BUTTERMAKERS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER

By Mark Zinnel- Buttermaker Reporter The Hadley Buttermakers went 1-1 for the week in a crucial Gopher League Sunday double-header. Here is the double-header recap:

HADLEY 3 MILROY 2 - 7-Innings

With the Gopher League lead on the line, Hadley took on the Milroy Irish in Game 1 on Sunday. After receiving 2 inches of rain overnight, the game was pushed back an hour so the Hadley ground crew could get the field in playing shape. The fans attending Sunday’s game were in for a thrilling game. Tucker Sorenson got the starting nod to face the Irish.

Both teams had their chances in the first two innings, but the starting pitchers wiggled their way out of trouble. Milroy would score first in the 3rd inning. A lead-off walk and a double would put the Irish up 1-0.

Milroy would put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, but Tucker would leave them stranded there to hold Milroy to just the one run. Hadley would load the bases in the bottom of the 4th with 2 outs but could not get a big hit to push across any runs.

In the 5th, Milroy threatened to add on to their lead. Milroy would put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.

Milroy would lace a single to leftfield. The runner on 2nd attempted to score, but Joe Larson’s throw to the plate would be on time to keep the score at 1-0.

Milroy would load the bases in the 6th with no outs. Tucker would get a strike out for the first out. Ausitn Irlbeck would make a fly ball catch on deep right center as he fell to the ground as the runner from 3rd scored. Tucker would get the 3rd out on a routine groundout to limit Milroy to just one run for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 6th, Jakob Olson would walk to lead off the inning. Danny Blankenship would hit a ground ball down the 3rd base line. Bryce Ahrendt would lay down a sacrifice bunt as runners advanced a base. Alex Peteresen would then single in Olson and Blankenship to tie the game. Austin Irlbeck would single to put Buttermaker runners on the corners. Joe Larson would fly out to center as Alex Petersen race home for a 3-2 Hadley lead.

In the 7th, Milroy would lead off with a single. Tucker Sorenson

would bear down and strike out the next 3 Irish batters to end the game with a 3-2 hard fought Hadley victory.

For Hadley, Danny Blankenship and Austin Irlbeck led the way with 2 hits each. Brent Hokeness, Jakob Olson, and Alex Petersen each collected a hit. Alex Petersen picked up 2 rbis, with Joe Larson collecting 1 rbi. Tucker Sorenson earned his 4 th victory of the season.

Final Box Score RHE Hadley 3 7 1 Milroy 2 6 1

LUVERNE 8 HADLEY 17-Innings The perennial front runners in the Gopher League, the Luverne Redbirds, were the Buttermakers Game 2 opponent. After the thrilling win in Game 1, the Buttermakers came out a little flat against the Redbirds.

Josh Van Dam started on the hill for Hadley.

Luverne would threaten to score in the 1st inning as they put runners on the corners with only 1 out. Josh Van Dam would get a ground ball double play to escape any damage. Hadley had their beast opportunity to score in the bottom of the inning. With 2 outs, Derek Kluis would double and then a hit batter and a walk would load the bases. Danny Blankenship would hit a fly ball to the left field fence that would die for the third out.

Luverne would score first in the 4th as they would score three times on three hits, chasing Van Dam from the mound. Bryce Ahrendt would take over for Josh and record the 3rd out leaving Redbird runners in scoring position. Hadley would put runners on the corners in the bottom of the inning, but the Redbird starter would leave them stranded there.

Luverne would collect 4 runs on 4 hits off Ahrendt to stretch their lead to 7-0 in the 5th . Hadley’s only run came in the bottom of the inning after Joe Larson doubled. A fly ball off the bat of Brent Hokeness to left center would be misplayed allowing Larson to score. Luverne would pick up a solo run in the 6th to go up 8-1 to end the scoring for both teams. Alex Petersen led the Buttermakers with 2 hits. Tucker Sorenson, Joe Larson, Derek Kluis, and Austin Irlbeck each added 1 hit. Josh Van Dam took the loss. Bryce Ahrendt, Owen Gillette, and Logan Miller saw mound duty for Hadley.

Final Box Score RHE Hadley 1 6 2 Luverne 8 12 1 Hadley’s record for the season stands at 6-4 in league play. Hadley will travel to Pipestone on Wednesday to take on the A’s and return home on Sunday to host the Heron Lake Lakers in a 5:00 start. Fireworks to follow at dusk.