Hawks defeat Gussies, 8-7

By Troy Thielen, Asst. Coach
On Saturday, June 29, the Eden Valley Hawks defeated the St. Augusta Gussies 8-7 in a game where the only thing hotter than the temperature were the bats for both teams as they combined for 29 hits and 15 runs.
The Gussies jumped out to a big lead scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. The Gussies added another run in the top of the second. The Hawks responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to make the scored 5-4 in favor of the Gussies. The Gussies countered with three runs in the top of the fourth to stretch their lead to 7-3. In the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, the Hawks had bases loaded with 1 out and they failed to score a run each time, so it looked as though it was going to be a tough afternoon for them. But Pauly shut down the Gussies, not allowing any runs after the fourth inning, and the Hawks rallied late, scoring two runs in the seventh and then three runs in the eighth to take a one-run lead which would hold up the rest of the way.
A very dramatic moment in the sixth inning saw the Gussies with Michael Laudenbach on first base after reaching on a single with two outs. Matt Skaja crushed a double to right-center field that bounced off right fielder Matt Lies’ glove on a diving attempt. Center fielder David Pennertz then threw the ball and hit the cutoff, Austin Berg, who threw home for a play at the plate with Laudenbach being waved around, but it was a perfect throw, and Matt Unterberger applied the tag for the third out. So it was scored officially as a 9-8-4-2 putout.
The starting pitcher for the Hawks was Connor Holthaus. He pitched three innings and gave up 5 runs, 7 hits, 3 walks, and he had 3 strikeouts. Nick Pauly came in relief in fourth inning and threw the final six frames to earn the win. He allowed 2 runs, 1 of which was earned, 6 hits, 1 walk, and he had 4 strikeouts.
Leading the Hawks offensively for the day by going 3-5 were Austin Schlangen and Matthew Pennertz. Schlangen had 2 doubles, 1 single, and he scored 2 runs in 5 at-bats. Pennertz had 2 singles,
1 double, scored 1 run, and he had 1 RBI as well. Matt Unterberger was 2-for-4 with 2 singles, 2 runs scored, and he reached base after being hit by a pitch giving him an official 2-for-3 day. Matt Lies had 2 singles on the day and scored 1 run. Alex Geislinger had a single, scored 1 run, an RBI, and he reached on a fielder’s choice.
Stephen Pennertz was 2-for-4 with 2 singles and an RBI.
Austin Berg and David Pennertz also had one hit each. Travis Thielen reached base after being hit by a pitch as well.
The Gussies starting pitcher was Tyler Bautch and, in a workhorse-type effort, he pitched the entire game on a sweltering afternoon but was slapped with a loss being the pitcher of record. Bautch officially pitched 8 innings while allowing 8 runs (all earned), 13 hits, and he had 6 strikeouts. Bautch amazingly gave up no walks in the entire 8 innings.
The Gussies had five players with 2 hits each on the afternoon. Adam Gwost had a single, a homerun, and 2 RBI in six plate appearances. Marcus Lommel had 2 singles, 2 runs scored, 2 walks, and he had a stolen base too, giving him an official 2-for-4 on the day while reaching base 4 times in 6 plate appearances. Mitch Gowst had 2 singles, scored a run, walked once, and had a stolen base too. Tyler Bautch helped his own cause with 2 singles, 2 runs scored, and an RBI. Michael Laudenbach had 2 singles while going 2-for-4 on the day. Aaron Fruth had a single and sacrifice RBI. Dan Swan added in a single and two walks as well.