‘Brum Strong’: Wiewel blasts 11th homer in first inning of Notre Dame baseball’s victory over Central

QUINCY — Abram Wiewel says he does not get caught up in the numbers, but they are difficult to ignore.

The Quincy Notre Dame senior shortstop and right-handed pitcher cranked his 11th home run of the season in the first inning of the Raiders’ 13-6 victory over Camp Point Central on Friday.

Amidst his power surge — he had never hit a home run before this season — Wiewel knows how quickly the tides can turn in baseball.

“I’m just trying to stay as humble as possible and not trying to do too much because (baseball) can humble you right back the next day,” Wiewel said. “I’m just keeping a steady routine and staying within myself. Not overthinking things is really the biggest key that I’ve found. I’ve struggled with that in the past, letting things mess with my head, so I just try to clear myself and not let it beat me down. Just go back to the same mentality — get on base and help the team win.”

Especially as he rides this wave of momentum, Wiewel’s most important ability is his availability.

“I’m just trying to eat right, lift the right way, stretch and get my body right the night before, still putting the right supplements in my body,” Wiewel said. “I’m just trying to keep a good balance so I’m not getting overworked and that I’m keeping myself healthy.”

Raiders coach Rich Polak has noticed the evolution of Wiewel’s strength over the last two years.

“He’s worked his butt off, and he completely changed his body from his sophomore year,” Polak said. “You could see it start to pop a little bit last year, but this year he’s really matured. I’m excited for him when he gets to college just to get in the college weight room because he does such a good job now.”

Wiewel is not monstrous in stature — he stands six feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds — but QND freshman infielder Kaden Marth cannot help but marvel at Wiewel’s power.

“He’s ‘Brum Strong,’” Marth said, referring to Wiewel’s nickname amongst his baseball peers. “That’s what he is. There’s no other ‘strong’ to describe him. He’s just ‘Brum Strong.’”

For the Raiders to win games, though, Wiewel cannot do everything himself, and he rarely if ever has to. The Raiders have now scored 10 or more runs nine times this season, all coming in the last 16 games. Six Raiders had a hit on Friday, every starter reached base at least once, and six scored multiple runs.

“I personally think we’re nine-deep,” said Marth, who went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and scored two runs on Friday batting out of the eighth spot. “Anyone can get a big rip at any time. We’re all hitting really well right now. If we continue this, we can make a deep run.”

Wiewel has found a home batting second in the lineup behind freshman Eli Johnson, who thoroughly enjoys having Wiewel’s protection behind him.

“It’s pretty fun,” Johnson said. “Pretty much every time, he comes up with a big hit and we’re up 2-0. It just keeps happening. I get on somehow some way, next at-bat, see ya ball. He’s been unreal this year. If he keeps it going, it’s a lethal one-two punch in the first inning.”

A Panthers run in the top of the first meant Wiewel’s blast onto Ninth Street beyond the left-field fence made it a 2-1 game this time, but it provided the first two of 10 unanswered Raiders runs. Marth kickstarted an eight-run second inning with a two-run single. The first six batters reached base. The Raiders took advantage of four walks and two hit batters and four runs scored with two outs, the final two of which came on Oliver Triplett’s single.

“We can swing it,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if we thought we were going to do this this year, but any game, any pitcher they throw against us, we know we’re going to hit. Everyone up and down the lineup can hit.”

The Panthers scored a run in the third and three more in the fourth on a bases-clearing double by Caleb Petersen.

“He needed that,” Panthers coach Jordan Tenhouse said of Petersen’s double. “He’s been grinding at the plate. I was happy for him because it was a good at-bat. He fouled off a couple pitches and then was able to knock one in the gap. I wish we had a couple more of those and made it a little more interesting, but that’s not the way it works.”

The Raiders’ offense, set in motion by Wiewel, was too much for the Panthers to handle.

“There’s no ceiling on our team,” Marth said. “We can be as good as anyone. As long as we keep hitting the way we keep hitting, we’ll be pretty good.”

QND (15-6) has won five consecutive games and will play host Brown County on Monday. Central (7-14) will face Canton (Mo.) on Tuesday.