By Fred Kroner
Bryson Houchens has been on a week-long tear for the St. Joseph Junior High baseball team.
In a three-game span from Tuesday (Aug. 31) through Tuesday (Sept. 7), Houchens had six hits in nine at-bats. Four of his hits landed for extra bases and two were home runs. He drove in nine runs during the three-game spree.
On Tuesday (Aug. 31), Houchens, Trevor Ames, Cam Schluter and Asher Pruemer delivered two hits as the Panthers blitzed visiting Salt Fork 10-1.
Houchens and Schluter hit doubles as did Luke Smith.
Smith and Zach Harper each scored two runs.
Pruemer pitched six innings to notch the win. He struck out nine batters and walked one. Gary Page worked a hitless seventh inning.
On Wednesday (Sept. 1), St. Joseph won at Bismarck-Henning 12-3.
Ames and Logan Rosenthal each socked three hits. Houchens and Pruemer had two hits apiece.
Houchens hammered a home run and drove in four runs.
Houchens and Rosenthal both scored three runs. Ames scored three runs, stole three bases and delivered two RBI.
Pruemer and Smith both knocked in two runs.
Four St. Joseph pitchers were called upon and none yielded an earned run. Schluter pitched the first 2 2/3 innings. He was followed to the mound by Finn Miller, Ames and Canamore. Ames recorded three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.
On Tuesday (Sept. 7), Houchens played the starring role in a 10-0 win at home over St. Matthew.
He pitched a complete-game, five-inning, one-hit shutout. Houchens walked one and struck out 11.
Offensively, he belted a double and a home run and drove in five runs.
The Panthers were limited to five hits.
Rosenthal drew three walks, stole three bases and scored two runs.
Ames and Will Haley each scored two runs and Pruemer knocked two RBI.
The Panthers are 12-3 overall.
