By: Nick Witwer
GREEN BAY, WI – The Green Bay Blue Ribbons were back in action at Joannes Stadium Wednesday night, just one day removed from a historical no-hitter performance. In a wild back-and-forth game that saw 15 total runs, 21 total hits, and 7 errors, the Blue Ribbons held on for the win over the Menasha Macs to remain perfect at home in 2023.
In the first inning, Ribbons starting pitcher, Isaiah Grimm would get the first batter he faced to ground out to second base before giving up back-to-back singles followed by a walk. With the bases loaded, Menasha would get on the scoreboard first as a wild pitch from Grimm would allow the runner from third to cross the plate.
The Blue Ribbons would answer back in the bottom of the third as center fielder Tyler Blum got things started with a lead-off triple. The next batter, Landon Lozier, would draw a walk leaving runners on the corners with no outs. A wild pitch followed by an errant throw would allow Blum to score and Lozier to advance to third. Lozier would then cross the plate on a ground out to second base as the Blue Ribbons take their first lead of the night.
In the fourth inning, Menasha would tie the game on back-to-back singles and an error in the outfield. The game wouldn’t stay tied for long as a handful of errors worked in Green Bay’s favor. Both Quinn Falish and Griffin Summers would get on base due to poor defensive play from the Macs. Another error in the inning, this one a throwing error from the shortstop, would allow Falish to score breaking the tie. The Blue Ribbons would then add an insurance run after a wild pitch moved Summers to third and a fielder’s choice brought him home.
In the fifth inning, the game took quite the turn as the Macs tied the game on three straight hits, including a bases-clearing triple. One hit by pitch, a walk, and a couple of errors would then allow Menasha to add two more runs taking a 6-4 lead. Not to be outdone, the Blue Ribbons hitters didn’t shy away from the fight as a lead-off triple from Brendan Willadsen got things going for Green Bay. Another wild pitch allowed for Willadsen to score and a throwing error put Matt Perry on base safely. Two singles later, Perry scores, and the game was all tied up once more.
Menasha would again regain the lead in the following inning scoring one run off of a double and a single. Once, yet again, Green Bay would respond in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff hit by pitch would place the speedy Blum on first. Blum would use that speed to steal second before getting to third on a single from Perry. In an attempt to steal second, another error for the Macs on the throw from the catcher would allow Blum to come home and tie the game one last time.
After a mostly clean top of the 7th for Green Bay’s pitching staff, Summers would reach base in the bottom of the inning for his fourth time on the night. A single and yet another error would move Summers to third base with just one away. Payton Danen would then hit a towering pop-up to the second baseman on the edge of the infield. The Macs’ defense appeared to then get caught sleeping after a delayed tag attempt from Summers who came home from third on the infield pop-up, narrowly avoiding the tag from the Menasha catcher to give Green Bay the lead.
After escaping a dangerous bases-loaded situation in the top of the eighth, the Ribbons would send out closer, Bret Whiffen, to shut the door on Menasha and give Green Bay the narrow 8-7 victory.
Both Summers and Whiffen would be named co-players of the game with Griffin reaching base in all four plate appearances and scoring two runs including the game-winner. Whiffen pitched just one inning giving up one single but striking out two batters to record the save in his first appearance in front of the home crowd.
The Blue Ribbons’ next game will be this weekend as they’ll play multiple games down in Sheboygan for the 5th game challenge before returning back to Joannes on Wednesday, June 14, for the Flag Day game.
