June 30, 2017 at 1:26 p.m.
Newswatch 12 dethrones Lakeland Times in snowshoe baseball tilt
Newswatch 12 dethrones Lakeland Times in snowshoe baseball tilt
By By Ben Gauger-
The Lakeland Times team consisted of five Times staffers - Evan Verploegh, Emily Koester, Jessica Leighty, Abbey McEnroe and myself. Rounding out the team were freelance writer Daleth Mountjoy and Mark Spillane and Katie Thoreson of Newswatch 12, who were put on the Times team to even the numbers. Members of the Snowhawks - Donnie Moore, Ryan Schowalter, Eric Hilmer, Billy Kuckkahn, Derek Young and Nick Mercs - filled in the missing positions.
Although the Times' staffers were confidant in the wake of last year's 17-13 victory over Newswatch 12, this year's first at-bat was shaky as Verploegh flied out and Koester grounded out to start the game. However, three straight singles by myself, Leighty and Mountjoy put the newspaper team on the scoreboard 1-0.
The lead was short-lived however as Newswatch 12 put up four runs in their half of the first inning to steal the lead.
With the strongest part of the lineup up in the second, the Times team was able to close the gap with two runs from Thoreson and Moore.
Newswatch 12's offensive display continued, however, as they scored twice off Lane Kimble and Jeff Smith in the top of third to take a 6-3 lead.
A three-up, three-down third inning followed for the Times team, which struggled to find an offensive rhythm.
Channel 12 scored four straight runs in quick succession to open the fourth as Dakota Sherek, Geoff Weller, Katie Leszcynski and Todd Niemuth of the Snowhawks found pockets in the defense. A fifth run followed from Jeff Smith to retire the side with the score at 11-3 WJFW.
Returning to the plate, the Times staffers continued to struggle while Newswatch 12 seemed to make miraculous grabs in the outfield. However, the Times did pick up another run.
The Times' defense picked up in the fifth as Newswatch 12 was held to a single run, brought in by Ryan Sandberg, bringing the lead to 12-4.
The fifth go at the plate did not go much better for the Times as the newspaper staff was held to only a single by Thoreson.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams in that inning as Newswatch 12 went three-up, three-down in their turn at the plate.
The Times couldn't take advantage however, clocking a single by Kuckkahn and three flyouts while at-bat.
As the game entered its late stages, Newswatch 12 threw three more runs on the board courtesy of Gunnar Dunbar, Kimble and Smith to extend the lead to 15-4.
At the top of the order with Verploegh, the Times strung together two base hits - by Koester and Leighty - but Newswatch 12's defense again proved too strong.
Wanting to close out the game, Newswatch extended its lead with another run - their 16th of the game - by Snowhawks player Niemuth in the eighth.
Despite great hits by McEnroe, Spillane and Thoreson in the eighth, Newswatch 12 stopped the Times' attempt at a comeback with more stunning plays in the outfield.
Finally, after a solid defensive outing, the Times had one more chance to get back in the game.
Four of the first five Times' batters - Moore, Hilmer, Kuckkahn and Young - made contact to cut the lead to 16-8.
Unfortunately, the top of the order couldn't keep the momentum going. With two base runners and two outs, Leighty grounded out to end the game.
The Snowhawks will return to normal competition Monday, hosting Zimmy's All Stars at Snowshoe Park.
Comments:
You must login to comment.