Baraboo falls in two-day game

By Travis Houslet - Capital Newspapers

PORTAGE — It took a game that spanned over two days, but Portage finally got its first Badger North Conference victory of the season.

In a game that was suspended because of weather on Tuesday in the bottom of the first inning, the Warriors got a complete-game pitching performance from Anthony Bortz and made their 5-1 lead from the previous day hold up on their way to a 8-1 victory over Baraboo at Bidwell Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The only run scored against Bortz came in the first inning Tuesday on an RBI single by Nick Labeots. The Portage righty was in complete control the rest of the way. He at one time retired eight in a row and finished with just two walks and struck out four.

Bortz's most impressive frame was an eight-pitch third inning, when he retired Jon Schlender on a first-pitch ground out, struck out Cody Hollway on four pitches and punched out Mark Kowalke on three straight strikes.

"He just came out and could throw strikes for us tonight," said Portage infielder Wes Doleshaw of Bortz. "He had been struggling with his command a little bit, but came out, threw hard and had control of his pitches tonight."

The Warriors took control of the game before Tuesday's storm blew over Bidwell Field. Portage scored five times in the bottom of the first inning. A pair of walks, a Baraboo error and four Portage hits added up to equal a big inning for the Warriors. A two-run double by Kodi Schroeder made it 3-1, and Portage padded its first-inning lead with a run-scoring double by Bortz and an RBI single by Ryan Voelker.

Portage head coach Mike Hemming said it was big for his team get an early lead after the Thunderbirds went up 1-0 in the top half of the inning.

"It was huge from the standpoint that we got two runs right away, and then I thought we really kept the bats going. We weren't going to just settle for two runs," Hemming said. "With two outs we had a couple guys really battle some pitches and we had another double and a single. I thought that was important. We haven't been that team, where we just have that fire to keep getting as many as we can. That definitely was huge, because everybody contributed in that inning."

With a 5-1 lead entering play on Wednesday, the Warriors turned to their defense to keep Baraboo from putting together a rally. Leading the defensive effort for Portage was Doleshaw, who was perfect in six fielding opportunities in the game. He also helped the Warriors turn an odd sort of double play.

With one out in the fourth inning, Baraboo's Jake Overlien hit a double down the left-field line. Sam Seymour followed with a routine fly to Will Clark in center field for the second out. Clark's throw back to the infield went to Doleshaw, who caught Overlien napping off second base and snuck in behind him to apply the tag for the third out of the inning.

"I was kind of watching. We had been watching all game. We have been trying to do it all year actually," Doleshaw said of the double play. "The ball was hit to Will. I was waiting for the cut to third. I just picked it up. The kid must have been looking for the sign at third and just kind of stepped off the base."

Baraboo made another base-running blunder in the fifth inning when Rob Schultz led off with a base hit to the gap in left-center. Portage left-fielder Brad Johnson hustled to the ball and threw a strike to second baseman Ethan Greene to easily get Schultz, who was trying to stretch his hit into a double.

"We made some mistakes on the bases, and that should never have happened," said Baraboo head coach Chris Labeots after the game.

Portage's Scott Gessner walked in each of his first three plate appearances and ended up scoring each time. After a leadoff walk in the third, Gessner moved to second on another walk and to third on a sacrifice bunt by Johnson, then came home on a passed ball. Gessner again walked to lead off the fifth inning, moved to second on a single by Voelker, stole third base and was able to come home on a ground out by Johnson.

Portage's eighth and final run was scored by Doleshaw, who led off the sixth with a double and eventually came home on a sacrifice fly by Kody Kanas.

After the game, the Warriors (3-10 overall, 1-7 in conference) felt relieved to finally get a Badger North Conference victory.

"That's huge. Our first conference win. It's unbelievable," said Bortz.

"It's awesome to get that first win under our belt in conference," added Doleshaw. "Hopefully it will get the train rolling for us and get us on a roll here."

The Thunderbirds (7-6, 2-5) on the other hand, are looking to put the loss behind them and finish strong the rest of the regular season.

"We got four games coming up next week," coach Labeots said. "It would be nice to put a little run together going into the playoffs. We would like to see the guys get a little more focused and a little more consistent."

The T-Birds start a four-game home stand Tuesday, when they face Waunakee.

Portage 8, Baraboo 1

Baraboo 100 000 0 — 1 7 1

Portage 501 011 x — 8 8 1

Pitchers — Olson (L), Overlien (1); Bortz (W). SO leaders — Bortz 4, Overlien 5.

Leading hitters — Schultz (B) 2x2, Overlien (B) 2x3; Schroeder (P) 3x4, Voelker (B) 2x2. 2B — Overlien, Doleshaw (P), Schroeder, Bortz (P), Johnson (P).