WSL Recap: 6/27

The Wisconsin State League began its 50th season on Saturday. Here is a look at how the teams’ fared in the first WSL contests of the season. 

Game One: West Allis 6, Burlington 4
Game Two: West Allis 4, Burlington 2

The visiting West Allis Nationals swept the home team by scores of 6-4 and 4-2 Saturday at Beaumont Field in Burlington.

In game one, Burlington’s effort to come back from down five runs in the sixth inning came up just short. West Allis jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, a lead they would never relinquish despite 12 strikeouts from the Barons’ pitching staff. Kyle Gendron took the loss for Burlington. He went five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out nine. Wilson Belknapp took the win for West Allis, surrendering one run on two hits over three innings, walking zero. Antonio Valadez threw four innings in relief out of the bullpen.

@kylegendron3 with strike 1 of the 2020 season! pic.twitter.com/R4rW7LVGkz— Burlington Barons (@BurBarons) June 28, 2020

Game two saw more high strikeout performances by the teams’ pitching staffs. The fifth inning proved to be the difference as the Nationals plated three of their four runs. Jason Adams led the way with two hits for the home squad, while Kyle Bullock was the only National to get a hit, recording a single and 3-run home run to lead the visitors offensively. 

Barons fall in game 2 to West Allis 4-2. Jason Adam’s lead the way going 2-3. RBIs by @brady_nowicki24 and @TJ_Manteufel— Burlington Barons (@BurBarons) June 28, 2020

Stats: Game One | Game Two

Game One: Greater Green Bay 3, Addison 1
Game Two: Addison 5, Greater Green Bay 4

After defeating Hortonville 9-2 in an exhibition game on Friday night, the Greater Green Bay Blue Ribbons kicked off their Wisconsin State Leauge season on Saturday in Addison, Illinois, splitting a doubleheader with the Addison Braves, winning game one, 3-1, before falling in game two by a score of 5-4.

Greater Green Bay jumped on top in the first inning of game one, when second baseman Matt Bald collected a two-out single, then came around to score on a double by first baseman Sam Kohnle.

Addison responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the first and the game would remain tied until the seventh inning, when the Ribbons took the lead thanks to three Braves’ errors.

Following a walk to catcher Lane Sobieski, right fielder Yuta Kudo drew a bases loaded walk to force in Bald from third to tack on an insurance run, and the Green Bay bullpen closed things out from there, preserving the victory.

Starting pitcher Mitchell Bendickson went five innings without allowing an earned run, while Kohnle doubled and walked and Bald scored a pair of runs to pace the offense.

Name	AB	R	H	RBI
Griffin Summers SS	4	1	0	0
Jacob Lacy DH	4	0	0	0
Matt Bald 2B	4	2	1	0
Sam Kohnle 1B	3	0	1	1
Lane Sobieski C	2	0	0	0
Yuta Kudo RF	2	0	0	1
Jake Fietz LF	4	0	0	0
Ethan Habetler 3B	2	0	0	0
Luke Gajewski CF	3	0	1	0

2B: Kohnle, BB: Kohnle, Sobieski, Kudo (2), Habelter, HBP: Sobieski, Habelter, SB: Gajewski

Name	IP	H	R	ER	SO	BB
Mitchell Bendickson	5.0	5	1	0	2	2
Peterson	2.0	1	0	0	2	2

In game two, the Ribbons again jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jake Fietz stepped to the plate and delivered a triple to center, clearing the bases and putting the Blue Ribbons on top, 3-0.

Addison answered right back with three runs in their half of the first, despite not recording a hit against starter Lucas Frutig, who was making his Ribbons debut.

Greater Green Bay picked up a run in the third, when Bald was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With two outs, Fietz came up clutch again, ripping a double to center that scored Bald to make it 4-3.

The Braves came right back again however, tying the game with a run in the third, before taking the lead with another run in the fourth.

The Blue Ribbons had their chances to come back, and they loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but they were unable to push a run across, as they were forced to settle for a split.

Name	AB	R	H	RBI
Griffin Summers SS	3	0	2	0
Jacob Lacy DH	4	0	0	0
Matt Bald 2B	3	2	2	0
Sam Kohnle 1B	3	1	0	0
Yuta Kudo RF	2	1	0	0
Jake Fietz LF	3	0	2	4
Jayden Adrians 3B	4	0	0	0
Hunter Petzka C	3	0	0	0
Tyler Blum CF	3	0	1	0

2B: Fietz, 3B: Fietz, BB: Kohnle, Kudo (2), HBP: Fietz, Blad, Summers, SB: Kohnle

Name	IP	H	R	ER	SO	BB
Lucas Frutig	2.0	0	4	4	0	7
Luke Gajewski	4.0	2	1	1	2	2

Stats: Game One | Game Two

Game recap courtesy of the Green Bay Blue Ribbons.