Tscherter terrorizes Wapsie Valley as Rebels advance
Gladbrook-Reinbeck ace strikes out 11 in two-hit shutout victory
REINBECK — Monday night’s Class 1A district game in Reinbeck — having moved from Traer due to North Tama canceling its season for COVID-related reasons — went exactly to plan for Gladbrook-Reinbeck and its starting pitcher Tyler Tscherter.
The senior threw a complete-game shutout and seemed in control from the first pitch to the last against the Wapsie Valley Warriors (13-5) as the Rebels (8-7) ground out a 2-0 win.
Rebels coach Scott Kiburis said they hoped the game would be low-scoring.
“[Tyler] was on today, like he’s been on the last couple games,” Kiburis said. “So if you can get a run, then you can feel really confident that you’re in the lead, to begin with. If you get a second run, you can feel confident he has the ability to strike kids out, which doesn’t allow other kids to move around the bases.”
The first two innings of the game set the tone for the night: a pitching duel between Tscherter and Wapsie Valley starter Trevor Sauerbrei. With no runs and only two hits combined, it was difficult for either team’s batters to make a meaningful connection with the ball. That was just fine with the Rebels, considering the batting struggles they’ve had this year at the plate.
The Warriors advanced a man to third base in the bottom of the first inning but went down in order in the second, while G-R went down in order in the first and had one player get on base in the second. Not much was happening until the third inning, when with two outs and Tscherter on first base, junior Keagan Giesking brought him home with an RBI double to open the scoring.
Giesking said the Rebels were happy to take advantage of the few chances they had.
“We just had to get the pitch count up first,” Giesking said. “Foul stuff off, don’t strike out on three pitches, that’s the most important thing. If someone’s on, try to advance them as best you can.”
Tscherter continued to control proceedings when Wapsie Valley was at the plate, taking the Warriors down in order in the third and fourth innings.
His impact on the game continued to be felt when the Rebels stepped up to the plate in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and pinch-runner Luke Riffey on first base, Tscherter uncorked a double to the outfield fence, scoring Riffey and giving G-R a little more breathing room ahead of the No. 3-seeded Warriors. Tscherter’s brother Nick got the only other hit for the Rebels.
It proved to be enough, as the Warriors got just three hits all game and got nobody past second base after the first inning. Tscherter and his defense leaned on each other to shut the door on Wapsie Valley and move on to host Belle Plaine Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. with a chance to go to the district 9 final.
Tscherter, who had 11 strikeouts, said the win over a solid Warriors team gives them confidence heading into the next round.
“That’s a huge confidence boost,” Tscherter said. “I’m glad we got to play a good team first, because it’s always fun to play the good teams.”