BUTTERMAKERS SPLIT WEEK’S ACTION

By Mark Zinnel- Buttermaker Reporter Hadley would go 1-1 in games during the week. Here is the week’s recap: Wednesday at Windom WINDOM 8 HADLEY 0 Whenever Hadley and Windom face each other, the outcome usually goes down to the final innings, and it usually depends on which team makes a crucial error. Wednesday’s game started out as a pitcher’s duel as Buttermaker starter, Jacob Van Dam faced former Buttermaker draftee, Ross Ackerman, but ended up in a Pirate whitewash.

Both starters battled each other through 5 innings, shutting down the opposition’s hitting attack. The Windom starter limited Hadley to only 2 hits and Van Dam limited the Pirates to only 1 hit. Windom, however; finally got to Jacob Van Dam in the 6th. Windom collected 2 hits and scored 2 runs. Windom’s first run coming on backto- back hits and the second run on a bases loaded Buttermaker fielding error.

Windom’s bats really came to life in the 7th inning when they touched the Van Dam brothers, Jacob and Josh; with 7 hits and 6 runs for an 8-0 advantage. Hadley would commit 2 throwing errors in the inning to aid in Windom’s scoring chances.

Max Zwart had 2 hits for the Buttermakers with Joe Larson, Alex Petersen, and Tucker Sorenson each picking up a hit. Josh Van Dam took the loss.

Final Box Score RHE Windom 8 10 0 Hadley 0 5 5 Sunday vs Worthington HADLEY 14 WORTHINGTON 3 Hadley traveled to Worthington on Sunday afternoon to take on Gopher league rival, Worthington Cubs.

Worthington is an improving team so the Buttermakers would have to wake up their bats and clean up their defense to beat the savvy Cubs. And on Sunday, that is exactly what the veteran Buttermaker team did.

The game started out as a pitching duel as Hadley veteran starter, Tucker Sorenson faced Cub veteran Justin Saufley as they both sailed through the early innings with little trouble. Hadley would put a run on the board in the 4th inning. With 2 outs, Jakob Olson would single. Courtesy runner, Jaden Deacon would replace Olson and steal 2nd. Bryce Ahrendt would single to score Deacon. Worthington would threaten in their at bat in the 4th. After getting a lead-off single. The runner would steal 2nd and advance to 3rd following catcher Jakob Olson’s throw sailing into center field. Tucker would bear down and get back-toback strikeouts and then Max Zwart would successfully dive and catch a line drive headed down the right field line for the 3rd out, keeping the Cubs from scoring.

Hadley would add to their lead in the 5th inning. Joe Larson and Dylan Deacon would single and advance a base on a balk. Max Zwart would single the runners’ home for a 3-0 lead. Worthington would make a pitching change in the 6th and Hadley would take advantage of it. Hadley would bring 10 batters to the plate and score 4 more runs on only 3 hits and 4 walks for a 7-0 lead. Tucker would tire in the bottom of the 6th. The Cubs would get 4 hits off Tucker and score 3 runs to cut the Hadley lead to 7-3.

Hadley recorded 2 runs off the Cub reliever to go up 9-3 in the 8th. Hadley would pull away in the 9th when they would score 5 times on 4 doubles and a triple to go up 14-3.

Hadley would throw their relievers against the Cubs in relief of Tucker the final 3 innings. Owen Gillette, Lincoln Swanjord, and Avery Weber would keep the Cubs scoreless in the Buttermaker victory.

Dylan Kluis led the Buttermaker hitting attack with 4 hits, Derek Kluis and Jakob Olson had 3 hits, Max Zwart, Joe Larson, and Mike Preuss had 2 hits each Jaden Deacon, and Alex Petersen, Bryce Ahrendt and Austin Irlbeck all had 1 hit. Derek Kluis recorded 5 rbis, Jakob Olson 3 rbis, Max Zwart and Austin Irlbeck with 2 rbis, and Joe Larson, Dylan Kluis, and Bryce Ahrendt with 1 rbi. Tucker Sorenson earned his second win of the season and recorded 12 strikeouts in his 6 innings of work.

RH E Worthington 3 7 1 Hadley 14 20 2 Hadley’s record for the season stands at 6-3; 4-2 in league play. Hadley will travel to Milroy on Wednesday to take on the Milroy Yankees in a non-league contest and return home for a Gopher League doubleheader as they host the Pipestone A’s in Game 1 and then Luverne Redbirds. Game times are 2:00 and 5:00.

Jaden Deacon