Defense gives Snowhawks victory over Zimmy’s All-Stars

Snowshoe baseball often times features a lot of runs scored. On Monday, the Snowhawks put many runs on the board while limiting their opponent to just two.

The Snowhawks defeated Zimmy’s All-Stars 19-2 at Snowshoe Park in Lake Tomahawk.

“They had 15 hits, somewhere around there anyway. For a powerhouse team like they are, I think we had four double plays on them and it just cut their momentum off,” player/coach Jeff Smith said. 

Cole Punches makes a catch at the left field line in a game against Zimmy’s All-Stars Monday, July 24 at Snowshoe Park in Lake Tomahawk. 
(Photo by Dean Hall/Lakeland Times)

Home runs were a theme for the Snowhawks. They had a total of two homers, one of them by Jesse Robinson.

Both teams were scoreless after two innings. In the third inning, the Snowhawks broke out for five runs. Robinson looked to have a home run, but it was called a double. Cole Punches drove the fifth run of the inning in.

Later, Robinson put the exclamation point on the win with a home run in the eighth inning. He hit a bomb over the center field fence. That was the Snowhawks’ 19th run of the game. 

Not only did Robinson have a home run and double, but he collected a triple and single to hit for the cycle.

“I’d give him the game ball if I had it,” Smith said.

Gunner Dunbar also had a home run, his over the right field fence. His came in the fourth inning.

“It seems like from the third inning on we scored in almost every inning, and they could not. Usually they keep up with you,” Smith said. “We had some timely home runs, Gunner hit a shot way off into right field over the fence, and Jesse hit a monster shot in center field that went over that little fence. It was a great effort by everyone, it really was.”

For awhile, it looked like Zimmy’s All-Stars were going to get shut out. They didn’t score their first run until the seventh inning. John Ottoson and Justin Mayer scored.

If not for a double play, Zimmy’s could have scored more runs.

“We were able to turn some real good double plays,” Smith said. “Our defense, credit them. Yeah it was a good night too, it was just beautiful out.”

Scott Johnson of Zimmy’s is unable to make a catch as Billy Kuckahn reaches first base of a 19-2 Snowhawks win Monday, July 24 at Snowshoe Park in Lake Tomahawk. 
(Photo by Dean Hall/Lakeland Times)

Zimmy’s had the hits, but couldn’t string enough together to score runs. The defense of the Snowhawks paid off in a big way. They turned four double plays in the game to take away Zimmy’s base runners.

“They might’ve had a double or two. They had a lot of nice drives to the outfield, but they were caught,” Smith said. “I think there was two diving catches and a couple long high drives that the guys caught up to and caught. Really the story was the infield. They hit balls to our infield. There was some really nice stops and flips to second and first.”

The Snowhawks found their offense late in the game. They scored a combined 10 runs in the sixth and seventh innings. 

“I think we just about (put the game away). I think we had it in the bag then. We could not get too careful. These guys can score runs too. They easily could get back-to-back five runs,” Smith said. “We did not let off the gas. These guys that we played last night are fast on shoes. It’s a great rivalry. We really like playing Zimmy’s team. But they want to win.”

Up next, the Snowhawks (5-0) take on Bucketheads Dazzle Demons on Monday, July 31 right back at Snowshoe Park in Lake Tomahawk. First pitch will be at 7:30 p.m.

“It was a great win, great confidence builder for us. Now we go into Dazzle’s, just like the Chicago guys. These guys are from Rhinelander and sponsored from Bucketheads. Great bunch of guys, they all hit, every one of them. This team hits a lot of balls to the opposite field. They scatter the ball around. We have to play them honest and hope for the best, hope to have a defensive game like we had last night. That was awesome.”

Brett LaBore may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].