Aviston dominates their way to the 5th Division crown

That’s a winner — The Aviston Express steam rolled their way to their third-ever 5th Division Tournament title by sweeping the field 20-1 in two games, along with a forfeit to advance to the State Tournament this week in Aviston.    For just the third time in franchise history, the Aviston Express are the 5th Division Tournament champs and will represent the division in the State Tournament this week.
    The Express, winners of the 5th Division in 2022 and 2023, finished out the pre State Tournament campaign with wins over Orient and Alton to claim the title and rest with a 20-2-1 overall record.
    “Every player on this team has done something to contribute to a win this summer,” said Aviston head coach Alex Elsing.  “Our core guys are doing what we’ve asked and they are great leaders.  It means a lot in Clinton County to bring home any type of championship.”
    Alton will also represent the division in the State Tournament as the runner-up in the 5th Division Tournament.
    “This is why Drew (Frey) and I are here,” said Elsing.  “We wanted to be a part of this franchise and I hope and expect the same type of effort from our guys next week.  I think we are playing our best baseball right now, which is ideal.”
On the sweet spot — Aviston’s Bryce Wieter sends a ball to the left side in the first inning of the Express’ 11-1 win over Orient on Thursday in the 5th Division Tournament in Steeleville. Wieter is hitting .390 on the season.    Aviston 9, Alton 1:  The Express left no doubt in their final game in Steeleville on Saturday afternoon.
    “Top to bottom in the order, everyone played a key roll and did their job,” said first-year head coach Alex Elsing.  “Drake went out absolutely shoved and did what we needed out of him.  He hit almost every spot I called and you can’t ask for more than that.”
    After a scoreless first, the Express took over on offense from there and starting pitcher Drake Curry took care of the rest.
    Curry retired Alton in order in the top of the first inning before Clayton Gaetti was stranded on base in the bottom of the first inning with no score.
    Curry retired the side in the second inning before the Aviston bats went to work in the bottom of the inning.
    After the first out was retired, Bryce Wieter walked on five pitches before the second out was retired.  Craig Schroeder singled through the left side to score Wieter for a 1-0 lead.
    Jack Reynolds followed with a single to center to bring up leadoff hitter Benny Lehman.  After fouling off four pitches, the lefty hit a three-run bomb over the right-field fence for a 4-0 lead.
    “It’s really important to get out to a lead in a game like this,” added Elsing.  “I always tell the guys that I want at least one run each inning, and Benny’s shot was a little icing on the cake there to get our offense going.”
    Gaetti followed with his second single of the game before Rowdy Sussenbach chased him home with a double to the gap for a 5-0 lead.  Sussenbach scored from second on a wild pitch for a 6-0 lead entering the third inning.
    After another perfect inning from Curry, Aviston made it 7-0 in the third inning when Wieter singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Schroeder.
Look it in — Aviston middle infielder Conlan Haar looks in a grounder in the Express’ 11-1 win over Orient on Thursday in Steeleville. The Express won their third-ever Division Tournament with a pair of victories.    Abe Kribs ended Curry’s perfect game with a ground-rule double to right field before he got the next two hitters to end the threat.
   Aviston got two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Conlan Haar led off with a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Curry for an 8-0 lead.
    Wieter scored on a wild pitch to lead 9-0 before Reynolds smashed a double to the gap where Schroeder was thrown out at the plate trying to score which would have ended the contest.
    Alton got three-straight singles and a sacrifice fly to avoid the shutout with a solo tally in their final at bat.
    Curry pitched a complete-game gem with seven innings of work where he allowed four hits and no walks while striking out six in a 79-pitch effort.
    Lehmann homered and had three RBI while Gaetti was 2-for-4 with two singles, a run scored and three stolen bases.
    Schroeder was 2-for-3 with two singles and a run scored with one RBI while Reynolds was also 2-for-3 with a double, a single and a run scored.  Wieter added two stolen bases.
    Aviston 11, Orient 1 (5 innings):  The Express won their 5th Division opener on Thursday in Steeleville.
    The Express scored in four of their five at-bats to secure a quality win over Orient.
    Aviston took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Benny Lehman led off with a single before being erased on a fielder’s choice from Clayton Gaetti.
    Rowdy Sussenbach made it runners on the corners with a single to the right side before Gaetti scored on a single from Miles Browne for a 1-0 lead after the opening inning of action.
    After Sussenbach retired the side in order in the top of the second, the Express put the game away as the first six hitters reached base.
Barreled — Aviston utility man Johnny Hilmes sends the ball up the middle in the Express’ 11-1 win over Orient on Thursday in the 5th Division Tournament in Steeleville. The Express will enter State at 20-2-1.    Bryce Wieter and Craig Schroeder each singled before Johnny Hilmes walked to load the bases.  Lehman singled up the middle to score two runs before Sussenbach added an RBI single for a 5-0 lead after two innings.
    After a scoreless third inning, Orient got their lone tally on two walks, a single and a wild pitch to get within 5-1.
    Aviston got a break in the bottom of the inning with two outs when Sussenbach singled and Browne reached on a fielding error.  Conlan Haar smacked a double to the gap to chase both runners home with a 7-1 lead after four innings.
    Aviston ended things in the bottom of the fifth inning when Wieter led off with a single and Schroeder walked.  Jack Reynolds stroked a 2-run double off the fence in center field before a double from Lehman made it 10-1, chasing Reynolds.  Lehman scored on a sacrifice fly from Gaetti to end the contest.
    Lehman was 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, two runs scored and three batted in.  Sussenbach had three singles and an RBI.
    Haar was 2-for-2 with a single, a double and two batted in to go with a walk and a stolen base.  Schroeder and Gaetti each scored a pair of runs.
    Sussenbach was the winning pitcher as he went three shutout innings and allowed one hit and struck out four batters.  Lehman allowed one earned run on one hit, two walks and five strikeouts over two innings of work.