Hadley would make-up a league game on Wednesday and then play in the Pepsi Invitation in Pipestone over the weekend. Hadley was looking to improve on their tournament placing from last year’s 3rd place. Here is the week’s recap:
Wednesday vs. Ruthton
The postponed season opener against the Ruthton Royals was made up on Hadley’s only open Wednesday night. Hadley had no problem with the Royals, even with a short bench for the second week in a row. Hadley took care of the Royals in a shortened, 7-inning contest 10-0.
Hadley would score three times in the 1st inning on 3 hits and a Royal fielding error. The game would continue that way until the 5th inning when Hadley would bust through with 6 runs on 5 hits to go up 9-0. Hadley would score a single run after two singles with 2-outs. A Royal wild pitch would go out of play allowing both runners to advance two bases and a 10-0 lead.
Jacob Van Dam pitched the shut-out for Hadley as he only faced 2 batters over the minimum as he would toss a no hitter. Ruthton would only put runners on base off a Buttermaker throwing error and a Van Dam walk. Jacob would record 8 strikeouts in the game.
All the Buttermakers starter chipped in with hits. Nick Bruning, Joe Larson, Alex Petersen, and Carter Benda led the way with 2 hits. Derek Platt, Eric Wieneke, Abe Paulzine, Avery Weber, and Trent Carlson all had 1 hit. Abe Paulzine led Hadley in rbis with 3 with Joe Larson, Nick Bruning, Eric Wieneke, Trent Carlson, and Alex Petersen all credited with 1 rbi.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 10 13 1
Ruthton 0 0 2
Pepsi Invite: Saturday Game 1 vs. Benson
Hadley took on the Benson Plowboys in the first game of the Pepsi Invitational in Pipestone. Hadley had no trouble with Benson as they plowed by Benson 10-0 in a 5-inning game.
Hadley would score twice in the 1st inning on 2 hits and a hit batter. Max Zwart would score 1 run and the second run would score on a fielder’s choice.
Hadley would score another run in the 3rd after the first two Buttermakers would reach base after getting hit by a pitch and an Eric Wieneke single. Hadley would add 4 runs in the 4th to go up 7-0. Danny Blankenship would get a bases loaded single with 2 outs to score 2 Buttermakers. Hadley would close the game out in the 5th on a 3-run homerun from Chris Halbur.
Avery Weber would pick up the win as he allowed Benson only 3 hits. Eric Wieneke led the hitting for Hadley with 2 hits, with Derek Platt, Abe Paulzine, Max Zwart, Danny Blankenship, Trent Carlson, Kyler Deacon and Chris Halbur all picking up 1 hit. Chris Halbur led Hadley with 3 rbis, Danny Blankenship and Alex Petersen would get 2 rbis each with Derek Platt, Eric Wieneke, and Max Zwart all credited with 1 rbi.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 10 8 1
Benson 0 3 1
Saturday Game 2 vs. Bloomington
Hadley would face the Bloomington Bandits of Class A to see which team could advance to the championship game. Hadley would play the Bandits tough but would let the game slip by them in a Bandit 6-5 victory.
Bloomington would score a run in the 1st off a double and a single. Bloomington would score 3 more runs in the 2nd to go up 4-0. A Buttermaker fielding error in the inning resulted in the Bandits’ 3 runs to unearned.
Hadley would finally get their bats going in the 3rd after being held hitless. With 2 outs in the inning, Hadley’s bats would come alive. Hadley would collect 6 consecutive hits to pull within 1 run. Hadley may have scored more runs in the inning, but Max Zwart would get thrown out at the plate trying to score on a single by Alex Petersen.
Hadley would take over the lead in the 4th. Chris Halbur and Trent Carlson would lead off reaching base by a hit by pitch and a walk. Kyler Deacon, Abe Paulzine and Danny Blankenship would single to score runs. Hadley would leave runners on the corners after Max Zwart fly out to deep right field for the 3rd out.
Danny Blankenship would lead off the 5th with a double, but Hadley was unable to move him around.
Bloomington would take back the lead in the 6th. Van Dam would walk the lead-off batter. The next batter would hit a fly ball to right field. Jaden Bloemendaal positioned himself for the catch but would slip and the ball would roll to the fence for a triple allowing the tying run to score. Bloomington would take the lead on a sacrifice bunt to go up 6-5.
Kyler Deacon led Hadley in hitting with 3 hits. Danny Blankenship and Abe Paulzine would chip in with 2 hits with Derek Platt, Max Zwart and Alex Petersen each collecting 1 hit. Abe Paulzine had 2 rbis for Hadley with Kyler Deacon, Max Zwart and Danny Blankenship credited with 1 rbi. Jacob Van Dam took the loss for Hadley. Max Zwart saw relief duty for the Buttermakers.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 5 10 1
Bloomington 6 6 2
Sunday vs. Pipestone
Hadley would face their Gopher League rival, Pipestone A’s in the 3rd place game of the Pepsi Invite. Today wouldn’t’ be the day for the Hadley as the Buttermaker defense would commit 6 errors in the contest for the A’s 7-2 victory. All Pipestone A’s runs would be unearned. Trent Carlson started on the mound for Hadley. Hadley would get their only runs in the 2nd inning on 4 walks and 2 wild pitches. Pipestone would get one run back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly. Pipestone would take the lead in the 3rd at 3-2 thanks to two Buttermaker miscues.
Pipestone would tack on 4 runs in the 4th. The first A’s batter would reach on a passed ball on a strikeout. A hit batter and a dropped fly ball out followed. Jaden Bloemendaal would come into pitch. Jaden would be greeted with a double down the 3rd base line. Pipestone would collect another single to score a run.
Hadley would have a chance to score in the 5th inning when the first two Buttermaker batters would reach on infield hits, but Hadley would be unable to move them around. Hadley would load the bases in the 7th with only 1 out. Two comebackers to the pitcher would follow as Hadley’s comeback ended.
Kyler Deacon would have another good game at the plate as he would pick up 3 hits. Trent Carlson would get 2 hits and Derek Platt would get Hadley’s other hit. Trent Carlson was charged with the loss.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 2 6 6
Pipestone 7 7 1
Hadley will get back to league action this week. Hadley will travel to Worthington on Wednesday to take on the Cubs and will have a doubleheader on Sunday in Hadley when they face the Luverne Redbirds at 2:00 pm and the Jackson Bulls at 5:00pm.
