By: Nick Witwer
GREEN BAY, WI – The Green Bay Blue Ribbons kicked off NEWBL play Tuesday night at Joannes Stadium against the Appleton Legends. Four different pitchers, lead by starter Matt Perry, didn’t allow a single hit and struck out 15 batters in total as the Blue Ribbons took an easy 7-2 win.
Appleton, despite not getting any hits, took an early lead in the top of the first as a walk followed by a couple errors allowed the Legends to get 2 runs across the plate. The lead wouldn’t last for long as the Green Bay bats answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs including a 2-run shot to right field from Ribbons first baseman, James Bornick.
The starting pitchers from both teams would appear to then settle in as another run wouldn’t cross the plate until the bottom of the fourth inning. Blue Ribbons left fielder, Garrett Foth, would get things started after reaching base on a dropped third strike. A single from Noah Robinson would move Foth to second and an attempt to steal third would lead to an error from the Legends catcher which allowed Foth to score and Robinson to advance to third base.Another hit from Bornick would plate a second run in the inning giving the Ribbons a 6-2 lead through four innings.
In the 7th inning, the Blue Ribbons would grab another run as the inning started off on a long single from Bornick for his third hit of the night. A walk and a hit by pitch would load the bases for longtime team veteran, Griffin Summers, who would beat out a double play ball, allowing Bornick to score.
Liam Jones would end the game on the mound for the Blue Ribbons and made quick work of the Legends hitters in the 9th recording two strikeouts in the inning including in the final at bat to confirm the 7-2 win.
For the Blue Ribbons hitters, James Bornick, as mentioned, had a big game going 3-4 with a homerun and two rbis. Ethan Habetler would reach base three times, twice on a walk and once on a single.
On the mound, starting pitcher Matt Perry went 4.2 innings strikeout six batters, walk two, and give up two unearned runs. Owen Deprez pitched in relief for 2.1 innings and struck out five batters. Connor Medvecz and Liam Jones would both pitch 1 full inning striking out two batters each.
The Blue Ribbons are now two for two on the year at Joannes. They will continue NEWBL play Wednesday night at home against the Menasha Macs with first pitch scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
