By Mark Zinnel- Buttermaker Reporter Hadley opened the Minnesota State Amateur Tournament when they faced the Elrosa Saints in Dassel. Just like previous State appearances, Hadley would once again be bounced out in the opening round in another heart-breaking loss. Here is the game recap: ELROSA 4 vs HADLEY 3 Nobody expected much from the Buttermakers against a young Elrosa Saints squad, but the Buttermakers held their own. The Buttermakers had the ballpark rooting for them as underdogs as they and had a chance to pull an opening round upset.
In Hadley’s first at bat, Joe Larson would reach after getting hit by the first pitch. Joe would be erased at 2nd base on a failed sacrifice bunt, Max Zwart would single with 2 outs to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Brent Hokeness would ground out to end the scoring threat. Tucker Sorenson returned from Kentucky to start the game for Hadley on the hill. Tucker would get the Saints to fly out for the first two outs. The next batter would split the gap between center and right to end up on 3rd base with a triple. Tucker would strike out the next batter to keep the game scoreless.
Hadley would put a serious threat to score in the 2nd. Danny Blankenship and Eric Wieneke would single to start things out. Abe Paulzine would move them up a base on a sacrifice bunt. Kyler Deacon would come to bat to. The Elrosa pitcher would throw a wild pitch, but Danny Blankenship was not able to try to race home. Kyler Deacon would battle at bat but strike out. Joe Larson would line out to end the scoring opportunity. Sorenson would set the Saints down 1-2-3.
In the 3rd, Derek Kluis would reach on an Elrosa fielding error. Evan Lenz would single to put two men on base. Max Zwart would strike out for the first out. Brent Hokeness would hit a ground ball to 3rd. The Saint 3rd baseman would try to turn a double play. His throw to 2nd to get Lenz was on time but the relay toss to 1st would be off the mark allowing Derek Kluis to score for 1-0 Hadley lead.
Elrosa would take the lead in the 4tth. Elrosa would work out walks to the first two Saint batters against Tucker. Tucker would then record a strikeout. The next batter would hit a hard ground ball to Danny Blankenship at 3rd. Danny would step on the bag for the second out but was unable to make a throw to 1st for a double play. The Saints’ runners would move up on a passed ball. The Saints batter would then hit a grounder to deep short. Derek Kluis would get to the ball, but his throw would be too late and get by Max Zwart at 1st base allowing both Saint runners to score.
The Elrosa lead would not last long. Max Zwart would walk in the 5th with 2 outs. Brent Hokeness would step up and blast a pitch over the left field fence for a 3-2 Hadley lead.
The game stayed that way until the 8th. Elrosa would get a lead-off bunt single. A sacrifice bunt would move the runner to 2nd base. The next batter would double to tie the game. After pitching 125 pitches on the hot, humid afternoon, Manager Myron Bennett opted to make a pitching change. Jacob Van Dam would be brought in to stop the Elrosa scoring threat and move the game to the 9th. Jacob would get an infield fly ball out. Jacob would hit the next batter. Jacob would get the 3rd out on a strikeout to move the game to the 9th all tied at 3-3.
Hadley would go down on order against the Elrosa reliever. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Jacob Van Dam would hit the first batter he faced. Elrosa would move him to 2nd on another successful sacrifice bunt. Elrosa would work a walk off Van Dam putting 2 runners on base. A fly ball out would put Hadley one out from extending the game. Jacob Van Dam would work the count in his favor. On a 1-2 pitch the Elrosa batter would send the next pitch to left-field as the runner raced home without a throw for a walk-off 4-3 victory sending Hadley home with another heart-breaking State tourney loss.
Tucker Sorenson had another outstanding performance going 7 1/3 innings, striking out 7 Saints batters and walking 2. Brent Hokeness, Derek Kluis, Evan Lenz, Danny Blankenship, Max Zwart and Eric Wieneke all had 1 hit for Hadley. Jacob Van Dam took the loss for Hadley.
Final Box Score RH E Hadley 3 6 1 Elrosa 4 6 4 Hadley ends the season with a record of 19-12. The Hadley Buttermakers want to thank all Buttermaker fans for their support throughout the season and look forward to seeing you back in the park in 2024.
