By Mark Zinnel- Buttermaker Reporter
Hadley would begin another winning streak after losing 3 of their last 4 games. Hadley would go 2-1 for the week. Here is the week’s games recap:
Wednesday vs. Marshall
The Buttermakers traveled to Marshall to take on the A’s in an exhibition game. It was a mix of old and new Buttermakers players in hopes of getting back on a winning streak. Hadley has always struggled when facing the Marshall A’s. Would tonight be the night? Rookie, Derek Kluis was given the ball to start on the hill for Hadley.
Hadley would get a run on the board in the 1st inning. With 1 out, Jaden Deacon would earn a walk and advance to 2nd on a stolen base. With 2 outs, Alex Petersen would single to score Jaden but would get thrown out at 1st after taking a wide turn at 1st as the throw came towards the plate. Marshal would put 2 runners on base in their at bat on a walk and a single but Derek Kluis would get out of the inning, keeping the A’s scoreless and a 1-0 Hadley lead.
Hadley would go down in order in the 2nd. Derek Kluis would give up 3 hits and a walk in the 2nd as Marshall took the lead at 3-1. Hadley was shut down on order in the 3rd. Marshall would continue their hitting in their next at bat. Derek Kluis would give up 3 more hits and a Buttermaker error would result in a pitching change. Trent Carlson would be brought in to relieve Kluis. After giving up 2 more hits in the inning would end with Marshall increasing the lead to 8-1.
Hadley would pick up one hit in each inning 4-6 but were unable to bring runners around. Marshall would add a run on the 6th off Carlson thanks to two Buttermaker errors to go up 9-1. Jacob Van Dam was brought in for relief.
Hadley would get back on the board in the 7th. With 1 out, Avery Weber would reach on a Marshall error. Derek Kluis would fly out for the 2nd out. Abe Paulzine would single to put runner at the corner. Cater Benda would then get an infield single to score Weber to close to 9-2. Marshall would add a run on the 8th to go back ahead 10-2.
Hadley would put a mild threat in the 9th. After a lead-off out, Hadley would load the bases on a walk, single and hit batter. Carter Benda would step up hit a sacrifice fly to score a run. Jacob Van Dam would work a walk to reload the bases, but Jaden Deacon would ground out to end the game and a Hadley 10-3 loss.
Alex Petersen and Abe Paulzine would lead Hadley in the hitting department with 2 hits each. Jaden Deacon, Derek Kluis and Carter Benda each picked up a hit. Carter Benda was credited with 2 rbis and Alex Petersen would get 1 rbi. Derek Kluis was charged with the loss.
R H E
Hadley 3 7 5
Marshall 10 14 2
Sunday vs Ruthton Game 1 HADLEY 8 RUTHTON 3 7 INNINGS
The young Ruthton Royals visited Hadley to take on the Buttermakers on a hot July 4th afternoon. Jacob Van Dam was given the start to slow down the improving Royal team. Both starting pitchers held each team scoreless in the early innings as the game moved along quickly. Hadley would score first in the game when Joe Larson would double in the 3rd and come around to score on a 2-out single from Max Zwart. Hadley would increase their lead to 6-0 in the 4th. The big hit in the inning coming from Joe Larson when he hit bases loaded double to clear the bases.
Jacob Van Dam would limit the Royal to just 1 hit through the first 4 innings. Ruthton would get on the board in the 5th. With 1 out, Jacob Van Dam would walk a Royal batter. Hadley would commit a fielding error trying to turn a double play. With 2 runners on base, Ruthton would pick up a single to load the bases. Jacob Van Dam would walk in a run. Hadley would get out of the inning on an inning ending double play. Hadley would counter with 2 runs of their own on the bottom of the inning after loading the bases, Joe Larson would single to bring in two runners to go up 8-1.
Ruthton would mount a small rally in the 7th, when they would score 2 runs on a Buttermaker error and 2 hits to close the lead to 8-3, but that would be all they could do as the game ended on an infield pop out.
Joe Larson led the way at the plate for the Buttermakers. Joe would go 4-4 and drive in 5 runs. Alex Petersen would get 2 hits with Justin Benda, Nick Bruning, Max Zwart and Carter Benda each picking up 1 hit. Justin Benda and Max Zwart would each pick up 1 rbi. Jacob Van Dam would go the distance on the mound to pick up the win.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 8 11 3
Ruthton 3 5 1
Game 2 vs Adrian HADLEY 7 ADRIAN 5 7 INNINGS
The Adrian A’s were the Buttermakers’ opponent for Game 2. The A’s came to Hadley hungry for an upset. Things ooked like the A’s might succeed in he early portion of the game. Jacob Van Dam started on the mound in Game 2 for Hadley.
Adrian got off to a fast start. Jacob Van Dam would walk the lead-off batter. The runner would steal both 2nd and 3rd base and come around to score on a double. A Buttermaker error would allow another run to score for an Adrian 2-0 lead. Hadley came to bat in the 1st and cut the lead in half on a Nick Bruning solo homerun.
In the 2nd, Jacob Van Dam would walk the first two A’s runners causing a Buttermaker pitching change. Avery Weber was brought in to relieve Van Dam. A sacrifice bunt would move the runners into scoring position. A sacrifice fly would bring in a run. Avery would walk 2 A’s batters to reload the bases. Avery would get a line out to Max Zwart at 1st base to get the final out and leave the bases loaded with A’s runners and only a 3-1 Adrian lead.
It looked like Hadley would get on the board again in the 4th inning after Max Zwart would lead-off with a double; Hadley’s only2nd hit of the game. Max would advance to 3rd on a wild pitch, but Hadley was unable to bring Max in.
Adrian would get a 2-run homerun off Weber in the 5th to increase their lead to 5-1. Hadley would get serious in the bottom of the 5th. Derek Kluis would lead off the inning by singling. Carter Benda would follow by working out a walk. Adrian would make a pitching change. Joe Larson would single to bring in Kluis. Carter Benda would run through the stop sign as he rounded 3rd base trying to score and was tagged out in a run down as Joe Larson advanced to 2nd base. Justin Benda would double to score Joe. Nick Bruning would walk to put 2 Buttermakers on base. Max Zwart would then hit a fly ball down the right field line. With the bases now loaded, the excitement in the park swelled. Danny Blankenship would step up but would strike out for the 2nd out. Things were beginning to look like Adrian would survive the Buttermaker rally. Alex Petersen would step up and single bringing in Justin Benda and Nick Bruning. Trent Carlson then would single to right as Max Zwart and Alex Petersen would score. Adrian would make a 2nd pitching change. Derek Kluis would get his 2nd hit in the inning to put 2 Buttermakers on base, but Carter Benda would strike out to end the scoring with Hadley now in the lead at 7-5.
Max Zwart would come in to take over from Avery Weber. Max would get the job done as he would strike out 5 of the 7 A’s batters he faced to preserve the Buttermaker come-frombehind victory.
Max Zwart and Derek Kluis led Hadley with 2 hits each. Joe Larson, Justin Benda, Nick Bruning, Alex Petersen and Trent Carlson all would get 1 hit. Trent Carlson and Alex Petersen had 2 bis each. Joe Larson, Justin Benda and Nick Bruning each had 1 rbi. Avery Weber earned the victory with Max Zwart picking up a save.
Final Box Score
R H E
Hadley 7 9 2
Adrian 5 5 1
Hadley will have a busy week with baseball games. Wednesday night they travel to St. James to take on the Mountain Lake Lakers. Heron Lake will visit Hadley on Saturday in a make-up game from earlier in the season. Game time is set for 2:00 pm. On Sunday, Hadley will have a double header. Game 1 brings Gopher League rival, Milroy Irish to Laurie Mahon Memorial Field and conclude the day when they entertain Castlewood, SD in an exhibition game. Game times are set for 2:00 and 5:00 pm.
