Richland Center outlasts Legionaires in pair of games
The Wisconsin Dells Legion Branch 187 baseball team boosted its record over .500 for a third time this season with an impressive 5-4 win over New Lisbon on Tuesday, but came up just short in a slugfest doubleheader the following evening that saw teams combine for almost 50 runs on the night.
Wis. Dells 5 New Lisbon 4
In Tuesday's contest, coming off of a split with Baraboo in its previous pair, old rivals squared off in a game that came down to the final pitch.
The locals opened up a 2-0 first inning lead as Yacko reached with a one out triple and scored on a suicide squeeze by Phil Showers, then Matt Lagoda walked and scored on a Dillon Hess base hit.
Jalen Buss added a second inning run, reaching base on an infield base hit, then scoring on a Hans Helland two-bagger.
The lead was wiped out by a three run third for New Lisbon and teams were still even entering the fifth.
Back to back doubles by Lagoda and Hess, followed later by a Zach Zamzow base hit produced a couple of more runs for the locals and a lead it wouldn't surrender.
Dillon Hess pitched the first five innings of the contest, newcomer Josh Ingersol taking over in the sixth. the pair combined on a seven-hit victory.
The following night, actually looked like it might be a pitcher's duel for a while, as the guest Richland Center squad scored once in the first and added another in the fourth to hold a 2-0 cushion.
After managing just three hits and not getting a runner past second base in the first four frames, the locals exploded for seven in the fifth. Richland Center scored three in their half to make it a 7-5 game, but the Dells' crew went right back to work with a pair in the sixth and owned a 9-8 lead as Richland Center came up for its final turn. A walk, single, error and triple later and the guests had stolen the opening contest.
Big hits for the Dells' crew included consecutive doubles by Jordan Holverson (his second of the game), Kalen Mace and Matt Lagoda in the fifth inning.
The second half of the twinbill saw the Dells fighting back all game as Richland Center opened up an 8-2 first inning lead and was up 14-6 heading to the fifth.
A four run fifth and three more in the sixth had the locals right back in it, but Richland Center actually got a rare three-up-three-down frame in the seventh to wrap it up.
Offensively, Mace enjoyed a huge night, launching a two-run triple in the first inning and later adding a couple of doubles. Phil Showers picked up a double and single and Zamzow knocked out three base hits, including one that didn't leave the infield.