Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby batter Austin Schneibel prepares for a hit against the Bottineau Owls at Bottineau’s Lumberyard baseball diamond June 23.

After a 7-0 win over the Bottineau Owls at home in Rugby on June 16, Rugby’s American Legion baseball team found the tables had turned when it visited the Owls in Bottineau on June 23.

Rugby had a disadvantage at Bottineau’s Lumberyard diamond on the campus of Dakota College at Bottineau.

Five Rugby starters had left the country on a study abroad trip to Peru several days earlier. Left to hold things together were pitcher and shortstop Jacob Ripplinger, catcher and first base player Austin Schneibel, third base player Alexis Duran, and outfielders Marshall Taylor and Brady Schock.

Rugby filled the gaps left by the absence of pitcher Brody Schneibel, catcher and pitcher Erik Foster, shortstop and second base player Logan Harner, and infield/outfield players Macen Heisler and Gavin Schepp.

Older players from Rugby’s Babe Ruth squad helped fill in. Babe Ruth player Tatum Risovi joined players from the Rugby High School Panthers junior varsity squad to man the outfield.

For a short time, Rugby held a lead over Bottineau.

In the second inning, Rugby put the first run on the board when a wild pitch by Bottineau’s Michael Aasen struck Ripplinger in the shoulder.

A base hit by Taylor advanced Ripplinger to second, then a sacrifice grounder by Nash Wollenzien moved Ripplinger into scoring position. After another Rugby batter walked to first, another errant pitch struck both Rugby’s Hudson Hjelden and Bottineau catcher Gabe Glasner. Injuring Glasner. Ripplinger crossed the plate on the walk for Rugby’s only run.

Bottineau’s offense began its attack at the top of the third inning, establishing a lead when Tyler Strand capitalized on a Rugby fielding error for a double. Carson Haerer would bat Strand in for the tie. Runs batted in by Riley Rybchinski and Eli Bristol gave Bottineau a two-run advantage that would only grow as the game went on.

One walk landed Rugby’s Wollenzien on base in the fourth inning, but Bottineau amped up its defense. The inning ended with Wollenzien stranded on third base.

Rugby’s defense held the Owls back for another inning before Bottineau continued its hit parade, this time after Rybchinski walked to first base before Sutton Shirley batted in both Rybchinski and Bristol. Next, Ethan Siemens batted in Shirley.

With two innings to go, Bottineau led 6-1.

Hits failed to materialize for Rugby batters.

Meanwhile, Aasen would smooth out his early jitters to deliver more than 10 strikeouts.

A double by Ethan Siemens and base hit by Haerer set up the final two RBIs, both from Rybchinski.

A base hit by Alex Berndt gave Rugby one last hope for a comeback in the seventh inning before Bottineau’s defense put the game away with an 8-1 win.

Rugby traveled to Harvey on June 30 for its next away game, still without five starters. Results from that game will appear in the July 9 edition.