Ryle Raiders Baseball: Welcome

Standing: Noah Gayhart, Austin Cain, Matthew Roe, Shawn Moore, Shelton Branson, Nathan Roe, Braden Cheesman, Andrew Huff, Logan Rieman

Sitting:  Jon Salmen, Ryan Siemer, Jacob Hiles, Troy Coleman, Head Coach Jeremy Collins, Max Vickers, Cole Burch, Tanner Morgan, Drew Demler

RAIDERS FALL SHORT IN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

Ryle fell short in its quest for a district title, losing the championship game of the 33rd District tournament to Boone County by a score of 3-1.  Boone County scratched across two runs in the first inning and that was all they needed, as they held silent the Raider's normally prodigious bats.  Boone also avenged their two losses to Ryle earlier in the season.    

The Raiders entered the game having scored more runs than any other team in the 9th Region and had been held to fewer than three runs only once all season.  But in this contest, Ryle was only able to collect 4 hits.  The Raiders scored their lone run of the game in the 4th inning on bases-loaded RBI groundout by  Jake Raines.  The run tightened the the score to 2-1, but Boone got the run back the next inning.  Ryle had the sacks full in the final inning, but were unable to push any runs across the plate.  

Congrats to Tyler Mason and Thomas Baumann, who made the all-tournament team for Ryle. Ryle will now advance to the 9th Region tournament as a #2 seed.  They will face a #1 seed out of the 34th (Dixie), 35th (Covington Catholic), or 36th (Highlands) District in the first round game on Monday (May 28) at Florence Freedom.  The pairings will be drawn at random on Saturday afternoon.  Ryle's season record currently stands at 29-7.  

RAIDERS OVER COOPER IN DISTRICT TOURNEY

Win Assures Ryle Trip to Regional Tourney

In a first round district tournament game held at Conner High School, the Raiders took on their crosstown rival, the Cooper Jaguars. First round district games are normally filled with tension because of the loser-out format, and this game was no exception. The drama reached crescendo level in the top of the 6th, as junior pitcher Ethan Brennan found himself in a based loaded jam with the scored knotted at 8 and Cooper's momentum surging. With a full count and two outs, Brennan induced a soft-liner to shortstop Tyler Lonnemann to record the third out. As the relieved Raiders returned to their dugout, it was their turn to put the pressure on Cooper.

Things started well in the bottom of the 6th, as pinch hitter Jacob Raines began the inning with a double. With Tanner Pulice running for Raines, Lonnemann hit a ground ball on which the Jags failed to make successful play on Pulice advancing to third base.  A steal of second base by Lonnemann put runners at second and third.   With the Cooper infield pulled in,  Jackson  Brennan hit a soft flare single to right field that  loaded the bases for left fielder Mason Forbes.   Forbes had put Ryle on the board in the first inning with a 2-run home run and a temporary 2-0 lead.   Forbes was again looking to give the Raiders the lead  and the win.   

Forbes wasted little time as he hit a bolt to left field. Not only did his single score Pulice, but the ball got by the Cooper left fielder and rolled to the fence. This allowed both Lonnemann and Brennan to score.   Tyler Mason and Thomas Baumann followed with back-to back singles which scored plated Forbes and gave the Raiders a 12-8 lead.

Ethan Brennan pitched a scoreless 7th for the Raiders, earning the win, and more importantly, advancing the Raiders to the district championship game against Boone County. 

JV RAIDERS WIN REGIONAL TITLE

Beat Beechwood 5-4 to Earn Back-to-Back Titles

The JV Raiders captured their second straight regional title on May 18th with a thrilling 5-4 walkoff win against the Beechwood Tigers at Dixie Heights High School.  Now owning back-to-back titles, this makes the 4th time in the past 7 years that Ryle's JV team has won the Northern Kentucky Regional Tournament.

The Raiders were matched against Cooper in their first round game on May 14th and walked away with a 6-2 win behind a strong pitching performance by Jake Ziegelmeyer.  The Raiders broke open a close game with a 3-run 5th inning, with key hits by Marshall Rich and Levi Berg.  Rich and Max Lonnemann each contributed 3 hits during the game and Berg drove in 2 runs.

In the quarterfinal round, the Raiders faced Boone County.  After spotting Boone 4 unearned runs in the 1st inning, Ryle exploded for 6 runs in the 2nd inning to take the lead for good.  Both Levi Berg and Marshall Rich had a timely 2-run doubles in the inning.  Boone cut the lead to 7-6 in the 3rd inning, but Ryle scored 2 runs in both the 5th and 6th innings, with key doubles by Colin Craven and Trent Mills.  Cravin had four hits and 4 RBI to lead the Raiders, while Mills, Rich, and Ziegelmeyer each collected two hits.  Tyler Lonnemann got the win in relief by pitching 4 innings of 1-hit ball.

After several days of rain, the semifinal game was played on Saturday (May 18) morning and pitted Ryle versus Conner.  Conner took a quick 2-0 lead, but it was short-lived, as the Raiders put up 9 runs in the 2nd inning to take control.  Noah Berg and Lonnemann had big 2-run singles in the frame and Ryle was aided by several Conner errors and numerous walks.  Ryle added 6 more runs in the 3rd inning to put the game away for good.  Starter Alex Goodridge pitched yet another solid game and got the win, earning the Raiders a spot in the championship game that evening.

On Saturday evening, Ryle went head-to-head against a tough Beechwood team that they had beaten 1-0 just a week earlier thanks to a stellar pitching performance by Tyler Smith.  In this game, Ryle put up 4 runs in the 2nd inning and appeared to be in control.  Starter Jake Ziegelmeyer was pitching effectively, despite working with less rest than normal in between starts.  However, in the 4th inning, the Tigers stormed back with 4 runs of their own to tie the game.  It remained tied until the 7th inning when Ryle won in exciting fashion.  Brady Ast worked a one-out walk and was pinch run for by speedster Jack Dorne.  After a long at-bat with numerous foul balls, Ziegelmeyer crushed a double off the left field wall and Dorne raced home ahead of the throw to score the winning run.  Lonnemann got the win, pitching two flawless relief innings.  Key hitters in this game were Ziegelmeyer, Levi Berg, and Jake Puthoff. 

FRESHMAN TEAM REGIONAL RUNNER-UP!

The Raider Freshman team finished the season in strong fashion, winning 6 of their last 7 regular season games and then advancing all the way to the Regional Championship game, where they lost 7-2 to a tough Highlands team.

The Freshman Raiders started out the tourney with a run-rule win over Grant County on May 9th. The tournament was then faced with several days of rainouts before play could resume on May 13th. The next two games found the Ryle Frosh facing early game deficits that they were able to overcome.  In the quarterfinal against Boone County, the Raiders were down 3-0 and 4-3, before tying the game and eventually taking the lead on a steal of home by Cole Burch. In the semifinal game versus Conner, the Raiders were on the short end of a 7-2 score until the 5th inning when they scored 5 runs to tie ithe game.  They then scored the go ahead run in the 6^th inning and hung on for the win.  Both games were a total team effort. 

In the championship game, the Raiders fell to Highlands by a score of 7-2.  It was a tight 2-1 game into the 5th inning when the Birds scored 5 runs and put the game out of reach.  Nonetheless, it was a great season for the Freshman team, who finished with an overall record of 17-7 and earned Coach Collins his 4th Regional runner-up title in the past 6 years (champions in 2010). 

It all starts at the freshman level for the Ryle baseball program!  Congrats once again to the freshman team on an outstanding 2013 campaign!

RYLE RAIDER BASEBALL CAMP

June 10-14, 2013
9:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Open to any boy who will be in 5th through 9th grade during the 2013-2014 school year.  Cost is $45 for the camp, which includes a camp t-shirt.  Check the link on this website for more details. 

RYLE OVER NEWCATH 7-6 ON SENIOR DAY

The Raiders won in exciting comeback fashion on Senior Day against the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds on Monday, May 13th.  Ryle went up 5-0 early in the game, only to see NewCath chip away little by little at the lead and eventually take a 6-5 lead in the top of the 7th inning.  The home half of the 7th started out on a tough note, as Thomas Baumann was gunned down trying to stretch his gap line drive into a triple.  The Raiders eventually put 2 runners on base, thanks in no small part to a timely pinch hit at-bat by Jeremy Downs.  The exciting finish came about when NewCath's pitcher misplayed Jake Ashley's two-out popup and both Ryle runners came across the plate for a Raider victory! 

Following the game, an on-field ceremony was held acknowledging Ryle's 14 graduating seniors, the largest senior class in Raider baseball history.  Afterwards, all players and their families participated in a post-game picnic at the football stadium concession area.  Congratulations to the graduating seniors and best of luck with your future endeavours!

#2 Mitch See
#3 Thomas Baumann
#4 Tyler Lonnemann
#5 Justin Hoard
#6 Jake Sander
#9 Cole Snyder
#10 Dylan Plvan
#12 Jake Ashley
#13 Jackson Brennan
#14 Drew Crane
#16 Tyler Mason
#20 Jacob Raines
#23 Hide Imai
#24 Tanner Pulice

RAIDERS EARN #1 SEED IN DISTRICT

With a 13-2 win over Cooper on May 1 and a 6-4 win over Boone County on May 8, the Raiders have earned the #1 overall seed in District 33.  The Raiders had already defeated Conner earlier this season.  Justin Hoard picked up his 7th win of the year in the win over Cooper and was aided by some spectacular fielding gems by 3Bman Dylan Plvan.  The game was 2-0 until Ryle exploded for 8 runs in the 6th inning. 

The Raiders defeated Boone County over the span of two days, after the game was halted in the 5th inning due to rain on May 7 with Ryle leading 5-2.  Boone made things interesting when play resumed on May 8, closing the gap to 5-4 in the 6th inning.  With two Boone County runners on base and only one out, Tyler Lonnemann came on in relief to shut the door and preserve the win.  Starter Justin Hoard picked up his 8th win of the season and is now tied for 4th place on Ryle's all-time record for wins in a single season (held by Mark Downs with 10 wins in 2012). 

The Raiders will face Cooper in the first round of the district tournament, which begin the week of May 20th.  Ryle is currently ranked first in the Northern Kentucky Enquirer area coaches’ poll and owns a 25-4 record.

COACH ROESEL NOTCHES CAREER WIN 400!

On April 17, 2013, Ryle Head Coach Pat Roesel earned his 400th career win.  The milestone win came against rival Covington Catholic by a score of 11-2 at Ryle's home field.  The win was especially sweet for Coach Roesel as it occurred while facing his mentor, friend, and former high school coach, Cov Cath Head Coach Bill Krumpelbeck.  Coach Roesel was treated to a victory water cooler dousing after the game by a couple of his senior players. 

The win places Coach Roesel in rare territory, as there are but two Northern Kentucky active coaches with more wins than him (Dixie Coach Chris Maxwell and CovCath Coach Krumpelbeck).  Coach Roesel is the only head varsity baseball coach in Ryle's school history.  Currently in his 21st year of coaching, the schools he has defeated the most are:  Conner (26 wins), Scott (25 wins), and St. Henry (23 wins).  His toughest opponents have been Cov Cath (20-35), Beechwood (4-9), and Brossart (5-9).  Congrats to Coach Roesel on an impressive accomplishment and best of luck as he starts his climb toward win #500!   

RAIDERS RANKED IN STATE POLL

Ryle found themselves moved up to an impressive #11 ranking in  the April 25 statewide coaches poll after having been ranked #23 for the two preceding weeks.  This is one of the highest rankings for Ryle in several years.  Ryle was one of only two Northern Kentucky teams ranked in the poll (Covington Catholic ranked #22).  Unfortunately, the Raiders dropped two of three games in the Louisville Invitational this past weekend (6-5 to Union County and 5-1 to Lafayette), so it is possible they may take a temporary drop in the standings when the next pool is released. 

JV RAIDERS TOP 20-WIN MARK

On May 4, 2013, the Ryle JV squad defeated Simon Kenton by a score of 13-4, led by the starting pitching of Jake Ziegelmeyer and a clutch relief performance by Will Allen.  The win ran the JV record on the season to 20-6, the 8th straight season that Head Coach Jim Demler and his JV teams have accomplished this feat.  It also marks the 10th time in the past 12 years that the JV team has recorded a 20-win season.  The Raiders went on to defeat Newport Catholic later that afternoon.  The JV Raiders are the defending regional champions and will begin the quest to retain that title when the regional tournament begins on May 11th.  The Raiders will open up against a tough Cooper team, whom they defeated on May 1 by the score of 5-4.  The game will be played at Florence Freedom at 4:30 p.m.

RAIDERS GET DISTRICT SEED WIN OVER CONNER

In their first district game of the 2013 season, the Raiders traveled north to Conner High School to take on the Cougars and came away with a gritty 5-3 win.

The action started in the top of the first as senior DH Tyler Mason drove in senior second baseman Jackson Brennan to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. That lead did not last long, as Conner stormed back with 2 runs in the second inning off of senior pitcher Mitchell See. And as quickly as the Raider lead came and went, so did the Cougar lead, with the Brennan/Mason combination providing the Raiders another run in the top of the 3rd, tying the score at 2.

In the top of the fourth, senior Tyler Lonnemann's 2-out single drove in junior first baseman Tom Deters, giving the Raiders a 3-2 lead. As See was silencing the Cougar bats in the middle innings, the Raiders struck for another run in the 5th. This time senior Thomas Baumann's triple drove in Tyler Mason who had reached base on a Cougar error. Mason's run gave the Raiders a 4-2 lead. However Conner was not done, as they scored a run in the 6th, cutting the lead to 4-3. The Raiders answered in their half of the 7th, as with 2 outs, a Baumann walk, a single by senior third baseman Dylan Plvan and two wild pitches gave the Raiders another run and a 5-3 lead. Junior pitcher Josh Bellew relieved See to start the 7th, and set the Cougars down in order, sending the Raiders and their fans home with smiles and a 5-3 Raider win.

Offensively, the Raiders were led by Jackson Brennan with 2 runs scored, Tyler Mason with 2 hits and 2 RBI's, Tom Deters with 3 hits and a run scored, Jake Ashley with 2 hits, and Thomas Baumann, who had a hand in the final 2 Raider runs. On the mound, Mitchell See went 6 strong innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) and limiting Conner to 6 hits while striking out 7 Cougar batters. See got some nice defensive support from senior catcher Jake Ashley, who cut down 2 Conner baserunners on stolen base attempts.

Raiders are now 1-0 in district play, with additional district seeding games still upcomng against Boone County and Cooper.

THANKS 2013 DIAMOND CLUB MEMBERS!

A big thanks from Coach Roesel and the rest of the baseball staff to those parents and fans who participated in the 2013 Diamond Club.  This program helps to raise funds to make annual improvements to the Ryle baseball field and program.  Each Diamond Club member received a specially-designed shirt or pullover, is listed on this website and on a banner hung at Ryle's field, and will be included in several drawings at the end-of-year baseball banquet in June.

RAIDERS GO 2-1 IN KNOCHELMAN TOURNEY

Lose First Game of Season to CovCath

On the April 5-6 weekend, the Raiders participated in the Scott Knochelman Memorial Tournament along with Cooper, Conner, and CovCath.  The tournament is played annually in honor of 1976 CovCath graduate Scott Knochelman, who was killed in a car accident in 1983.  When all was said and done, Ryle, Conner, and CovCath all finished the tournament at with two wins and one loss, however, Conner was declared the official winner on a tiebreaker of runs scored throughout the tournament. 

Ryle matched up with Cooper on Friday and came away the winner by a score of 7-2.  Mitch See (5 INN) and Mac Welsh (2 INN) kept the Jag's bats in check and Ryle made the most of their four hits.  Cooper contributed several errors to the Raiders' scoring cause.  Thomas Baumann's triple in this game made him Ryle's all-time career triples leader.  He set the single-season record last season with 7. 

In Ryle's first game of a twinbill on Saturday, they matched up with host CovCath.  Ryle found themselves down 4-2 after 4 innings, but took a 6-4 lead in the 5th.  The Colonels tied the game in the 6th inning and then won in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the 7th on a wild pitch.  It was the Raiders' first loss of the season.  Justin Hoard was the starting pitcher and went 5 1/3 innings, allowing only 3 earned runs.  Tyler Lonneman, Thomas Baumann, and Jake Ashley all chipped in two hits for the game.

In the final game of the tournament, the Raiders met district rival Conner.  Senior Tyler Mason took the hill and went six strong innings, allowing only four runs (3 earned).  He was relieved in the final inning by Drew Crane.  Ryle scored 5 runs in the 3rd inning off Conner, led by Baumann's double.  Baumann also had an RBI double in the 4th inning.  Mason Forbes and Tyle Lonnemann also contributed two hits a piece. 

BAUMANN BECOMES RYLE CAREER TRIPLES LEADER

Senior Centerfielder Thomas Baumann became Ryle's all-time career triples leader with a triple against Cooper on April 5, 2013.  The three-base knock was Baumann's second triple of the young season, giving him a career total of nine.  Baumann set the Ryle single season record last season when he hit seven triples.  Congratuations on his impressive accomplishment and let's hope there will be several more three baggers added to his career total!