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Skyler Feikema -
Danny Blankenship -
Alex Petersen -
Max Zwart
By Mark Zinnel- Buttermaker Reporter The Hadley Buttermakers had a chance to nail down the #3 seed in the upcoming Region 13C playoffs but that would require Hadley to win their final two league games and hope to get a little help from other teams. The week’s play did not go the way the Buttermakers and Hadley fans had hoped as they went 1-3 for the week. Here is the week’s recap:
Tuesday Night:
LUVERNE 6 HADLEY 0 Hadley has had trouble with the Redbirds in the last few seasons. A Buttermaker victory on Tuesday night game meant that Hadley would remain in consideration for a number 3 Region 13C seed. A loss would mean, at best, a number 4 or 5 seed depending on the results in the other teams remaining game results. Unfortunately for Hadley, Luverne was not ready to concede to the Buttermakers as they shut out Hadley 6-0.
The Redbird starting pitcher would limit the Buttermakers to just 2 hits. Hadley would not get a runner past 1st base the whole game. All the runs Luverne needed came in the 2nd inning. A Buttermaker error, a walk and a single would give Luverne a 2-0 lead. A bases loaded 2-out double would put the Redbirds up 5-0 and another Buttermaker error would lead to a run in the 6th for the 6-0 final.
Dylan Kluis and Brody Wixon picked up Hadley’s two hits. Tucker Sorenson took the loss to move his record to 4-3. Dylan Kluis and Josh Van Dam saw work on the mound for Hadley.
Final Box Score RHE Hadley 0 2 2 Luverne 6 6 0
Wednesday Night:
HADLEY 6 MARSHALL 3 Hadley traveled north to Marshall to take on the Corn Belt League, Marshall A’s at Legion Field in a home-and-home exhibition series on Wednesday evening. Lincoln Swanjord got the starting nod for Hadley.
Hadley would get to the A’s starter in the 1st. Tucker Sorenson began the game by working out a walk. Austin Irlbeck would replace Tucker on 1st after a fielder’s choice. Derek Kluis would single. After getting the second out on a fly out, Jonah Olson and Alex Petersen would get bloop singles for a 2-0 lead. Hadley would add a run in the 2nd. Following lead-off back-toback singles by Brody Wixon and Dylan Kluis, Tucker Sorenson would beat out a successful sacrifice bunt. Austin Irlbeck would hit into a double-play as Brody raced home.
Lincoln Swanjord would cruise through the first two innings but would run into trouble in the 3rd. After Lincoln hit the A’s leadoff batter, his throw to Max Zwart at 1st, on a pick-off attempt would be high, allowing the A’s runner to move up a base. Lincoln would strike out to the next batter, but the ball would get by catcher, Lincoln Graven. Lincoln’s throw to 1st would be on time but the base runner moved to 3rd. A sacrifice fly would score Marshall’s first run. Another hit batter and walk would follow. Marshall then would get their first hit as the A’s batter would drill a double to tie the game at 3-3. The game would remain tied heading into the 6th.
Marshall would make a pitching change and Hadley would get back on the scoring train. Hadley would pick up 2 runs on 2 hits, a hit batter, and a Marshall fielding error to go up 5-3.
Lincoln would pitch through the 6th with the lead. Lincoln’s pitching line included 11 strikeouts, 2 walks, 2 hit batters, and allowed Marshall only 1 hit.
Hadley would add an insurance run in the 7th on a double from Derek Kluis and a Marshall error. Owen Gillette would take over for Lincoln on the mound. Owen would give up a lead-off single and then strike out the next two Marshall batters. Owen then would load the bases on back-to-back hit batters. Fortunately, Owen gained back control and got the 3rd out on a strikeout to escape any damage. Marshall would put two runners on base in the 8th, but Owen would once again keep Marshall from scoring.
In the 9th, Hadley would load the bases on a walk and two more A’s defensive miscues. But two strikeouts would leave the bases loaded. Avery Weber would come in and pitch the 9th. Marshall would put 2 runners on base with I out. Avery would get a fly ball and strikeout to preserve Hadley’s 6-3 victory.
Jakob Olson and Brody Wixon led Hadley at the plate with 3 hits each. Dylan Kluis and Derek Kluis picked up 2 hits, with Tucker Sorenson and Alex Petersen getting Hadley’s other hits. Austin Irlbeck, Jakob Olson, Alex Petersen, and Brody Wixon each picked up 1 rbi. Lincoln Swanjord earned the victory with Avery Weber earning a save.
Final Box Score RHE Hadley 6 12 1 Marshall 3 3 4
Saturday:
MARSHALL 12 HADLEY 8 The Marshall A’s visited Hadley in the back-to-back friendly exhibition game and returned the favor to the Buttermakers as they left town with a 12-8 victory. Hadley had control of the game for the 6 innings, but Marshall came storming back to overtake the Buttermakers in the later innings. Both teams had defensive miscues in the game, but Hadley’s miscues exceeded Marshall’s. Skyler Feikema would get the start on the mound for Hadley.
Marshall would strike first as they scored a run in the 1st inning on a lead-off walk and a double. Hadley would counter with 3 of their own in the bottom on the 1st. Tucker Soremson would lead off reaching base on a Marshall error. Dylan Kluis would walk, and Derek Kluis would double to tie the game. Austin Irlbeck would double to score one and a sacrifice fly would bring in another for a 3-1 Hadley lead. A Marshall error in the 2nd would lead to Hadley increasing their lead to 5-1. Hadley would leave runners in scoring position.
Marshall would add a run in the 3rd to draw to 5-2. Skyler Feikema would strand A’s runners at 2nd and 3rd. Hadley would counter with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Hadley would load the bases. Dylan Kluis would single in 1 run, but courtesy runner, Mike Preuss would get thrown out at the plate to score with Hadley now up 6-2.
Marshall would get a 2-run homer off Skyler in the 4th to pull to within 6-4. Hadley would load the bases once again in the bottom of the inning and but only able to score 1 run on a single from Bryce Ahrendt. Marshall would get a strikeout and a double-play grounder to end the inning with Hadley up 7-4.
Marshall scored a run in the 5th to close the game to 7-5 after Skyler hit and walked a batter. Avery Weber would come in to pitch and give up a hit. Hadley would score their final run in the 6th on singles from Austin Irl-beck and Abe Paulzine.
Marshall would pull to within one run in the 7th on a single, walk and two Buttermaker errors. Dylan Kluis would come in to relieve Avery. Marshall would take the lead at 9-8 in the 8th when Dylan gave up two solo home runs. Hadley attempted to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, but once again they would have a runner cut down at the plate.
Marshall lengthened their lead to 12-8 in the 9th when they picked up 3 hits and 3 Buttermaker errors aiding in the A’s scoring. Hadley would go down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Dylan Kluis, Alex Petersen, Austin Irlbeck each had 2 hits. Derek Kluis, Abe Paulzine, Owen Gillette, and Skyler Feikema each picked up a hit. Dylan Kluis and Bryce Ahrendt were credited with 2 rbis with Derek Kluis, Austin Irlbeck, and Abe Paulzine each with 1 rbi. Dylan Kluis took the loss.
Final Box Score RH E Hadley 12 14 4 Marshall 8 10 9
Sunday:
WORTHINGTON 12 HADLEY 0 (7-Innings) The Worthington Cubs came to Hadley for the league season ending game with an outside chance for Hadley to capture a #3 seed in the upcoming playoffs. Worthington threw their ace, Justin Saufley to stymie the Buttermakers while Jacob Van Dam hoped to end the Buttermaker regular season with a victory. Sunday was just not a good day for the Buttermakers as Worthington shut out Hadley in the 7-innings.
Jacob Van Dam shut down the Cubs in order in the 1st. Hadley looked primed to score in the bottom of the inning. With 2 outs Hadley would put runners on 1st and 2nd base. Jacob Olson hit a single to left field. Derek Kluis would be waved around to score, but the throw to the plate would be on time to tag out Derek.
Jacob Van Dam would run into control problems in the 2nd inning as he would walk one and hit 3 Cub batters for a 1-0 Cub lead. Worthington would have their way in the 3rd as they collected 5 hits off Van Dam and scored 7 runs to go up 8-0. Saufley would work through the Buttermaker line-up without any problems the rest of the game.
Josh Van Dam would take over on the mound in the 4th and kept the Cubs at bay until the 6th when Worthington would score on a walk and double to go up 9-0. Worthington would get a solo homer to add to their lead. Owen Gillette would come into relieve Van Dam. Worthington would collect a single, and solo home run to plate 3 more runs to go up 12-0.
Hadley had a chance to score in the bottom of the 7th. Hadley would load the bases with 3 singles with only 1 out. Justin Saufley would get a strikeout looking and a fly ball to end the game and the 12-0 shutout to end regular season play.
Max Zwart and Jakob Olson collected 2 hits each for Hadley. Tucker Sorenson, Derek Kluis and Skyler Feikema each had 1 hit. Jacob Van Dam took the loss.
Final Box Score
RHE Hadley 0 7 0 Worthington 12 9 0 Hadley would end the league play with a 7-7- record. Hadley will have a week off before the Region 13C playoffs begin. Hadley will prepare for the playoffs when the Milroy Yankees come to Hadley in a pre-tourney warm-up in an exhibition game on Fan Appreciation Sunday. Game time is set for 2:00. Prizes and free food after the game.
