By Mark Zinnel- Buttermaker Reporter Luverne had no trouble dispensing the Buttermakers in the Region 13C semi-finals. Hadley’s attention switched to the veteran Fairmont Martin squad. Hadley played their hearts out but let the series fall through their hands as the Martins took out the Buttermakers in 2 games. Here is the series recap: GAME 2– MONDAY – LUVERNE 13 vs HADLEY 2 – 8 INNINGS Game 2 of the Region 13C semi-final series was switched to Monday evening. The weekend rain outs meant that Hadley would lose their home field advantage and be forced to win twice on the Redbird’s field to advance to the championship round. Buttermaker vet, Sam Erickson was given with the assignment to shut down the veteran laden Redbird squad. The way things started out, it looked like Hadley was up for the task.
In the 1st inning, Sam would put the Redbirds down in order. In Hadley’s at bat, things started out right for the Buttermakers. After a lead off fly out by Joe Larson, Derek Kluis and Evan Lenz would walk and then move up a base on a passed ball. Max Zwart would single for Hadley’s first run. Brent Hokeness would follow with a single to score another. Alex Petersen would then walk to load the bases. The Redbird starter would get the next two Buttermakers out on strikeouts; leaving the bases loaded. That would be the only runs Hadley would get as the Redbirds showed their savvy and poor Buttermaker defensive miscues opened the door for Luverne’s scoring opportunities.
Luverne would tie the game in the 3rd inning thanks to two Buttermaker errors. Luverne took the lead in the 5th for good when they scored two more times on only 1 hit and another costly Buttermaker error. Luverne would add to their lead in the 6th when they scored one time and then put 3 runs on the board in the 7th to go up 8-2.
Avery Weber would replace Erickson on the mound in the 8th and things did not go well for Avery and the Hadley Buttermakers as they connected 5 hits off Avery with two more Hadley errors contributing to the Redbird scoring for the 13-2 Buttermaker loss.
Sam Erickson was charge with the loss. Brent Hokeness would get 2 hits for Hadley with Derek Kluis, Max Zwart and Abe Paulzine each picking up 1 hit.
Final Box Score
RH E Hadley 2 5 7 Luverne 13 12 1
GAME 1 WEDNESDAY – FAIRMONT 3 vs HADLEY 2
Hadley would travel to take on the #2 seed Fairmont Martins for the Region 13C 3rd seed in the State Baseball Tournament. It is never an easy game for the Buttermakers when they play the Martins in Fairmont and the night’s game would not be any easier for the Buttermakers as they arrived with only 10 players: leaving no error for any problems. Windom Pirate draftee, Luke Gilbertson; started on the mound for Hadley to face the Martins.
Hadley would get things started off right. With 2 outs in the 1st, Evan Lenz would double and then come into score on Brent Hokeness’ single. Lucas Gilbertson would put the Martins down on order in the 1st and 2nd inning. In the 3rd inning, Fairmont got their first hits off Gilbertson. Lucas would get the first 2 outs with ease. The Martin 9th batter would single. Lucas would hit the next batter. Lucas would get ahead in the count to the next batter before he would double to tie the game. A groundout would follow to end the threat with runners in scoring position.
Hadley would take back the lead in the 5th. Austin Irlbeck would lead-off by striking out. Avery Weber would reach after getting hit by a pitch. Brody Wixon would hit a soft liner over the 1st baseman, Abe Paulzine would drill a double over the left fielder to score Weber. Things were looking good for Hadley with runs on scoring position and only 1 out. With the Fairmont infield drawn in, Joe Larson would hit a soft grounder to the 3rd baseman. He would catch Brody off the bag and tag him out in a rundown. Derek Kluis would fly out to end the Buttermaker scoring chance.
In the 6th, Evan Lenz would reach on a Fairmont fielding error. Brent Hokeness would single. Later, Hadley would try a double steal. On a close play, Evan Lenz would be thrown out at 3rd and Fairmont would record two strike outs to end the Buttermaker scoring attempt. Fairmont would take advantage of the Buttermakers failure to score and would break through with 4 hits off Gilbertson to take a 3-2 lead.
In the 8th, Evan Lenz would double with 1 out and then move to 3rd after Brent Hokeness flew out to deep left center. Alex Petersen would step up. With 2 strikes, Alex would hit a short roller up the 3rd base line looking like a sure infield single, but Alex would pull his calf muscle and was unable to make it out of the box for the 3rd out. With no options available for a replacement, Alex remained in the game with limited mobility as Manager Myron Bennett made defensive changes. Lucas Gilbertson would keep Fairmont off the board as the game moved to the 9th with hopes for a victory still a possibility.
Austin Irlbeck would lead off the 9th with a single. With 2 outs, Abe Paulzine would hit a soft liner over the 3rd baseman keeping the Buttermaker hopes alive with Joe Larson coming to bat. Unfortunately, Joe would hit a soft chopper to short as he stepped on 2nd base to end the game and a 3-2 Hadley loss.
Abe Paulzine would Hadley with 3 hits, Austin Irlbeck, Ean Lenz, and Brent Hokeness all would pick up 2 hits, with Avery Weber and Brody Wixon getting 1 hit. Lucas Gilbertson took the loss.
Final Box Score
RH E Hadley 2 5 7 Fairmont 13 12 1
GAME 2 SATURDAY - FAIRMONT 3 vs HADLEY 2
With a chance to force a Game 3, 198 baseball fans packed the park to cheer on their Buttermakers to force a Game 3. The Buttermakers had control of the game from the onset until things fell apart for Buttermakers in the end as the Martins charged back to take the game. Jacob Van Dam started on the mound for Hadley.
Hadley started out positive for Hadley in the 1st inning. The Fairmont starter would walk the first three Buttermaker batters. Max Zwart would step up and double to score two. Brent Hokeness would then hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Hadley lead. A walk and hit batter would follow to load the bases. Max Zwart would score on a passed ball. Abe Paulzine would single to put Hadley ahead 5-0. Kyler Deacon would ground out to end the inning with Buttermakers on 2nd and 3rd.
Hadley would add a run on the 2nd. Evan Lenz would double to lead off. Max Zwart would follow with a single. A ground out by Brent Hokeness moved the runners into scoring position. Danny Blankenship would walk to load the bases. After Austin Irlbeck struck out, Abe Paulzine would single to score Lenz for a 6-0 Hadley lead. Kyler Deacon would ground out leaving the bases loaded. Hadley would add another run in the 3rd to go up 7-0 thanks to a Fairmont fielding error.
Jacob Van Dam would shut down the Martins through the first 5 innings. In the 6th, Fairmont finally got to Van Dam as they plated 5 runs on 5 hits to pull to with 2 runs. Avery Weber was brought in to relieve Van Dam and would record the three outs in the inning.
The game stayed 7-5 until the 8th inning. Hadley would widen their lead to 9-5. Eric Wieneke and Abe Paulzine would walk to start things off. Brody Wixon would move the runners up a base on an infield ground out. Joe Larson would single to center. Eric Wieneke would score, but Abe Paulzine would be thrown out at the plate. Derek Kluis would single to score Larson and a 4-run advantage. Things looked like 4 runs would be enough to force a Game 3, but Fairmont was not yet ready to concede, In the 9th, Avery Weber would get the 1st out on a fly ball. Fairmont would then load the bases on two singles and a walk. The next batter would hit a come backer back to Avery. Avery would turn 2nd base to turn a game ending double play, but the infielders were not in place as the throw got by Evan Lenz as two runs scored to close the score to 9-7. Max Zwart would come into relieve Avery and close the game out. Max would walk the first batter he faced to reload the bases. Max would get a sharp ground ball hit to Danny Blankenship who would step on 3rd base for the force out but his throw to 1st would be off the mark as a run scored to pull Fairmont to within one run. Max would walk the next batter to reload the bases a third time. The next batter would then lace a line drive to left field that Kyler Deacon could not get to as the runner checked into 2nd base and the bases emptied to put Fairmont on top 11-9.
Hadley had one last chance to fight back. Max Zwart would walk to start the bottom of the 9th off, but that would be all the Buttermakers could muster as the Fairmont reliever would get a fielder’s choice out and two strikeouts to end the game for a disheartening 11-9 loss. Hadley will take Region 13C’s 4th seed into next week’s State Tourney.
Max Zwart led Hadley with 4 hits and 2 rbis. Joe Larson and Abe Paulzine would each pick up 3 hits and 1 rbi. Derek Kluis, Evan Lenz, and Danny Blankenship each had 1 hit. Derek Kluis and Kyler Deacon each had 1 rbi. Max Zwart was charged with the loss.
Final Box Score
RH E Hadley 9 13 2 Fairmont 11 12 2 Hadley will enter the State Tourney play when they face the Elrosa Saints on Saturday, August 19th at 1:30 pm in Dassel. Hope to see you at State.
All State tournament games will be broadcasted on NSPN TV. To subscribe go to https:// nspn.tv/.
