert or anybody else across home plate and lost 5-0 in a well played rapidly moving game. 

Steelville senior Trentin Garrison got the start on the mound and walked the first three batters he faced before head coach Ryan Weber called on junior Garrett Richter in relief. Bourbon was able to plate all three of Garrison’s inherited runners in the first inning and added two runs in the second inning.

That would end up being all of the scoring between the two teams as Mueller and sophomore reliever Colin Orick turned the potential shootout into a pitcher’s duel.

Bourbon was baffled by Orick, who came on in the third inning, striking out 7 Warhawks in four perfect innings of work.

Steelville freshman first baseman Chace Grayson singled and stole second base as Steelville’s only other player to reach scoring position after Halbert’s first inning opportunity. 

Bourbon only managed four hits, but their big blow came on a two-run single from Mueller, who tortured the Cardinals from the mound and at the plate.