By: Mark Zinnel
Buttermaker Reporter
Things did not go the way the Buttermakers had hoped when they faced the Cologne Hollanders in the opening round of the State Amateur Baseball Tournament. It was the old guard taking on the new kids on the block. This was Hadley’s fifth straight appearance in the State Tournament, whereas, this was Cologne’s first appearance back in the tournament in 47 years. The game was a close, hard fought game throughout the first six innings. Hadley pitchers gave up four walks to Cologne. As the baseball saying goes, “Walks will Haunt” couldn’t be truer as three of the Hollander walks came around to score. Two costly errors committed by the Buttermakers in the late innings also contributed to the 5-2 loss on their run for a state title. Here is the game recap.
In Delano
Sam Erickson was named the starter for Hadley to face Cologne. It looked from the start that things were not going to go Hadley’s way. The Cologne lead-off batter hit a short fly ball behind second base. Shortstop Derek Platt, center-fielder Justin Benda and left-fielder Kellan Johnson converged on the ball. The ball hit Justin Benda’s glove and dropped in as the runner checked in at second base. Sam Erickson would bear down and get the next three batters out, leaving the Cologne runner stranded at third base. In Hadley’s at bat in the first, Joe Larson reached base after getting hit by a pitch, but Hadley could not move Joe around.
In the second, Erickson walked the lead-off batter. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner up a base. Sam got a fly ball out for the second out. Cologne got a single by the next batter to score the first run of the game as he checked into second on the throw to the plate. The next batter singled to left field. The return throw was to the infield to Derek Platt. Derek turned and threw the ball to Eric Wieneke at second base to tag out the Cologne runner that had slipped rounding the bag for the third out. In Hadley’s at bat in the second, Blake Rogers hit a fly ball to deep right-center field that the Cologne outfielder would get to and catch at the fence for the second out of the inning. Hadley loaded the bases on singles by Trent Carlson and Justin Benda and a walk to Kellan Johnson. Derek Platt stepped up with the hopes of Hadley tying or taking the lead. The Cologne starter was able to strike him out to end the Buttermaker threat.
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