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Lincoln Graven -
Bryce Ahrendt
The Hadley Buttermakers opened their 2024 Gopher League season on a beautiful Mother’s Day afternoon as they hosted the Fox Lake Foxes from the First Nite League. Hadley’s roster has a mix of old and new faces for the 2024 campaign in search of Hadley’s goal to capture a Gopher League title and another spot again for the State Tournament. Sunday’s game had the Buttermakers working from behind the whole game in the battle against the feisty Foxes to come away with a home victory. Here is the game recap: For the season opener, new Buttermaker Bryce Ahrendt took the mound for Hadley. Fox Lake would get on the board in the first. Fox Lake would score on a hit batter, Buttermaker fielding error and a single to go up 1-0. Hadley would put runners at 2nd and 3rd on 2 hits but were unable to score. Fox Lake would add another run in the 2nd when they recorded 4 hits. Fortunately for Hadley, Lincoln Graven’s throw from left field on a hit would cut down the Fox runner at the plate as Brent Hokeness applied the tag for the 3rd out to stymie Fox Lake from adding any additional runs. Hadley looked primed to score in the 3rd when they loaded the bases without any hits but failed to plate a run after the Fox Lake starter would strike out Eric Wieneke looking for out number three.
Bryce Ahrendt would shut the Foxes down through the 5th inning. Hadley would finally score in the 4th. After Lincoln Graven would reach on a Fox fielding error, Alex Petersen would score Lincoln on a double to the gap in right-center. Hadley looked like they would tie the game in the 5th, but once again would leave a runner stranded at 3rd base.
Sam Erickson took over for Bryce Ahrendt in the 6th. Fox Lake would add to their lead in the 8th when they collected 2 hits and another Hadley fielding error to go up 3-1. Danny Blankenship would double in the bottom of the 8th, but two strikeouts would leave him stranded there.
Fox Lake would collect 2 more singles in the top of the 9th. A double steal would put runners in scoring position. Sam Erickson would bear down get a strikeout to leave the Fox runners stranded. It was rally time for the Buttermakers. Pinch-hitter Mike Preuss would fight back from a 0-2 count to work out a walk to start things off. After recording an out, Joe Larson would single to put runner on the corners. A walk would load the bases bringing Brent Hokeness to the plate. Brent would come through and double for the 2nd time to tie the game. With runners on at 2nd and 3rd, Hadley would have the contact play in motion with the Fox infield drawn in. Derek Kluis would attempt to race home with the on an infield grounder and be thrown out at the plate. Danny Blankenship would fly out to move the game to extra innings.
In the Fox Lake at bat, they would once again threaten to score. After a lead-off single, they would advance the runner to 2nd on a successful sacrifice bunt. A single to leftfield looked like the Foxes would take the lead. Once again Lincoln Graven’s throw to the plate would be on time as Brent Hokeness applied the tag. Sam Erickson would record a strike out for the 3rd out for Hadley’s chance to win the game.
Fox Lake would make a pitching change. The Fox Lake reliever would record a strike out on the Buttermaker pinchhitter. Lincoln Graven would strike out but would reach 1st on a passed ball. Abe Paulzine would strike out to put the Buttermakers down to their final out. Alex Petersen and Joe Larson would work out walks to load the bases bringing Derek Kluis up to win the game. Derek would hit a ground ball to deep short and just beat out the throw to 1st as Graven crossed the plate for home opener walkoff victory Joe Larson and Brent Hokeness led the way with 2 hits each. Derek Kluis, Max Zwart, Danny Blankenship, and Alex Petersen each had 1 hit. Brent Hokeness recorded 2 rbis with Alex Petersen and Derek Kluis getting the other 2 Buttermaker rbis. Sam Erickson picked up the save.
Final Box Score RHE Hadley 4 8 2 Fox Lake 3 11 2 Hadley will travel to Renner on Friday night to face the 2023 Renner Rangers and then make their first league road game for the season when they travel to Worthington to take on Gopher League rival, Cubs.
