Baraboo stops 5-game slide
By Andy Davis - News Republic
They probably didn't have the game circled on the schedule as a must-win before the season started, but a 9-3 win over Richland Center at Mary Rountree Field on Wednesday might have been just what the doctor ordered to help the Baraboo American Legion baseball team break out of an early-season funk. The Bandits had lost five straight after winning their season opener against Reedsburg and were struggling in several areas — especially on defense. Wednesday's game was a vast improvement. "I think that picking up a win is really going to be good for these guys," Schlender said. "We talked about being ready to play and coming out and having a good infield-outfield, and it was a completely different group. It's really good to get a win under the belt." Baraboo took the upper hand early in the game, scoring four runs in the first inning. Richland Center came back with two runs in the second and another run in the fifth to make it a one-run game, but then a five-run fifth inning for Baraboo put the game out of reach. Cody Holloway provided a lift for the team with an excellent pitching performance. Holloway tossed the first six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and three walks. He struck out six. "He did a real good job," Schlender said. "He kept it around the plate and he did a lot more than we expected him to, because he hadn't thrown much. "He was biting at the bit to get back out there, but he was at 108 pitches." Ethan Dosier came in for the seventh inning and allowed one hit while striking out two. Leadoff hitter Jon Schlender started things off right for Baraboo in its first trip to the plate. Schlender fouled off several pitches to earn a walk, then got to third on a well-executed hit and run with Luke McGann at the plate. A fly ball to center by Nick Labeots scored Schlender, and Sam Seymour and Brady Olson both followed with hits. Seymour's double drove in McGann, then Seymour scored on a balk and Olson came in on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. For the next three innings, the Bandits' bats went cold, as Jon Schlender's bunt single was the only hit during that time. But Baraboo got back into the swing of things after Richland Center made it a one-run game in the fifth. Labeots reached on a walk, and a perfect bunt down the third-base line by the not-so-speedy Seymour put runners on first and second with no outs. A bunt by Brady Olson loaded the bases when the throw to try and get the lead runner, Labeots, was off target, and the Bandits were in business. A one-out single by Robbie Schultz scored Labeots, and a walk earned by Dylan Luther added another run. With two outs, Jon Schlender slapped a single to left field, and Luther came in later on a wild pitch to make it 9-3. Coach Schlender said he was pleased with the approach and patience of his team at the plate. The Bandits drew seven walks in the game, and three of those free passes turned into runs. "We had a talk after (Tuesday) night's game about approach," Craig Schlender said. "The guys did a nice job of that. They also did a nice job with the bunts and hit-and-runs." Jon Schlender, Seymour and Olson each had two hits apiece for Baraboo, which had eight hits as a team. The Bandits showed improvement on defense as well, but they still made four errors — leading to two unearned runs. Baraboo faces Portage in a 7 p.m. home game tonight. Richland Center 020 010 0 — 3 6 0 Baraboo 400 050 x — 9 8 4 Pitching: RC — Clements, Veith (4), Wilson (5); B — Holloway, Dosier (7). Hitting: RC — Clements 2-3, Tyler 2B; B — Schlender 2-2, Seymour 2-3 2B, Olson 2-3.