Hadley survived a tough Jackson Bull team in comefrom behind fashion to advance into semi-final round in the Region 13C baseball play-offs. Here is the series recap:
Wednesday at Jackson
JACKSON 3 HADLEY 2
Game 1 of the quarterfinals had Hadley traveling to Jackson to take on the Bulls. Hadley has had a modicum of success in Jackson in the recent years, but historically; Wacker Field has not been very hospitable to the Buttermakers. Winning Game 1 is crucial in the best 2 of 3 series. A Game 1 loss puts a team’s backs against the walls. Hadley was hoping to steal Game 1 from the Bulls, but in a low scoring game, Hadley would fall a run short in a 3-2 loss. Here is the game recap” Jacob Van Dam was given
Jacob Van Dam was given the Game 1 starting assignment. Hoping to the slow the veteran Bull line-up. Jackson would get 2 quick outs to start the game. Max Zwart would come up to the plate and hit a double. Kellan Johnson would then hit a ground ball that the Bull shortstop would have trouble getting a handle on the ball as Max Zwart would move to 3rd base and Kellan Johnson would reach 1st. Alex Petersen then would step up and hit a hard-line drive to the shortstop for the 3rd out with Hadley unable to score.
It looked like Van Dam would have the same results against the Bull in their at bat. Van Dam would get two quick fly ball outs to start the inning off. Jackson would then follow up with getting back-toback singles. The next batter would then loop a short fly ball over 1st base. Max Zwart would race backwards to make the catch. Max would come up short as the ball would hit the tip of his glove and fall in as one Jackson runner would race home. The next Bull hitter would then double to center to score two more runs. Jacob Van Dam would get a strikeout for the 3rd out with Hadley down 3-0. Hadley would have to work from behind to take Game 1.
Neither team would score again until the 7th, Hadley would have opportunities in the early innings as they would leave 2 runners on base in the 2nd and 4th innings but couldn’t come through with a timely hit. Jacob Van Dam would get into groove and shut down the Bulls with only 2 more hits and held them at bay with just the 3 runs.
Hadley would finally breakthrough in the 7th. Justin Benda and Nick Bruning would fly out to start the 7th. The Bull starter would begin to tire. Danny Blankenship and Max Zwart would follow with walks. Carter Benda would come in and pinch run for Blankenship. Kellan Johnson would them come through and single to score Benda. Alex Petersen then would get called out looking to end the Buttermaker scoring opportunity.
Hadley would threaten to score again in the 8th. Eric Wieneke would lead off by walking. Jackson would make a pitching change. Chris Halbur would hit into a fielder’s choice for the 1st out. Trent Carlson would get called out on a full count strikeout for the 2nd out. Justin Benda then would single to left field bringing Nick Bruning to the plate. Nick had hit the ball hard all night but had yet to have anything fall in, Buttermaker fans felt confident that things would tune around for Nick. Buttermaker fans had to wait as Nick would get hit by a pitch to load the bases. Danny Blankenship would come to bat. Danny would hit a hard ground ball chopper to 3rd base that was retrieved as the 3rd baseman would step on the bag for the 3rd out leaving the bases loaded.
The game moved to the 9th with one last chance for Hadley. Jackson wasn’t taking anything for granted. Max Zwart led off by hitting a fly ball to left field that as tracked down for the 1st out. Kellan Johnson would single causing a Bull pitching change. Derek Kluis would come up to pinch hit and fly out to center for the 2nd out. Eric Wieneke would walk to put 2 Buttermakers on base. Jackson made another pitching change. Chris Halbur would then get hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jackson would make their 3rd pitching change in the inning. Trent Carlson would come up with a change to tie the game. Trent Carlson would work out a walk to bring in a run, with the bases still loaded. Justin Benda came to the plate. Justin already had 3 hits in the game and another one would put Hadley in front, but it wasn’t to be for Justin or Hadley this night as he would fly out to short to end the game and with the bases loaded.
Justin Benda and Kellan Johnson led Hadley with 3 and 2 hits respectively. Trent Carlson, Eric Wieneke, Max Zwart and Danny Blankenship would all get 1 hit in the game. Kellan Johnson and Trent Carlson would get credit for 1 rbi each. Jacob Van Dam would be charged with the loss.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 2 9 1
Jackson 3 6 1
Saturday Game 2
HADLEY 9 JACKSON 3
With their backs against the wall, the veteran Buttermakers had to win to force a game 3 after the suffering the tough loss to Jackson on Wednesday night, Luke Drooger was given the game assignment to stop the Bull momentum.
Things didn’t look good for the Buttermakers in Jackson’s first at bat. The Bulls lead-off batter would hit a single down the right field line. The next batter would single to put 2 Bulls on base. A passed ball to the next batter would move the runners into scoring position. Luke Drooger would bear down and get the next 2 Bull batters to strike out and then got an infield ground out to end the Bull’s scoring threat.
Nick Bruning would lead off for Hadley. Nick would send a high fly ball over the left field fence that hit the branches behind the fence and bounced back into the field. After the umpires discussed the play, Nick was awarded a double to the fans dismay. Danny Blankenship would then come up to bat and shot a line drive up the middle that just evaded the 2nd baseman. Nick Bruning raced home for 1-0 Hadley lead. Hadley would put another runner on base by a walk, but Hadley was unable to score anymore runs.
Jackson would tie the game in the 2nd. After getting a lead off out, Drooger would walk the next Bull batter, The runner would advance to 2nd on a passed ball. Drooger would strike out the next batter. Jackson would follow with a single to score the runner. The next batter would single to put runners at the corner. The runner from 1st would steal 2nd to out both runners in scoring position, but Drooger would get a routine fly ball to right field for the 3rd out.
Hadley would regain the lead in the 3rd. Nick Bruning would lead-off with a single. He would advance to 2nd on a stolen base, move to 3rd on a passed ball and come into score on a wild pitch to go up 2-1. The game stay that way until the 4th.
In the 4th, Chris Halbur would lead-off by reaching base after getting hit by a pitch. Chris would steal 2nd and then advance to 3rd on a fly ball out by Trent Carlson. Chris would come into to score on a sacrifice fly by Justin Benda for a 3-1 lead.
Hadley would score again in the 6th. After Chris Halbur grounded out, Trent Carlson would single. Carter Benda would come into pinch run for Carlson. On the first pitch, Carter would steal 2nd. He would move up to 3rd on an infield ground out and then come in to score on another Bull wild pitch for a 4-1 lead.
Jackson would add a run in the 7th. Hadley would make back-to back errors on pop fly balls misplayed in the wind to open the door for Jackson. Two infield ground outs would score 1 Bull runner to cut Hadley’s lead to 4-2. In Hadley’s at bat, they widened their lead. Max Zwart would lead-off with a single. Max would move to 2nd on a passed ball and then come into score on Kellan Johnson double down the left field line. After an Eric Wieneke strikeout, pinch-hitter Jacob Van Dam would earn a walk. Chris Halbur would single to score Johnson. Trent Carlson would single to load the bases. Denver Decker would come into pinch run for Trent. Justin Benda would walk to force in a run. Nick Bruning then would step up and hit another high fly ball that would come up short as it would be caught at the fence in left-center allowing Chris Halbur race home with Denver Decker advancing to 3rd. Decker would come into score on a Bull’s pitcher wild pitch. Danny Blankenship would hit a line drive out to 3rd base to end the Buttermaker scoring with Hadley on top at 9-2.
The game moved to the 8th. With 1 out, Jackson would get a hit off Drooger, A Buttermaker pitching change would be made with Max Zwart coming in for relief. Max would retire his 2 batters he faced to move to the bottom of the 8th. Hadley would load the bases but would fail to add to their lead.
Jackson tried to mount a comeback in the 9th. Jackson would get 2 hits and 2 walks off Max to score 1 run, but Max would get the final out on a strike out to end the game with the bases loaded with Bulls and a 9-3 Buttermaker victory.
Kellan Johnson would lead the Buttermaker hitting attack with 3 hits with 1 rbis. Nick Bruning and Max Zwart would collect 2 hits and 1 rbi each. Eric Wieneke, Trent Carlson, Danny Blankenship and Chris Halbur each picked up a hit. Danny Blankenship and Chris Halbur would be credited with 1 rbi each with Justin Benda getting credit for 2 rbis. Luke Drooger earned the win.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 9 11 2
Jackson 3 7 1
Sunday Game 3
A crowd of over 350 baseball fans attended the deciding Game 3 in the best 2 of 3 series to watch what turned out to be an exciting finish, as the Buttermakers came-from behind to edge the Bulls in a walk-off fashion to a victory 6-5. Here is the game recap:
Jackson came to play in the 1st inning as the lead-off batter would single off starter Jacob Van Dam, Van Dam started the Wednesday night game, so he was pitching on short rest. The next Bull batter would hit a sharp ground ball back to the mound. Van Dam would grab the ball as he was falling off the mound. Jacob would turn around to convert a 1-4-3 double-play. Jackson would get another single, but Van Dam would leave the runner on base. Hadley would go down in order in their at bat.
Jackson continued their attack in the 2nd. Jackson would get a lead-off double to start out. Van Dam would issue a walk. The next Bull batter would hit single to right field. Kellan Johnson would charge the ball, but he would overrun the ball as it rolled past him to the fence. Two Bull runners crossed the plate. Hadley would then commit another fielding error resulting in runners at the corner for Jackson. Van Dam would hit the next batter to load the bases. Jackson would get a sacrifice fly to bring in a run for a 3-0 lead. Van Dam would get a ground out to end the inning. Hadley would put 2 runners on base in the bottom of the 2nd but failed to push a run across the plate.
Van Dam would get into a groove and shut down the Bulls the next 3 innings. Hadley would get on the board in their at bat in the 3rd. With one out, Nick Bruning would get hit by a pitch. Danny Blankenship would hit a shot down the 3rd base line that would hit the bag for a single. Max Zwart would then hit a double to the gap in right center to score Bruning and Blankenship who would just beat the throw to the plate to pull to a 3-2 deficit.
Jackson would get to Van Dam again in the 6th. A lead -off double started the Bull attack. Van Dam would issue another walk. The next batter would double to score the 2 Bull runners and a 5-2 lead.
It looked like Hadley would break through in the 7th. The first 2 Buttermaker batters would fly out and line out to start off the inning. Trent Carlson would then single. Carter Benda would come into pinch run for Carlson. Justin Benda would follow with a single as Carter Benda challenged the Bull outfielder’s throw and slide into 3rd successfully. Nick Bruning would be intentionally walked to load the bases bringing Danny Blankenship to the plate. Danny wouldn’t let the fans down as he would single up the middle to score Carter Benda. Hot hitting Max Zwart stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded hoping to tie the game. Unfortunately for Hadley, Max would fly out to center field to end the Buttermaker threat with Hadley now down 5-3.
Both teams would go down in order in the 8th. In the 9th. Jacob Van Dam would record the first 2 outs before Jackson would get a single that dropped between Derek Kluis and Kellan Johnson in right field. Max Zwart would be brought in to finish the inning. After hitting the first batter he faced. Max would get the 3rd out on a foul ball that Chris Halbur was able to get to before it went out of play. It was rally tome for Hadley. Did they have enough left in the tank?
Jackson would get 2 quick ground outs to start the inning off. Things were not looking good for the Buttermakers and fans. With the game and season on the line, Justin Benda would come through with a single bringing Nick Bruning to the plate. Jackson would make a pitching change. With a 1-2 count, Nick would send a high fly ball that looked like it would go out, but it would come up short as it hit the top of the fence. Justin Benda would race home as Nick checked into 2nd base with a double. Denver Decker was brought into pinch run. Jackson would make another pitching change. Danny Blankenship would come through again as he would single up the middle as Denver Decker scored to tie the game. Max Zwart would come to bat and single to keep the line going. After a conference on the mound, it was decided to intentionally walk Kellan Johnson, to load the bases. The hopes fell for Hadley fell on rookie, Abe Paulzine to end the game. Abe would get 2 quick strikes before taking a pitch for a ball. Abe would then hit the next pitch just behind 2nd base. The Jackson 2nd baseman would have to race backward to catch the ball as he looked up into the high, sunny sky. The ball would hit off his chest and glove and drop to the ground as Danny Blankenship would cross the plate for a walk-off come-from behind thrilling 6-5 victory as the Buttermaker crowd went wild.
Danny Blankenship and Max Zwart led Hadley with 3 hits and 2 ribs each. Abe Paulzine would get credit for 2 hits and 1 rbi, Nick Bruning would get 1 hit and 1 RBI with Trent Carlson and Justin Benda rounding out the Buttermaker hit total with 1 hit each. Max Zwart would earn the victory.
Final Box Score
R H E
R H E Hadley 6 11 3
Jackson 5 7 0
Hadley will now face the Number 1 seed, Luverne Redbirds in the semi-final round. Game 1 will be Wednesday night in Luverne at 7:30. The series will return to Hadley on Saturday with a 2:00 start and back at Luverne on Sunday for Game 3 at 2:00, if needed.
CROSSWALK LAW: PSA
With the school year quickly approaching, and more people out walking in the fall weather, Murray County Medical Center wants to remind motorists of the Minnesota Crosswalk Law in order to keep all pedestrians in Murray County safe.
The Minnesota Crosswalk Law has some key highlights that are important for all drivers to remember, regardless of where they are traveling:
• Drivers MUST stop for crossing pedestrians at marked crosswalks and at ALL intersections without crosswalks or stop lights.
• Pedestrians must obey traffic signs and signals at all intersections that have them.
• Vehicles stopped for pedestrians can proceed once the pedestrian has completely crossed the traffic lane in front of the stopped vehicle.
• Pedestrians must NOT enter a crosswalk if a vehicle is approaching and it is impossible for the driver to stop. However, there is no defined distance that a pedestrian must abide by before entering a crosswalk-use common sense.
• When a vehicle is stopped at an intersection to allow pedestrians to cross the roadway, drivers of other vehicles approaching from the rear MUST NOT pass the stopped vehicle.
• Failure to obey the law is a misdemeanor. A second violation within one year is a gross misdemeanor.
Thank you for doing your part in stopping at crosswalks to keep the residents in Murray County safe!
