By Mark Zinnel - Buttermaker Reporter The Hadley Buttermakers were hoping to continue with their three-game winning streak as they took on two quality teams. However, things did not go the Buttermaker way as they lost 2 hard fought, heart-breaking contests. Here is the week’s recap:
WEDNESDAY - HADLEY vs. MARSHALL Wednesday night’s game was a David versus Goliath match-up as Hadley travelled to Marshall to take on the A’s in a home and home exhibition series. For Manager Myron Bennett, it would be the first time he had his young players available to play and his first real test in figuring out how to best produce a lineup mixing the veterans and with the young faces on the team. Peyton Coulter would get the start for Hadley on the mound.
Both teams failed to score in the 1st inning. In the 2nd, Hadley would strike first. After Eric Wieneke walked and Brent Hokeness doubled. Hadley was set to score. Up to bat came Marshall native, Lincoln Graven. Lincoln would like the first pitch he saw and place it over the left field fence for a 3-run homer and a 3-0 Hadley lead. Marshall would tie the game in the bottom of the inning when they collected 2 hits off Coulter. A Buttermaker fielding error on the A’s lead-off batter contributed to the 3 unearned runs.
Marshall would pick up 2 runs in the 3rd and 4th innings when they collected 3 hits in both innings for a 7-3 lead. The game would stay that way until the 8th. After a lead-off strikeout, Abe Paulzine and Evan Lenz would hit back-to-back doubles. Eric Wieneke would get hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brent Hokeness would hit a short fly ball to right field. Abe Paulzine would race home and beat the throw to the plate. A ground-out would end Hadley’s scoring threat down 7-4. After coming back down 3 against Fairmont on Sunday, Hadley felt confident.
Tucker Sorenson would lead off the 9th by singling. Derek Kluis would pop out to 2nd for the first out. Brody Wixon would ground out as Tucker moved to 2nd base. Carter Benda would hit a short fly ball between 1st and 2nd that would ball in as Tucker Sorenson raced home. Carter would move to 2nd on a passed ball with Abe Paulzine at the plate. Abe would reach on a walk to put the tying run on base with Evan Lenz coming to bat. The A’s pitcher would throw another pitch that rolled just a short distance from the catcher. Carter Benda would take the chance to advance and make to 3rd as the ball would be off mark allowing Abe Paulzine to move to 2nd base. Evan Lenz would a hit a hard ground ball towards 2nd base. The A’s 2nd baseman would get to the ball and make a low throw that would be scooped up for the 3rd out before Evan could cross the bag securing the 7-5 A’s victory.
Lincoln Graven led Hadley at the plate going 2-4 and recording 3 rbis. Carter Benda, Brent Hokeness, Tucker Sorenson, Abe Paulzine and Evan Lenz picked up one hit for the Buttermakers. Carter Benda and Brent Hokeness each picked 1 rbi for Hadley. Peyton Coulter was charged with the loss to move his record to 1-1. Avery Weber pitched 4 innings of shutout baseball: allowing only 2 hits and recording 7 strikeouts and walking two A’s batters.
Hadley will hope to return the favor when the Buttermakers entertain the A’s in Hadley on July 8th.
Final Box Score
RHE Hadley 5 7 1 Marshall 7 11 2
SUNDAY - HOME OPENER It was a long wait for the Buttermaker faithful to get to watch the Buttermakers play at home, but Sunday brought baseball back to the park as Hadley took on the Gopher League leading Luverne Redbirds to town in an important Gopher League game. Hadley currently sat 2 games behind the Redbirds in the loss column. Tucker Sorenson started on the mound for Hadley to shut down the veteran Redbird squad. Due to Luverne having another game to play later in the day; the game would be a 7-inning contest.
Luverne would be the first team to put runs across the plate. In the 2nd inning, the Redbirds would pick-up 3 hits off Sorenson and score 2 runs for an early lead. Tucker would keep the Redbirds off the boards through the 6th. The Redbird starter would keep the Buttermaker hitless through 5 innings.
In the 6th, Hadley would finally strike back. Austin Irlbeck would break up the no-hitter when he singled. Evan Lenz would reach after getting hit by pitch. Eric Wieneke would then hit a fly ball off the fence down the left field line scoring Irlbeck, however; Lenz would be thrown out at 3rd as Wieneke checked in at 2nd base. Max Zwart would single to put Buttermaker runners on 1st and 3rd. Brent Hokeness would single to score Wieneke. The Luverne starter would get a strikeout and a groundout to end the Buttermaker scoring as the game moved to the 7th tied at 2-2.
Things did not go the Buttermakers way in the 7th as defensive miscues caused trouble for Hadley. Luverne’s lead-off batter would reach on a Buttermaker throwing error. A sacrifice bunt would move the runner to 2nd. A single would follow putting runners at the corners. Hadley intentionally walked the next Redbird batter to load the bases and set up for a potential ground ball inning ending double-play. A ground ball is what Hadley got, but the ball would be misplayed as a run scored. Luverne would get a sacrifice fly to score another run to go up 4-2.
What could Hadley do? After a lead-off strikeout, Derek Platt would single up the middle. Austin Irlbeck would step up and hit a fly ball down the leftfield line that would just miss dropping in fair. Austin would battle but strikeout for out number 2. Evan Lenz would keep the Buttermaker hopes alive when he walked. To put the tying run on base. Eric Wieneke would step up with the Buttermaker crowd hoping for some magic, but Wieneke would strikeout leaving the tying runs on base giving the Redbirds the 4-2 victory.
Austin Irlbeck, Eric Wieneke, Max Zwart, Brent Hokeness and Derek Platt would pick up hits for the Buttermakers. Eric Wieneke and Brent Hokeness would pick up Hadley’s rbi. Tucker Sorenson would be charged with the loss moving his record to 1-1. The Luverne starter would record 11 Buttermaker strikeouts in the game.
Final Box Score
RHE Hadley 2 5 4 Luverne 4 7 3 Hadley will travel to Ruthton to take on the Royals on Wednesday evening and return home on Sunday to face the Heron Lake Lakers at 2:00 pm.
