Hadley would end the week by wrapping up the first round of Gopher League play by taking on Pipestone and Luverne and going 1-1 for the week. Here is the week’s recap: Wednesday at Pipestone HADLEY 14 PIPESTONE 5 Hadley traveled west down Highway 30 to take on their Gopher League neighbor, Pipestone A’s. Pipestone is a younger club that has been playing good winning baseball to start the season, so the Buttermakers were not going to take the A’s for granted. Whenever these two teams meet up, the games always tend to go back and forth. Games usually goes down to the final at bat. Wednesday’s game looked like it was going to be one of those games. Bryce Ahrendt was Hadley’s chosen starting pitcher.
Things started Hadley’s way in the 1st inning. Tucker Sorenson led-off reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Derek Kluis would reach on a Pipestone fielding error putting runners at the corners. Evan Lenz would hit a short fly ball over 2nd base that the shortstop would catch with his back to the infield. Tucker Sorenson would chance tagging up and head home, beating the throw to the plate. Hadley would load the bases on another hit batter and Pipestone error. After getting a second out strikeout, Abe Paulzine would come through with a single to put Hadley up by two. The Pipestone starter would leave the bases loaded with Buttermakers by getting a 3rd out strikeout. Pipestone would come to bat unphased as they collected three soft singles to load the bases. Bryce Ahrendt would get an inning ending double play to keep the A’s from scoring.
Hadley would pick up 4 hits on the 2nd and score two more runs to go up 4-0, but left the bases loaded again. Pipestone came storming back as they once again get 3 hits off Ahrendt and score 2 runs. The runs scored on a controversial fair ball call by the umpire down the right field line. The game stayed at 4-2 until the 4th inning.
In the 4th, Pipestone would load the bases with 2 outs. Pipestone would get a bases loaded double that went over Alex Petersen in left field to take a 5-4 lead. Pipestone would attempt to score the runner on 2nd on a single to short center, but Tucker Sorenson’s throw to the plate to Brent Hokeness would nail the runner sliding home to end the inning. Hadley would have to play from behind until the 6th inning.
In the 6th, Hadley would get to the Pipestone starter, causing Pipestone to make a pitching change. After things passed, Hadley took back the lead after scoring 3 runs on 5 hits to go up 7-5. Hadley’s onslaught would continue in the 7th inning. Hadley got to the A’s relief staff and plated 6 runs to go up 13-5. The big hit coming from Abe Paulzine on a 3-run home run over the left field wall. Bryce Ahrendt would shut down the A’s bats as he only allowed the A’s only1 more hit from the 5th through the 7th inning.
Hadley threatened to add to their lead in the 8th when they would load the bases on three walks but could not get a big hit to increase the lead. Hadley would add another run in the 9th on a bases loaded hit batter.
Abe Paulzine came into pitch the final 2 innings. Abe would allow Pipestone only 1 hit in his outing and get an inning ending double play for the Buttermakers 14-5 victory.
On the hitting side for Hadley, the young Buttermakers led the way. Derek Kluis and Abe Paulzine each collected 3 hits. Brent Hokeness and Tucker Sorenson added 2 hits each. Evan Lenz, Avery Weber, Max Zwart, Joe Larson, Lincoln Graven, and Mike Preuss each had 1 hit. Abe Paulzine ended up with 4 rbis, 3 rbis for Brent Hokeness, Evan Lenz 2 rbis and Tucker Sorenson and Avery Weber each credited with 1 rbi. Bryce Ahrendt picked up his second victory of the season.
Final Box Score RHE Hadley 14 16 1 Pipestone 5 12 4 Sunday vs. Luverne LUVERNE 5 HADLEY 3 The first half lead in the Gopher League was on the line Sunday when Luverne came to town to take on the Buttermakers. Both teams sat atop the Gopher League with a 3-1 record. Hadley was hoping for good things to happen, but one bad inning would do them in.
Tucker Sorenson started on the mound for Hadley. Tucker would set the Redbirds down in order in the 1st inning. Hadley looked like they would jump out first against the Redbirds in their at bat. Hadley would load the bases on 3 singles. Abe Paulzine would come to bat with 2 outs, but Abe would hit a harmless fly ball to center for the final out leaving the bases loaded and game scoreless.
In the 2nd, Hadley would be their own worst enemy. Luverne’s first two batters would reach on Buttermaker fielding errors. Luverne would get a single to load the bases. Tucker would walk the next Redbird batter to force in a run. A single would plate 2 more Redbirds runs. Luverne would score another run after Brent Hokeness’ throw down to 3rd on a passed ball would get by Abe Paulzine at 3rd. Hadley would counter with a run of their own after Eric Wieneke would lead-off reaching on a Redbird fielding error. Eric would later come around to score on a sacrifice fly from Evan Lenz for a 4-1 Luverne advantage.
Luverne would score a run in the 3rd on two back-to-back singles. A balk would be called on Tucker Sorenson advancing the runners up a base. An infield ground out would score a runner for Luverne. Hadley would get back the run in the bottom of the inning. Brent Hokeness would double to lead-off the inning. Max Zwart would single to score Hokeness. Hadley would leave runners on base without further scoring.
Luverne threatened to add to their lead in the 5th. After a leadoff double, the runner would advance to 3rd on a ground out. Hadley would throw the runner out at the plate on a throw from Bryce Ahrendt to Brent Hokeness to end the threat.
Tucker Sorenson would shut down the Redbirds the final 4 innings. Hadley had opportunities to score in the 6th and 8th innings. Hadley would leave a runner on 3rd base both times.
Hadley tried to make a comeback in the 9th. Jakob Olson would lead-off the inning with a pinch hit single. Evan Lenz would reach on a Redbird error. After a fielder’s choice, Max Zwart would score a run to cut the lead to 5-3. With the tying runs on base, Bryce Ahrendt would come to bat with a chance to keep things going but would get called out looking to end the game.
Max Zwart led Hadley with 3 hits and 2 rbis. Derek Kluis would chip in with 2 hits. Jakob Olson, Brent Hokeness and Bryce Ahrendt would all pick up a hit. Evan Lenz would pick up Hadley’s other rbi. Tucker Sorenson took the loss moving his record to 1-1.
Final Box Score RHE Hadley 3 8 3 Luverne 5 6 2 Hadley will have a busy week of baseball ahead of them. Hadley will travel to Lakefield on Wednesday evening to take on the Lakefield Horned Frogs, and to Jackson on Saturday to take on the Bulls. Hadley will return home on Sunday to face the Worthington Cubs.
