Fresh start for Schaum
After shaky relief appearances, Munster pitcher strikes out 14 in Mustangs’ win vs. Andrean
Munster’s Bryce Schaum didn’t have much starting experience under his belt.
He started two games two years ago, when the most recent season was played. Schaum, a lanky 6-foot-4 Carthage College commit, had been spotty in his relief appearances this season.
He was anything but spotty against Andrean in a 4-1 victory in the Northwest Crossroads Conference opener on Monday.
Schaum struck out 14 and walked just three in a big win for the Mustangs (5-2, 1-0). Munster coach Bob Shinkan said he couldn’t remember the last time his team beat the 59ers (3-2, 1-0), who won the past two Class 3A state titles. Andrean’s 39-game winning streak was broken Friday in a 6-2 loss to Westfield.
Schaum said he hadn’t been sharp coming into games in relief.
“This was my first time starting,” he said. “My relief appearances have been a little wild, and I’ve had a lot of walks. This is a really good team to do it (pitch well) against.”
Schaum’s day got off to a good start when Andrean’s Jax Kalemba was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple in the first inning.
Schaum got out of two other jams.
In the third inning, Andrean loaded the bases with one out. Schaum struck out Mike Jarek and Kalemba to end the threat.
In the fifth, the 59ers had runners at second and third with one out, and Schaum got Charlie Jones and Jarek out on a pop-up to shortstop and a fly ball to center field, respectively.
A two-run double by Tyler Lukowski in the first inning gave Munster a 2-0 lead.
Schaum knew this was a big game.
“My adrenaline was through the roof,” he said. “I had good command of my curveball. It got me through a lot.”
Shinkan said his kids were ready. “We came out with some intensity,” he said. “They gave us a couple of runs late. I’m really proud of Bryce for keeping the intensity for the full seven innings.”
Munster got two unearned runs in the fourth inning on two errors, a single and a walk.
Andrean coach Dave Pishkur said his team isn’t hitting the ball well.
“You can’t strike out 14 times and be a good hitting team,” he said. “We are swinging the bats poorly.”
Pishkur was happy with starting pitcher Hunter Niksch, who went four innings and gave up four hits and two earned runs. Jones finished the game.
Pishkur said the 59ers are struggling to find their identity.
“I’m impressed with our defense and our pitching,” he said. “Our hitting has been borderline horrible.”