Schisler shuts out Blue Devils as Raiders run win streak to seven straight with victory at The Ferd

QUINCY — The circumstances which led to the Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School baseball teams scrambling to find replacements for Saturday’s scheduled matchups were unfortunate.

The final outcome was something both programs can appreciate — another well-pitched, well-played chapter in the city rivalry.

Raiders junior right-hander Jake Schisler outdueled Blue Devils senior Noah Harbin, tossing seven shutout innings in windy conditions at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield and benefitting from clutch hits from Jack Linenfelser and Alex Connoyer as QND secured a 7-0 victory.

“We’ve got a win streak going right now,” Linenfelser said after the Raiders won their seventh straight game — all in the last eight days. “It’s nice for a hitter’s spectrum to see pitches every single day. We just kept it rolling today, which is what we had to do.”

Originally, QND (16-2) was scheduled to play host to O’Fallon in a non-conference doubleheader. However, the Panthers were forced to reschedule a Southwestern Conference game that had been postponed by rain.

Meanwhile, QHS (7-7) was scheduled to travel to Rock Island Alleman for a Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader, but an umpire shortage in the Quad Cities left no one available to call balls and strikes.

So the crosstown rivals agreed to square off on QND’s turf field.

“We hadn’t played since last Saturday and we’ve been inside most of this week because of the rain,” Harbin said. “So, yeah, I think playing helped us. I’m ready for it to be nice so we can get games in and get in a rhythm.”

Saturday’s gusty conditions could have ruined anyone’s rhythm.

Winds blew out of the south at a steady 20 mph throughout the game and gusted to as blustery as 28 mph at times. It turned anything hit into the air into a defensive adventure and blew the cap off QHS reliever Grayson Cook during a delivery. 

“It’s kind of tough to pitch in that because you can’t really get flyballs because you don’t know what it’s going to do or if it’s going to travel out of the ballpark,” said Harbin, who allowed four earned runs and eight hits over four innings.

Schisler had his struggles with the wind, too.

“It definitely makes it a little more difficult, but they’re dealing with it as well,” Schisler said. “You just have to fight through it and make some adjustments.”

Above all else, it makes efficiency a priority.

Schisler allowed six hits — all singles — while striking out eight and walking one. He threw 91 pitches over seven innings, with 62 pitches for strikes. He had two eight-pitch innings.

“I like that I was getting quick outs and being efficient,” Schisler said. “That helped me go all the way. That really helps when you’re trying to extend guys because we have so many games.”

Staying efficient becomes a mental game.

“You have to be able to make pitches when it matters,” Schisler said.

Pitching with a lead helps.

In the second inning, the Raiders loaded the bases with no outs as Harry Oden walked, Schisler singled and Brady Kindhart was hit by a pitch. Linenfelser followed with a two-run single and Kindhart scored on an error to make it 3-0.

QND added a run in the fourth as Linenfelser led off with a triple and scored on Michael Stupavsky’s single. In the sixth, Schisler’s sacrifice fly plated Alex Connoyer. And in the sixth, Connoyer jacked a two-run double over the center fielder’s head.

“All of us can hit,” said Linenfelser, who went 3 for 3 as part of an 11-hit attack. “We all pick each other up. If one of us strikes out, then the next guy will come up and get a hit. We keep things moving together.”

That pumps confidence into Schisler’s approach.

“One-hundred and 10 percent,” Schisler said. “Knowing you’re pitching with a lead takes pressure off you, and you just go out there and let them hit the ball around and let the fielders make plays.”

Cook and Eaton each had two hits for the Blue Devils, who have lost three of their last four games.

“We need to come together as a team,” Harbin said. “Do our own part during games and practices. We need to work better at that stuff.”