Wednesday Night
Hadley 10 Jackson 6 Whenever Hadley and Jackson meet up, you are usually in for an interesting contest. But Wednesday’s game, even though a Buttermaker win; would technically be considered an UGLY game by both manager’s standards. The contest had 14 hit batters, 23 strikeouts, 9 fielding errors, and of the 16 runs scored; only 3 were earned. Normally a 2+ hour game, turned into a 3+ hour contest. Jackson would use five pitchers against the Buttermakers, of which four were lefties, while Hadley used four of their young pitchers to face the Bulls.
The game started with Hadley going down in order on strike outs. Dylan Kluis, making his first start for Hadley, would allow a lead-off single. Dylan would then walk the base loaded. After recording two outs, Dylan would hit the first batter of the game to bring in a run. A fly ball ended the Bull’s scoring opportunity.
Hadley would score three times in the 2nd without collecting a hit. Jackson would make two fielding errors and hit a batter would aid in the Buttermakers scoring. A 3-base throwing error on a sacrifice bunt led to 2 runs and a sacrifice fly accounted for the other run. Jackson would add a run in the bottom of the inning on a Buttermaker error for a 3-2 Hadley lead.
Hadley would pick up 2 runs on sacrifice flies in the 4th. Hadley would get only 1 hit in the inning, but a hit batter, walk, and throwing error on another sacrifice bunt aided Hadley’s scoring for the 5-2 lead.
Hadley would get a solo run in the 5th on a double off the bat of Jaden Deacon. Dylan Kluis would struggle in the 5th. After a Buttermaker fielding error, Dylan would walk 3 Bulls but would leave the bases loaded after recording the 3rd out on a strike out: limiting Jackson to just one run and a 5-3 Hadley lead.
Hadley would score a run in the 6th on a Jakob Olson double but missed a chance to widen their lead as they left the bases loaded. Owen Gillette took over for Dylan in the 6th. Owen would put the Bulls down in order, but trouble was ahead for Owen in the 7th. Owen would plunk 3 Bulls to load the bases. With 1 out, a come backer to the mound looked like a sure 1-2-3 doubleplay, but Owen’s throw to catcher Jakob Olson would be high and headed to the backstop allowing 2 Bulls to score. A 4th hit batter would load the bases and force a pitching change. Josh Van Dam would come in and get a strikeout to end any further scoring, leaving the bases full of Bulls and a 7-5 Hadley advantage.
Hadley would tack on 3 more runs in the 8th to go up 10-5. A dropped fly ball and bloop single by Tucker Sorenson accounted for Hadley’s scoring. Lincoln Swanjord came in to pitch the 9th. After walking the first batter. Lincoln would record two strikeouts. A walk would follow to make things interesting. An infield single would load the bases. Derek Kluis’ throw to 1st on an infield grounder would be wide to Avery Weber. Avery Weber’s return throw to the plate would be late as one run scored. Lincoln would get a strikeout, but the ball would get by Jakob Olson allowing the batter to reach 1st and another run to score with runners on 2nd and 3rd, Lincoln would compose himself and get the next batter to strike out to end the game with the Buttermakers winning 10-6.
Tucker Sorenson, Austin Irlbeck, Derek Kluis, Jakob Olson, Mike Preuss, and Jaden Deacon picked up Hadley’s hits. Tucker Sorenson picked up 2 rbis, Derek Kluis, Alex Petersen, Avery Weber, and Jaden Deacon all with 1 rbi. Dylan Kluis earned the victory.
Final Box Scores RHE Hadley 10 6 4 Jackson 6 3 5
Sunday Game #1 – Truman Hadley 2 Fox Lake 0 (7 innings) The Buttermakers started out their Sunday’s First Nite League double-header when they faced the Fox Lake Foxes. The weather was hot and so was the pitching performance by both starting pitchers as they kept the bats silent on both sides. For Hadley, Lincoln Swanjord pitched Hadley to a shutout victory.
Hadley had a chance to score in the 4th inning. After the first two Buttermakers batters walked and moved to 2nd and 3rd on a double steal, but the Fox starter kept the Buttermakers from scoring by striking out two and getting a ground ball out. Fox Lake had an opportunity in the 5th when they picked up the first hit of the day and then the runner moved to 2nd on a successful steal. Lincoln would leave the Fox runner stranded on 2nd.
The game moved to the 7th scoreless. Bryce Ahrendt would lead off by working out a walk, Austin Irlbeck would come in and pinch run. Unfortunately for Hadley, Austin would be thrown out at 2nd trying to steal. Alex Petersen would then pick up Hadley’s first and only hit. Walks to Mike Preuss and Jaden Deacon would follow to load the bases. With the Fox infield drawn in, Tucker Sorenson would hit a soft ground ball to the Fox shortstop that would have trouble fielding as Alex raced home. Dylan Kluis would hit a fly ball to center, allowing Mike Preuss to race home for a 2-0 Hadley lead.
Lincoln Swanjord would get the first two outs on a strikeout and ground out. Fox Lake would get an infield single to keep Fox Lake’s chances alive. A fielding error would keep the door ajar for the Foxes.
Lincoln Swanjord would get the 3rd out strike out to end the game.
Lincoln Swanjord had a great perfect pitching performance for Hadley. Lincoln would pick up his 2nd victory. Lincoln surrendered only 2 hits, walked 1 and recorded 16 strikeouts.
Final Box Scores
RHE Hadley 2 1 1 Fox Lake 0 2 1 Sunday Game #2 @ Fairmont Fairmont 6 Hadley 1 (7 innings) : Hadley took on the perennial First Nite League powerhouse, Fairmont Martins, in Game 2 of the day. Hadley has always had trouble in Fairmont and Sunday would be no exception.
Hadley had a chance in the 1st to show Fairmont they were in for a fight. Hadley would load the bases on 2 hits and a walk but could not push across a run. Fairmont would score a run in the 2nd on 3 hits and then pick up 2 runs in the 3rd, a solo run in the 4th and 2 more in the 5th to take a 6-0 lead.
Hadley tried to make a comeback in the 7th. With 1 out, Jaden Deacon would work out a walk. Singles by Austin Irlbeck and Dylan Kluis would load the bases. Derek Kluis would fly out with Jaden Deacon racing home. Owen Gillette would walk to reload the bases. Skyler Feikema would hit a slow ground ball to short. The throw to 1st would just nip Skyler to the bag with Hadley falling 6-1 to the Martins.
Austin Irlbeck and Dylan Kluis would lead Hadley with 2 hits. Max Zwart, Alex Petersen, Lincoln Graven, and Jaden Deacon all picked up a hit. Derek Kluis picked up Hadley’s only rbi. Tucker Sorenson took the loss. Josh Van Dam pitched the 7th inning for Hadley.
Final Box Scores
RH E Hadley 1 8 3 Fairmont 6 8 0 This week Hadley will have two crucial games against Gopher League opponents. Hadley will travel to Luverne on Wednesday to take on the Redbirds and then home Sunday when the Milroy Irish come to Buttermaker Park for a battle for the top spot in the Gopher League.
