By Mark Zinnel, Buttermaker Reporter With the Hadley Buttermakers heading down the home stretch of league play; they kept their focus at overtaking the top spot in the Gopher League, A perfect week helped with reaching that goal. Here is the week’s recap:
MONDAY: HADLEY 8, LUVERNE 0 (5-INNINGS)
With 5 league games left to play and Hadley currently sitting tied for 2nd place in the Gopher League standings; Monday’s make-up game against Gopher League leader, Luverne Redbirds, was huge, A win would vault the Buttermakers to the top, so ace Tucker Sorenson was given the ball to make it happen.
Hadley got things started in the 1st. On the 2nd pitch he saw, Derek Kluis would send the ball over the left field fence for a quick 1-0 lead. Hadley would lengthen their lead in the 2nd. Krew Schneider, Abe Paulzine, and Bryce Ahrendt would double to score 2 runs and Derek Kluis would single in 2 more runs for a 5-0 lead. Derek Kluis would continue his hot hitting when he sent another ball over the fence after two Buttermakers had walked for an 8-0 advantage. Jakob Olson would double in the 5th, but courtesy runner, Dugan Kluis would be thrown out at the plate trying to score on an Abe Paulzine fly out.
Tucker Sorenson had little problem with the Redbird batters. Tucker would only allow 2 hits to Luverne and strike out 6 Redbird batters.
Before Hadley could come to bat in the 6th, the sky opened and the rain fell. The game was called a complete game with Hadley gaining victory. Tucker moved his record to 4-1. Hadley now stands alone on top of the Gopher League with a record of 7-3.
Final Box Score
RHE Hadley 8 7 0 Luverne 0 2 1
WEDNESDAY: HADLEY 10, VALLEY SPRINGS 0 (7-INNINGS)
Hadley traveled across the border to take on the new amateur league team, Valley Springs Valley Dogs; managed by former Buttermaker player, Brandon Kathman. Hadley had no problem with the new startup team as they shut down the Dogs in 7-innings.
Hadley scored right away in the 1st. Teague Meyer singled to start things off. Teague would steal 2nd and score on a Derek Kluis double. In the 2nd, Alex Petersen would reach on an infield single and move to 2nd on a Valley Dog throwing error. Teague Meyer would single home Petersen. Teague would advance to 2nd on a successful stolen base and another double form Derek Kluis would bring in Meyer. In the 3rd, Austin Irlbeck would single and advance a base on a wild pitch. Abe Paulzine doubled to score Irlbeck.
Hadley would break open the game in the 4th when they collected 4 hits on the way to scoring 6 runs. With the big hit coming from Austin Irlbeck, who tripled with the bases loaded.
Skyler Feikema started on the mound for Hadley and kept the Valley Dogs bats quiet. Skyler pitched the first 5 innings and gave up 2 hits and struck out 7 Valley Dog batters. Skyler ran into trouble in the 3rd when Valley Springs loaded the bases, but Skyler was able to wiggle his way out of damage. Trevin Prins finished the final 2 innings for Hadley and limited Valley Springs to just 2 hits.
Teague Meyer led Hadley at the plate as he went 5 for 5. Derek Kluis, Krew Schnelder, Austin Irlbeck, and Alex Petersen each had 2 hits, with Abe Paulzine and Tucker Sorenson each picking up a hit. Abe Paulzine totaled 2 rbis and Tucker Sorenson accounted for Hadley’s other rbi. Skyler Feikema earned the victory.
Final Box Score
R H E Hadley 10 14 2 V Springs 0 4 3 SUNDAY: HADLEY 7, WORTHINGTON 4
The young Worthington Cub team came to Hadley to prove they were a team to be reckoned with. The Cubs battled the Buttermakers for an upset that would put a serious wrench towards the Buttermakers taking the Gopher League title. Hadley had their work cut out for them as they were forced to work their way back for a victory. A crowd of 266 baseball fans were in for a great game and a wild comeback.
After being hitless in their first meeting against Tucker Sorenson, the Cubs struck first in the 1st inning. The Cubs would start out the game with a leadoff bunt single. The next Cub hatter would put down a bunt that would be misplayed by the Buttermakers. Tucker would record the next 2 outs before giving up a single to put the Cubs on the board.
A walk would load the bases. Hadley would attempt to pick off the runner leading off 3rd base, but the ball would get by Abe Paulzine and roll down the leftfield lines as 2 runners scored for a 3-0 Hadley deficit. Teague Meyer would lead off for Hadley and hit a single down the left field line, but the Cub starter would pick off Teague. Austin Irlbeck would single to right and move to 2nd after the right fielder had problems with the ball, but Hadley was unable to move Austin around.
Tucker would settle down and put the Cubs down in order through the next five innings. Hadley looked like they would get things going on their end in the 2nd inning. Jacob Olson would double to start things off. Krew Schneider would reach on a Cub fielding error. Danny Blankenship reached on an infield single to load the bases. Abe Paulzine would single to score 1 run, but that would be the only run Hadley could score as the game moved forward with Hadley down 3-1.
Hadley would have chances in the 4th and 6th innings to score but could not get a key hit. In the 7th, Worthington would get a solo home run off Tucker to go up 4-1. Hadley would get a run back in the bottom of the inning. Teague Meter would reach on a walk and steal 2nd base. Teague would reach 3rd after the Cub catcher made an error on a Meyer steal of 3rd. Derek Kluis would single to close the deficit to 4-2.
The game changed in the 8th inning for Hadley. After Krew Schneider popped out to the pitcher for the first out, Joe Larson and Bryce Ahrendt would work out walks. Alex Petersen would single to load the bases. Teague Meyer would hit ground ball to the Cub 3rd baseman. His throw to the plate for the force out would be off the mark as Joe Larson crossed the plate.
With the bases loaded, Worthington would get a strikeout for the second out. With the bases still loaded Derek Kluis would single to tie the game. Max Zwart would then step up and single to bring in two to go up 6-4. The Worthington shortstop would lose a pop-up fly ball by Jakob Olson in the sun as the ball dropped and another run scored for a 7-4 Hadley lead.
Josh Van Dam would enter the game in the 9th to close the game. Josh would give up a single and a walk to give the Cubs a chance, but Josh would get the final out on a strike out looking to preserve the 7-4 come from behind victory for Tucker Sorenson’s 5th win.
Abe Paulzine led Hadley in the hit department with 3. Austin Irlbeck, Jakob Olson, and Derek Kluis had 2 hits each with Teague Meyer, Danny Blankenship, Joe Larson, Alex Petersen, and Max Zwart all with 1 hit.
Final Box Score
RHE Hadley 7 14 2 Worthington 4 5 5 Hadley has a week off before their double-header next Sunday. Game 1 is another chance for Hadley to increase their lead in the Gopher League as the 2nd place Milroy Irish come to play with a 1:00 game time and then the Marshall A’s come to the Buttermaker Park in game 2 of their home-andhome series.
