MILWAUKEE- Milwaukee King senior Jake Spence was unsure if he was going to pitch against rival Milwaukee Hamilton Friday night in the Generals’ first game of the season. Spence did not start, but he sure did finish.

Spence came in relief in the fourth inning and allowed just one run as the Generals knocked off Hamilton, 8-2, in a Milwaukee City Conference opener despite playing in the frigid 38-degree weather.

“I was on the bus and I was not sure if I was going to pitch right away but I got myself ready just in case,” said Spence.

After fellow senior Terry Schliepp loaded the bases on back-to-back walks, Generals coach Tom Wozniak made the call to Spence.

“I just couldn’t find the zone,” said Schliepp. “After you throw a couple straight balls it goes to your head and you start aiming.”

Luckily for Schliepp, Spence was ready. With just one out recorded, Spence wiggled his way out of a bases loaded jam allowing just a Joe Narewski RBI-single but still lead, 3-2, through four innings.

Spence was at it again, just at the plate this time. The senior led off the top of the fifth with a ringing triple left field. The Generals capitalized off a Hamilton error that scored two more runs.

“Joe (Narewski) kept throwing it inside, so I adjusted myself and pulled the ball,” said Spence of the triple. “He is one of the better pitchers in the conference.”

Freshman Liam Kellogg added another run after getting the first his of his high school career and gave the Generals a comfortable 8-2 lead.

“The game kind of got away from us when they got runners on base and we could not make some routine plays,” said Hamilton coach Jeff Hogan. “The better team won today.”

Schliepp gave King a huge lift in the first inning as he turned around a Chris Renioss fastball for a homerun. Renioss struck out the first two batters before Schliepp.

“He was throwing me straight fastballs and I got one I could handle and hit it on the sweet spot,” said Schliepp. “All around it was really a team effort tonight. Hamilton is going to be up there all year.”

Hamilton loaded the bases in both the fifth and sixth inning but managed to score just one run.

“We got the bases loaded twice with less then two outs but we just could not get that clutch hit,” said Hogan. “I give a lot of credit to Jake Spence he was up there with guys on base and he shut us down.”

King will meet Hamilton again April 29 at King’s home field, Aaron  Field at Lincoln Field, and the stakes should be even higher.

“This group has really been working hard everyday trying to get better and fill the shoes from last year’s team,” said King coach Tom Wozniak. “It is always nice to get that first win.”

MILWAUKEE KING……….…..102 050 0—8 8 2

MILWAUKEE HAMILTON…..001 100 0—2 6 4

Pitching: MK—Terry Schliepp (W, 1-0); HAM—Chris Renioss (L, 0-1).

Leading Hitters: MK—Terry Schliepp 1-4, HR; Jake Spence 2-4, 3B. HAM—Joe Narewski 2-4, RBI.