Fireworks in Lake Tomahawk on the Fourth of July

The Lake Tomahawk Snowhawks beat the Chicago All-Stars for the second straight year, a traditional matchup on the Fourth of July.

While last year’s win was still a close game, 22-19, this year’s game ended on a come-from-behind walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. 

“Couldn’t have scripted it any better,” player coach Jeff Smith said. “It’s one of those things where they walked our (eighth batter Gunner Dunbar because) he had hit some long shots before, and they pitched to our rookie Ryan (Morien). And Ryan got a good pitch and put it into center field.”

The All-Stars made “kind of an off throw to home base” and missed the tag for the out, he added. 

“It was a great game, it was so close,” Smith said.

The All-Stars got out to a quick lead at the start of the game, with their lead-off batter Tommy Walsh scoring in the first inning, five consecutive runs scored in the bottom of their batting lineup in the second inning and then a Mattie Richard home-run in the third inning. 

“We were down in the beginning 7-0, but little by little, we came back and we held them to only four runs after that (second inning),” Smith said. 

    Jesse Robinson sprints to second base during a snowshoe baseball game between the Lake Tomahawk Snowhawks and the Chicago All-Stars Thursday, July 4 in Lake Tomahawk. (Trevor Greene/Lakeland Times)
  

The Snowhawks had a strong third and fourth inning, scoring a total of seven runs to tie it up 7-7 heading into the fifth. 

The tie didn’t last too long though. In the sixth inning the All-Stars jumped back out to a three run lead. 

However, Smith said the Snowhawks continued to claw their way back.

“We knew we were against a really good defensive team,” he said. “So some of these shots that we took through the middle or down the lines normally go for base hits, but last night it wasn’t going to happen. They’re just too good of a defensive team. And we know we just had to keep swinging, just keep doing what we had to do.”

Smith said the Snowhawks attitude remained positive throughout.

Players can’t start feeling sorry for themselves, he said, because otherwise those feelings can start to “dictate the game.”

The Snowhawks racked up a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth innings and held the All-Stars from scoring anymore until the top of the ninth when they reached 11 runs.

While the Snowhawks pulled off the unexpected in the bottom of the ninth with their offense, Smith indicated it was their defense that really put them in position to win. 

“Our defense, outfield, never missed a ball last night,” he said. “They caught line-drives on the run, long fly-balls on the run. I believe there was only one ball that was hit over our heads … and there was really nothing we could do about that. But our defense was awesome … we couldn’t of played any better really.”

The All-Stars are a very disciplined team that can hit the ball hard, Smith said. 

With the thrilling victory this year, and the win last year, the Snowhawks may have turned the tide after losing to the All-Stars every Fourth of July since 2014.

But Smith said he isn’t worrying about what happens next year yet. He’s still going to enjoy this one for a while.

“We’re just happy that we came through with this win … yeah it would be nice to get three in a row, but we know we’re not getting any younger and they are,” he said. “They got guys coming up from parents that have played ball all their life and they are in a really good position right now (for the future). They’re a good team.”

Smith also took a moment to recognize the fans who showed up in droves to pack Snowshoe Park. They got their money’s worth last night, he said. 

“The atmosphere was electric,” Smith said. “The fans were awesome. We got some really, really good fans that show up every single week and without them it doesn’t make the game that much fun. Our hats off to them.”

Smith reminisced on a “Go Snowhawks” chant from the fans in the ninth inning.

“That kind of got us going, too,” he said. “So there’s definitely something to be said about home-field advantage.”

The Snowhawks recorded their fourth win and were undefeated as of press time on Friday, July 5. 

See the Friday, July 12 edition of the River News for coverage of their game against the Lake Tom Tap House last night. 

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].