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The Hadley Buttermakers began another small 2-game winning streak before suffering another Gopher League loss. Here is the week’s games recap:
Wednesday at Lakefield
Hadley arrived in Lakefield with a 10-man bench with the hopes of starting up a new winning streak. Every time Hadley and Lakefield play each other the longer Hadley allows the pesky Frogs to hang around, the game is always in question. Wednesday night’s game looked like it would be one in the same. Sam Erickson would start on the mound for Hadley.
Hadley would get a run in the 1st inning to go up 1-0. Joe Larson would walk and steal 2nd and come around to score on a Nick Bruning single. It looked like Hadley would expand the lead in the 2nd as they would load the bases but were unable to plate a run. In the 3rd Hadley would put runners on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out, but once again could not get a clutch hit. Lakefield would tie the game in the bottom of the 3rd after a Buttermaker error; the Lakefield runner would score on a sacrifice fly.
Hadley and Lakefield would both score twice in the 4th inning. Once again, a Hadley fielding error would be a factor in Lakefield scoring. Lakefield would go ahead 4-3 in the 5th after the Frogs would get 3 hits off Erickson. Jaden Deacon made a sensational running catch in deep left field for the 3rd out to limit Lakefield to just one run.
After Lakefield made a pitching change in the 6th, the Buttermakers Hadley got to work. Hadley would put their first 5 hitters on base. Nick Bruning and Abe Paulzine would hit doubles to score 3 runs. By the time the inning ended Hadley would score 2 more times to go up 8-5. Hadley would score 4 more runs in the 8th after another Lakefield pitching change to go up 12-5. Hadley had an opportunity for a bigger inning but would leave the bases loaded.
Sam Erickson would pretty have his way against the Frogs as he went the distance, limiting them to just 2 more hits and scoreless through the final four frames while picking up the 12-4 victory for Hadley. Erickson would record a dozen strikeout in the game.
Besides the fine pitching performance, Sam Erickson along with Nick Bruning would lead Hadley in the hit
department with 3 hits. Joe Larson, Derek Platt, Trent Carlson, and Jacob Van Dam would each collect 2 hits, with Alex Petersen and Abe Paulzine getting 1 hit. Nick Bruning led Hadley with 4 rbis, Joe Larson and Abe Paulzine getting 2 rbis and Derek Platt, Jacob Van Dam and Alex Petersen getting 1 rbi each.
Sunday Game 1 at Heron Lake- 7-inning game
Hadley traveled to Heron Lake to take on the Lakers in an unusual Sunday road game. On paper this game should not have been close, but Heron Lake gave the Buttermakers everything they had. Nick Bruning started on the mound for Hadley
Hadley had a scoring opportunity in the 1st inning when they put 2 runners on base, but the Laker starter recorded 2 strike out to end the Buttermaker threat. Heron Lake would score first in the 2nd inning on a double and single to go up 1-0. Hadley would finally string hits together to take the lead in the 4th. Hadley would score 3 times on 3 hits and 3 walks to go up 3-1. Justin Benda would get a big 2-run double to account in the scoring. Hadley had an opportunity for a bigger inning, but Heron Lake would survive any further damage by leaving the bases loaded with Buttermakers. Heron Lake would score once in the bottom of the inning to close the lead to 3-2. Nick Bruning would keep the Laker batter off the board when he left after 5 innings with the lead. Avery Weber would come in to relive Nick. Hadley would add insurance runs in the 6th inning. Hadley would break through with 4 runs to go up 7-2. Max Zwart would bring in run with a single and Eric Wieneke would get a big 2-run double. Hadley would score their 4th run on a Laker throwing error.
It looked like Hadley would get the comfortable victory, but things got messy for Hadley in the 7th inning. After getting the lead-off out, Heron Lake would start their rally. Heron Lake would single. Weber would get an infield pop out for the 2nd out. Things were looking good for Hadley. The next Laker batter would triple to left field and come in to score after the return throw got by the catcher for a 7-4 score. Heron Lake would then load the bases. With the game on the line, the next Laker batter would hit a shot down the left field line as the runners rounded the bases to score. Jaden Bloemendahl’s relay throw to Trent Carlson at home would be on time as Trent applied the tag on the trail runner for the 3rd out and Hadley escaping with a 7-6 victory.
Max Zwart and Justin Benda led Hadley with 2 hits. Abe Paulzine, Nick Bruning and Eric Wieneke each added 1 hit. Max Zwart and Nick Bruning had 1 rbi each for Hadley. Nick Bruning picked up the victory.
Sunday Game 2 at Milroy- 7-inning game
Hadley traveled to Milroy for the second game of the day to take on Gopher League leaders the Milroy Irish in the longawaited make-up game from earlier in the season. Jacob Van Dam started on the mound for Hadley to shut down the Irish and give them their first loss in league play.
Things started off right for Hadley in the 1st inning as Nick Bruning sent a pitch over the right field fence for a quick 1-0 Hadley lead. Milroy would come back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie the score on a single and a triple. Hadley would add a run in the 2nd inning. Alex Petersen and Abe Paulzine would reach on singles. Alex would score later off a Milroy throwing error to go back on top at 2-1.
In the 3rd inning, it looked like the Buttermakers were in for a big inning as they loaded bases with one out on a hit batter, walk and another Irish fielding error. However, the Irish starter was able to strike out the next two Hadley batters to keep the Buttermakers off the boards. This would end up being Hadley’s final scoring opportunity.
The game would move to the 4th with Hadley still leading 2-1, when Milroy’s bats heated up. Milroy touched Van Dam up with 4 hits; of which 3 were doubles and a costly Buttermaker fielding error to break through with 5 runs to go up 6-2. Milroy would add another run in the 5th to end up with the final score 7-2
Jacob Van Dam would be charged with the loss. Trent Carlson would get Hadley’s other hit for the game.
Hadley will take to the road fo2 two mid-week games. On Wednesday, Hadley will go west to take on the Pipestone A’s and on Thursday evening, travel to Minneota to take on the Mudhens in an exhibition game. Hadley will return home on Sunday to take on the Worthington Cubs in a 5:00 start. Fireworks to follow the game at dusk.
