BUTTERMAKERS STRUGGLE INTWO GAMES,THEN REBOUNDAGAINST HERON LAKE

By: Mark Zinnel, Buttermaker Reporter The Buttermakers started the week struggling to get back on their winning way. Hadley ended the week finding their stride. Here is the week’s recap:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 MILROY 5 HADLEY 3

Good pitching, good bunting, timely hitting, and all around good defensive play always plays a part when Hadley and Milroy match-up. For Hadley on Wednesday night, Milroy did a better job at accomplishing those things as Hadley fell to the Irish in a disappointing 5-3 loss.

Hadley sent Tucker Sorenson to the mound to take down the Irish and it was not a typical Tucker performance. Even though Tucker only allowed the Irish 3 hits; he walked 8 Irish and only struck out 6 in his 6-innings of work. Hadley looked set to finally take down Milroy on their home field. Tucker Sorenson worked out a walk to start things off for Hadley. Tucker would steal 2nd base. With 2 outs, Max Zwart would single in Tucker for an early lead. Jakob Olson would then send a fly ball to the left field fence that would miss going out by inches, putting Buttermakers on 2nd and 3rd, but a ground out would end Hadley’s attempt to add to their lead. Milroy would put two runners on base in the bottom of the inning, but Tucker would get out of trouble.

In the 3rd, Hadley would load the bases on a single and two walks, but the Irish starter would get a strike out for the 3rd out to end the threat.

Milroy would take the lead in the 4th. A leadoff walk and a single would put 2 Irish runners on base. The next batter would hit a sacrifice bunt back to Tucker. Tucker would throw to 3rd for the force out, but his throw would be high, allowing one run to score. As the ball went down the fenceline, a second runner tried to race home, but Jakob Olson would apply the tag as the Irish runner tried to jump over Jakob. A wild pitch would follow to give Milroy a 2-1 lead.

Bryce Ahrendt would double to lead off the 6th, but Hadley was unable to get down a sacrifice bunt to move Bryce to 3rd and the inning ended with Bryce stranded at 2nd. Milroy would add a run in the bottom of the inning when Tucker would walk the leadoff batter. A stolen base attempt would be successful as Jakob Olson’s throw would go into center moving the runner to 3rd. A single would follow to give Milroy a 3-1 lead.

Things looked good for Hadley in the 7th. A walk and single started things out. But Max Zwart would ground into a double play as Austin Irlbeck moved to 3rd. Milroy would intentionally walk Jakob Olson . Dylan Kluis would ground out to squelch the scoring opportunity. Brody Wixon came in to pitch the 7th for Hadley and put the Irish down in order.

Hadley would make a charge in the 8th. With 2 outs, Alex Petersen would single, Tucker Sorenson would walk, and a ground out would be booted by the Irish 2nd baseman as Alex Petersen raced home. The throwback in would be wild, allowing Tucker to score to tie the game. Milroy would respond in the bottom of the inning. Milroy would load the bases on a walk and two singles. With the infield drawn in, Milroy hit a ground ball at Abe Paulzine at short. Abe’s throw to the plate for the force out and Jakob Olson’s return throw to 3rd would be on time for the 6-2-5 double play. It looked like Hadley would escape, but Milroy would get 2 singles to score 2 runs to go up 5-3. Hadley would go down in order in the 9th to end the game for a disappointing 5-3 loss.

Max Zwart and Jakob Olson had 2 hits. Austin Irlbeck, Derek Kluis, Bryce Ahrendt, and Alex Petersen had Hadley’s other hits. Brody Wixon was charged with the loss. Owen Gillette saw mound duty for Hadley.

Final Box Score

RHE Hadley 3 9 3 Milroy 5 7 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 13 GRANITE FALLS 6 HADLEY 1

Hadley’s visit to Richter Park in Granite Falls in a rematch from last Sunday’s contest against the Kilowatts did not go the way the Buttermakers had hoped. With only 9 players, the Buttermakers got good pitching performances from Owen Gillette and Skyler Feikema, but Hadley’s bats were silent and the defense had too many miscues as they fell 6-1 to Granite Falls.

Five of the six runs scored by the Kilowatts were unearned due to the 6 errors that befell the Buttermaker’s defense. Granite Falls would score once in the 3rd, three times in the 4th and twice in the 7th.

Hadley’s only run came in the 5th after Alex Petersen would single followed by Abe Paulzine’s 2nd double. A Skyler Feikema groundout would bring in Petersen for Hadley’s lone run. Owen Gillette would suffer the loss.

Final Box Score

RHE Hadley 1 3 6 Granite Falls 6 6 1

SUNDAY, JUNE 14 HADLEY 17 HERON LAKE 0 7-Innings

Hadley was hoping to break their 3-game losing streak and the Heron Lake Lakers could not have arrived at a better time in their league schedule for the Buttermakers to get back on the winning track. The Buttermakers had no problem with the Lakers to get back in the win column.

Hadley would score 6 times in the 3rd and 7 times in the 4th innings to break the game open. Hadley’s 13 runs came off 6 walks, 1 hit batter and only 7 hits. Hadley would add 2 runs in both the 5th and 7th innings.

Lincoln Swanjord had a near perfect game as he went the first 5 innings on the mound for Hadley. Lincoln would only give up 1 hit, walk 1, and strike out 12 Laker batters to earn the victory. Abe Paulzine finished the final 2 innings, giving up just 1 hit.

Max Zwart, Danny Blankenship, and Trevin Prins led the way for Hadley with 2 hits each. Austin Irlbeck, Derek Kluis, Alex Petersen, Abe Paulzine, and Joe Larson each had a hit. Derek Kluis, Trevin Prins, Danny Blankenship, Abe Paulzine, and Joe Larson each had 2 rbis. Tucker Sorenson, Austin Irlbeck, and Alex Petersen each had 1 rbi.

Final Box Score RHE Hadley 17 11 1 Heron Lake 0 2 3 Hadley will have two games on the road this week before returning home on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Hadley faces Marshall A’s at Legion Field, then goes to Lakefield on Friday to take on the Horned Frogs and then home on Sunday to face the Gopher League favorite, Luverne Redbirds at 2:00.