Wellington’s Wiebke Tosses 1-Hit Shutout Against John I. Leonard

Junior Erik Wiebke allowed just four baserunners in a complete-game one-hitter.

Wellington has traditionally relied on good pitching, and the Wolverines may have another gem in junior left-hander Erik Wiebke.

Wiebke pitched a complete-game one-hitter, striking out seven and walking one to lead Wellington over John I. Leonard 8-0 in a non-district game Thursday night.

Wiebke lost the no-hitter when Jorge Rivera led off the seventh inning with a bunt single on a 1-1 pitch.

After a quick conference on the mound with the infielders and veteran pitching coach Bob Bradley, Nestor Valdez hit into a fielder’s choice and took second on a throwing error. The game ended when Oscar Singh flied out to right and Valdez was doubled up at second.

“That (the bunt) didn’t really bother me that much,” said Wiebke, who only allowed four baserunners. “You’ve got to do what you have to do if you want to get a base hit. It didn’t really affect me, because I looked at the scoreboard and saw it was 8-0 and I knew I had good run support and I wasn’t going to let one hit bother me. I was just making sure I finished the inning strong.”

Rivera, a right-handed hitter, squared away to bunt on the first pitch but laid off and then fouled off the next bunt attempt. On the third pitch, he placed the ball perfectly down the first-base line.

“I can’t backhand it, so I had to dive, turn around and throw it,” said Wiebke, whose attempt made the play extremely close at first. “I did all I could, but he got a hit.”

Wellington Manager Scott Riddle was pleased with Wiebke’s performance and his continued improvement.

“He was good when he needed to be,” said Riddle. “He had a little trouble the first couple of innings finding his groove. Really about the third or fourth inning, he started spotting it a little bit. He found out his off-speed pitches were working, and we could get them out with his off-speed pitches. When he needed the fastballs late in the count, he was able to throw some fastballs; so he pitched a little (more) backwards than he has in the past.”

Riddle said Wiebke usually works his fastball early and goes to the off-speed pitches later.

“His command wasn’t perfect, but he was effectively wild as they say,” said Riddle. “We’re just lucky enough when they hit the ball hard it was right at us.”

Austin Spitz went 1-for-3, and his double was the only extra-base hit for Wellington.

It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Lancers (8-11), who started two seniors and two juniors. Sophomore right-hander Moises Caracus started and went four innings and was the losing pitcher.

Wellington (14-6) took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Jake Summey led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Danny Bigtree walked and Summey scored on a wild pitch when Matt Morales squared around to bunt. Bigtree reached third and scored on Matt Morales’ sac fly.

Summey finished with three hits, including a two-run single to highlight the three-run fifth inning. Spencer Stockton and Tyler Dillian each had an RBI single in the three-run fourth.

Wiebke, in his first year on the varsity, needed 18 pitches in the first inning while striking out the side.

“The first inning for me is always just kind of nervousness,” said Wiebke. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, I’m just going to have those pre-game nerves.”

He also struggled a little bit in the sixth inning, needing 17 pitches, but Wiebke knew he was going to complete the game no matter what.

Riddle now turns his attention to Tuesday’s district game at home against Jupiter. Wellington is 4-3 and Jupiter is 3-3.

“Our mindset is we’ve got one district game left and if we win it, we have a chance to finish as high as we’ve finished in the district in a long time,” said Riddle. “We’re going to do whatever we can to get ready for Jupiter. Hopefully, we can beat them and if we do, we are guaranteed not to play in the play-in game, which we’re had to do the last couple of years.”

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