By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
In his first career start, Rosholt High pitcher Senica Omernik couldn't have expected a better helping hand.
The senior, with the help of his defense, pitched a complete game as the Hornets rallied for a 6-3 win at Amherst Tuesday. Omernik used his fastball and sinker to scatter four hits as Rosholt improved to 11-4 overall.
"The defense came around big time. That's the best I've seen our defense play," Omernik said. "(Amherst) hit the ball pretty well. That's why I give the credit to our defense."
The Hornets got on the scoreboard early, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Center fielder Randy Printz reached on an error and then scored on a passed ball to put Rosholt on the scoreboard. The visitors added another run in the second on Brad Zdroik's RBI single.
Amherst battled back to score a trio of runs with two out in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Luke Aubut scored on a RBI groundout by Casey Neuville for the first run. Willie Hill then took advantage of a Rosholt error, tying the game by scoring from second base when Bryce Domask mishandled Dustin Yenter's single to right field.
The Falcons took the lead moments later when Omernik attempted to pickoff Yenter at first base. The throw sailed into right field and when the dust cleared, Nolan Kayon crossed the plate from second base.
An Amherst pitching change, several wild pitches and passed balls, and an error helped the Hornets regain the lead in a four-run fifth inning. Neuville replaced Aubut on the mound and walked Randy Printz to open the inning. Printz promptly stole second and advanced to third on an error on the play. Ryan Zdroik then hit a single to right field to tie the game at 3-3. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Zdroik scored on an Omernik infield single.
Tom Stanislawski drew a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs when Domask had a well-placed bunt down the third base line that left everyone safe and the bases loaded.
"Bryce Domask laid down a beautiful bunt. That's the best I've seen in a while," Ryan Zdroik said.
After an infield fly out and a strikeout, the Hornets took the lead for good, scoring once on a passed ball and another on a wild pitch.
"We had decided we would pitch Aubut four innings and then go to Neuville," Amherst coach Bill Schweitzer, whose team dropped to 8-5 overall, said. "We didn't back (Neuville) either with defense."
Omernik then shut the door the final two innings, with the help of his defense, retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced.
"They had probably six super defensive plays," Schweitzer said. "We didn't hit the ball as hard as we're capable. It's a game hopefully we can learn from. You have games where you don't play as well."