By: Nick Witwer
GREEN BAY, WI – The Green Bay Blue Ribbons were in for a test as they welcomed the Milwaukee Heavy Hitters to Joannes Wednesday night for exhibition play. The ensuing game quickly became a slugfest that saw the Blue Ribbons batters fall short in a 17-9 loss.
In the first inning, both teams would come out swinging with the Heavy Hitters striking for three runs right out of the gate. In the bottom of the inning, the Ribbons would answer with two runs, including a lead-off homerun from shortstop Landon Lozier.
The second inning was one to forget for the Blue Ribbons faithful as the Heavy hitters stayed true to their name and recorded eight runs off of seven hits to break the game open. After a scoreless inning thrown in the third from Ribbons right-hander Isaiah Grimm, Green Bay would make a small cut into the nine-run deficit. Another lead-off hit from Lozier provided a momental spark as three other hits, including two doubles, would see the Blue Ribbions plate three more runs.
Over the course of the next three innings, Milwaukee would continue to pour on the offense scoring six runs in three innings, leaving the Blue Ribbons down 15-5 entering the bottom of the sixth. A double from Bryson Webb would get the inning started and he would eventually score off a double hit by, who else, Landon Lozier for his third hit of the game. A later single from 2021 Blue Ribbons MVP, Trent Van Ess, would bring Lozier home and put the game at 17-7 entering the seventh inning.
A strong outing from Logan Lange quieted the Milwaukee offense but still left Green Bay down 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh. Facing the chance to be mercy-ruled in front of the home crowd, the Blue Ribbons added one run in the inning to keep themselves alive.
Good pitching from Matt Perry would hold the Heavy Hitters to zero runs scored the rest of the game and Green Bay would add one more run on the night in the eighth inning with help from a Brendan Willadsen Triple.
Overall on the night, despite the lopsided run total, the Blue Ribbons bats did outhit Milwaukee 18-16. Landon Lozier went four for five on the night with a home run, double, two singles, and three runs scored. Tyler Blum went two for three with a single and a double. Trent Van Ess went three for five and scored twice. Third basemen, Jake Petasek, went three for five on the night with two doubles and two runs batted in.
On the mound for Green Bay, three innings of strong baseball were thrown to end the game. Logan Lange had two strikeouts and a walk in his one inning of work, while teammate Matt Perry went six up and six down with five strikeouts.
The Blue Ribbons will try to rebound Friday night on Youth Night against the Waupaca Lakemen. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Be sure to come out early as Youth Night is traditionally the busiest night of the year at the Jo. Special promotions will also be running starting pregame and going through the entire game.
