By: Nick Witwer
GREEN BAY, WI – The Green Bay Blue Ribbons traveled to Menasha Wednesday night and took the lead early but the Macs didn’t go away without a fight. Offense for both teams were plentiful and the Blue Ribbbons were able to halt a 9th inning comeback from the Macs to win it 7-6.
In the 1st inning, third baseman Jake Petasek started the game by drawing a lead-off walk. In the next at bat, shortstop Bryson Webb hit a drive that got down in the outfield and rolled past the centerfielder all the way to the wall allowing Webb to cross the plate on a two run inside the park home run.
Moving forward to the 3rd inning, Petasek would reach base again, this time on a lead-off single.Webb would follow up his earlier home run with an rbi double into the gap in left center. Later in the inning, designated hitter, James Bornick tied his own single season record in home runs on a deep ball out to right field giving Green Bay the 5-0 lead.
The shutout would end there as Menasha would match the Blue Ribbons with three runs of their own, taking advantage of a couple early inning walks. The Macs would cut the Blue Ribbons lead to one run in the bootm of the 5th inning but left the tying run on third after failing to capitalize on a two-out triple.
In the 6th inning the Blue Ribbons added another run, taking advantage of multiple throwing errors. With a runner on first and second, it was, catcher, Steven Russell with a clutch rbi single to put Green Bay up 6-4. In the 8th inning first baseman Brendan Willadsen lead the inning off with a single. Willadsen would eventually find his way over to third and while it wasn’t a base hit, Russell would bat in another run on a one-out groundout to second base.
Things got interesting in the 9th inning as the Blue Ribbons headed into the bottom of the inning up 7-4. With two outs and the bases loaded, Menasha’s second baseman fought through an early 0-2 count and hit a two run single. A hit batter in the next at-bat would leave the bases loaded with two outs as the Blue Ribbons would have to again face the top of the Macs lineup. This two out situation would be much different than the first as reliever, Zach Lordo, got the Menasha batter to fly out to right field on a 1-1 pitch to seal the 7-6 win.
Bryson Webb finished the game 3-5 with a homerun, a double, a single, three rbis, two runs scored, and a stolen base. James Bornick finished with a home run, two rbis, and a stolen base. Steven Russell went 1-4 and batted in the team’s final two runs.
On the mound, Logan Lange got the win going six innings and striking out four batters. Liam Jones got the hold as he pitched a scoreless two innings while striking out two batters. Zach Lordo, after giving up two runs, bounced back and put an end to the Menasha rally, earning the save.
The Blue Ribbons have now won back-to-back games and are hoping they’re on Santa’s nice list as they return to Joannes on Thursday night for the annual Christmas in July game. Santa Claus will be in attendance at the game versus the Sheboygan A’s and first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
