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Hadley would end the regular season play on a 2-game winning streak. Here is the week’s games recap:
HADLEY 10 ADRIAN 5
The Adrian A’s finally made it to Hadley to take on the Buttermakers in a game that was originally scheduled to be played on Memorial Day. After disposing of the A’s 10 days earlier without any problems, hopes were that history would repeat itself. The A’s came to play with just 9 players so things looked in Hadley’s favor, but that did not stop the A’s from battling the Buttermakers to the end: albeit in a losing effort.
Same Erickson would start on the mounds against the A’s. Adrian came out fighting as they threatened to score right away in the 1st. Following a walk and single; Adrian would have runners on the corners. Sam Erickson would get the next batter to hit a slow comebacker to the mound. Sam would grab the ball and get the runner on 3rd caught in a rundown trying to score. Hadley would record the out to end the A’s at bat.
Hadley would load the bases in the 2nd inning on 3 walks. Trent Carlson would hit a single to score 1 run. But this time Hadley would run themselves out of a big inning. Adrian would record 2 outs as they would tag one Buttermaker out in a run down trying to score and another trying to get back to 2nd base for only a 1-0 Hadley lead.
Adrian would take over the lead in the 3rd. Adrian would collect 5 hits off Erickson to score twice to grab a 2-1 lead. Sam would record a strikeout for the 3rd out to get out of any further damage leaving the bases loaded with A’s runners.
Hadley would take back the lead in the 4th. Adrian pitching would walk 4, hit 2 Buttermakers and only give up 1 hit allowing Hadley to go up 5-2: resulting in A ‘s pitching change. Adrian escaped a bigger inning as Hadley would leave the bases loaded. Hadley would add a run in the 5th to go up 6-2 on another Trent Carlson single.
Hadley looked like they would run away with the game in the 6th inning as they would score 4 more runs to go up 10-2. Once again Adrian escaped a bigger inning as they stranded the bases loaded with Buttermakers.
Adrian would rally in the 7th to score 3 runs to cut Hadley’s advantage to 10-5.
Avery Weber would pitch the final 2 frames for Hadley and shut down the A’s from scoring and preserving the 10-5 victory.
Trent Carlson had a good game at the plate for Hadley as he picked up 4 hits and 3 rbis. Danny Blankenship would collect 2 hits and 1 rbi. Other Buttermaker hits came from Nick Bruning, Max Zwart, Alex Petersen, Avery Weber, and Jacob Van Dam. Derek Platt would get credit for 2 rbis with Joe Larson, Nick Bruning and Avery Weber each credited with 1 rbi each. Sam Erickson earned the victory.
Final Box Score
HADLEY 6 RUTHTON 1
The regular season finale brought the young Ruthton Royals to town. Hadley had already secured 3rd place in the Gopher League and were hoping to continue with their new winning streak going into the upcoming playoffs. A muchimproved Royal team was hoping to upset the veteran Buttermaker squad. Fortunately for Hadley, things went their way. Here is the game recap:
Jacob Van Dam was given the starting assignment hoping to duplicate his earlier no-hitter of the Royals. Jacob would shut down the Royals in the 1st. Hadley would score in the bottom of the inning. Derek Platt led off with a single. Derek would advance to 2nd on a stolen base. Joe Larson would ground out moving Platt to 3rd and then come in to score on a Nick Bruning groundout for a quick 1-0 Hadley lead.
Ruthton would finally get their first hit off Van Dam in 9 innings in the 3rd but would leave the runner stranded on 2nd. Hadley would widen their lead in the bottom of the inning. Derek Platt would lead off by working out a walk. Joe Larson would double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Nick Bruning would follow with another double to score Platt and Larson. Max Zwart would walk bringing up Danny Blankenship. Blankenship would double down the 3rd base line to score Bruning. Denver Decker would come in as a courtesy runner for Danny Blankenship. Alex Petersen would score Max Zwart on a sacrifice fly. Denver Decker would steal 3rd. Trent Carlson would hit a sharp ground ball to deep short. Denver Decker would race home but get thrown out on a collision at home plate. Hadley would end the inning up 5-0. Ruthton would finally score in the 4th when they collected 2 hits off Van Dam with the run scoring on an infield groundout.
The game remained at 5-1 with neither team putting up a scoring threat. Hadley would score for the final time in the 7th. Joe Larson would single, and Nick Bruning walk. A single by Max Zwart would load the bases. Joe Larson would come into score on a fielder’s choice ground ball. Max Zwart would be caught trying to steal to end the inning.
Ruthton would single twice in the 8th, but Van Dam would work his way out of the inning keeping the Royals from scoring. Avery Weber would come in to pitch the 9th to preserve the Buttermakers 6-1 victory.
Ruthton would outhit Hadley in Sunday’s game. Joe Larson, Max Zwart, and Danny Blankenship each had 2 hits for Hadley. Nick Bruning and Derek Platt picked up Hadley’s other hits. Jacob Van Dam earned the victory.
Hadley now prepares for the First Nite-Gopher League crossover best 2of 3 play-in series. Hadley will travel to St. James on Wednesday night to take on the Mt. Lake Lakers in a 7:30 pm start and return home Saturday for a 2:00 pm start. Sunday’s game will be in Hadley, if needed.
