August 17, 2022 at 2:12 p.m.
Snowhawks slug past WPS Local 420
Snowhawks slug past WPS Local 420
By Brett LaBore-
The Snowhawks beat WPS Local 420 27-11, the most runs they have scored this season.
"I don't know how that exactly happened. We only had nine guys. We had a bunch of guys out with injuries. For whatever reason, this nine really clicked and it was a lot of fun," coach Jeff Smith said. "Lot of shots through the infield, lot of line drives through their infield. It was a blast, nice to finally put it all together."
WPS started off strong as Brandon Schindler hit a two-run single to left to give WPS a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, Brent Cella gave the Snowhawks their first lead of the game. He hit a ball to deep center that got by everyone and rolled to the wall. It ended up being an easy three-run inside-the-park home run for Cella.
The Snowhawks scored the maximum five runs and led 5-3 after one.
Taylor Anderson reached on an error in the second inning to give WPS their fourth run of the game. They cut the lead to one. That would be as close as the score would get.
"Looking at their size and I thought 'we got our work cut out for us tonight.' After the first inning, a lot of shots didn't get through," Smith said. "The ball didn't land in places that would've drove in runs. Otherwise, I think it would've been a lot closer. They had guys on base quite a bit, but they had trouble reaching the plate."
The runs kept scoring in the second inning. Cole Punches hit an RBI single to shallow second base. Then, Billy Kuckahn hit an RBI double to deep right to bring in the fourth run of the inning. Kuckahn had a big game, reaching base six times including three doubles.
"I had (Billy) in the number five spot cause he's been batting better and better every week," Smith said. "His swing is better, got a little more drive to it. He got the game ball last night, he did a great job. Our hats off to him, couldn't happen to a nicer guy."
WPS went scoreless in the third. Meanwhile, the Snowhawks kept their bats going in the third. Nick Piterle reached on an infield single to score a run. With the bases loaded, Todd Niemuth hit an RBI single to shallow right.
Once again, the Snowhawks scored the maximum five runs when Kuckahn drove in a run on a ball that went through the second baseman's legs.
The Snowhawks held a commanding 14-4 lead after three innings.
In the top of the fifth, WPS had their best inning. The first four runners of the inning reached base, capped off by a two-run single to shallow center by Joe Utecht.
Later in the inning, Tyler Beran hit an RBI double deflected by shortstop Don Moore to score a run. Schindler scored the maximum five runs when he brought home two with a single to left.
All of a sudden it was a five-run game. The Snowhawks still led 14-9 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
The Snowhawks got two runs back with a sacrifice fly RBI from Punches and another RBI from Kuckahn. They led 16-9.
"(Their pitcher) started throwing some low ones, trying to get us to pop up and guys waited on it. That was the key. (He had some) pitches with higher arc, but they wouldn't hit the plate," Smith said. "That was the key, those lower pitches."
Two drops proved costly in the bottom of the sixth. Punches hit a ball to left field that was unable to be caught, driving in a run with two outs. Next up, Kuckahn hit a fly ball to right field, dropped again. Two runs came home to score.
"Some of those balls that would've been caught would've stopped the drive... instead we got on base. Whenever errors occur like that when you're up against a team hitting the ball ok it's a double whammy, it knocks you out," Smith said. "Should've been some inning outs, but it prolonged the inning and allowed us to score more."
Luke Minnema drove in a run for WPS with a single to left in the seventh. Moore made two slick plays in the field to get the final two outs.
Another play ended up costing WPS in the eighth. On what should have been the third and final out, an indecisive play by WPS kept the inning alive.
The Snowhawks proceeded to score five straight runs including four straight RBI singles.
Up next, the Snowhawks (6-2) take on Pukall Lumber Studs Monday Aug. 22, a make-up game from July 18. The game is set to start at 7:30 p.m. right back at Snowshoe Park in Lake Tomahawk.
Brett LaBore may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].
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