GREEN BAY, Wis. (Nick Witwer) – Despite the rain, the new era of Blue Ribbons shined as Green Bay started off the season with an opening day sweep of the Kewaskum A’s.
Blame it on rust, opening day nerves, or the rain, game one started off messy for the Blue Ribbons as they would find themselves down 3-0 through three complete innings.
Green Bay’s fortune would turn around quickly in the bottom of the fourth inning as Wilson Zuck reached base on an error before a single from Blue Ribbons 2023 MVP James Bornick and a walk from Bryan Gerbers loaded the bases with no outs. After a quick popout, Jake Petasek would leg out an infield single to shortstop, scoring Green Bay’s first run of the day and keeping the bases loaded. The next batter, Cam Jackson, would hit a sacrifice fly out to right field bringing in another run and moving the runner on second over to third. With runners on the corners, Petasek would successfully steal second and an error on the play from the second baseman would allow Gerbers to score from third tying the game at 3-3.
After a scoreless fifth inning for both teams, Green Bay would break the tie in the bottom of the sixth. Gerbers led off the inning with a single before Ethan Habetler wound up being hit by a pitch and then was subbed out for pinch runner Payton Kohnle. A walk by Petasek would once again set up the Blue Ribbons with bases loaded and no one out. Another sacrifice fly to right field from Jackson would give Green Bay the lead. One ground out later from Bryson Webb would give the Blue Ribbons a much needed insurance run as they entered the top of the seventh inning up 5-3.
After a quick first out, one run would eventually score for Kewaskum. Then with two outs, the A’s would threaten to tie the game as a runner made his way to third base. Blue Ribbons left hander Reece Piontek would prove himself big enough for the moment as he’d blow a ball by an A’s batter on a full-count for the final out of game one, securing the 5-4 win.
A lot to like for Blue Ribbons fans in game one. At the plate Bryan Gerbers went 1-2 with a walk and two runs scored, Landen Lozier went 2-4, Jake Petasek reached base on every plate appearance finishing 1-1 with two walks and an RBI, and Cam Jackson finished with two RBIs.
On the mound, Gavin Rusch got the second straight opening day nod and went four innings in which he gave up three runs and struck out four batters in a no-decision effort. Logan Paplham saw one inning of work in which he gave up two hits and struck out three batters (two of them looking). Reece Piontek finished off the last two innings getting the win while allowing one run on one hit and striking out three batters.
In game two, the rain dried up and so did Kewaskum’s offense as Green Bay’s pitching staff would dominate.
Newcomer Kaden Krueger was given the nod to start the day’s second game. Krueger would pick up the win in a lights out performance that saw him strike out four batters and only allow two base runners (one walk and one hit) through four innings of work. A 1-2-3 inning from Tanner Alsteen and a scoreless inning and two strikeouts from Austin Grube kept the A’s scoreless through six.
For the Blue Ribbons, the scoring started early in the first inning with one run crossing the plate as an unsuccessful attempt to throw out James Bornick stealing second allowed Wilson Zuck to steal home. In the second inning, Payton Kohnle would hit a two-run double before a single by Bornick would score the third run of the inning. Kohnle would hit another double to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. A sacrifice bunt would move him to third before a ground out to second base by Landen Lozier would bring Kohnle home and give the Blue Ribbons a 5-0 lead going into the top of the seventh inning.
Benje Hencke would make his Blue Ribbons debut on the mound and was able to get two quick outs. An error would then spark some trouble as one run would eventually score following a walk and a single. Hencke would keep the damage to just a single run getting an easy ground out to second base to end the game and give the Blue Ribbons the 5-1 win.
The Ribbons had yet another solid game at the plate in this early season campaign. Payton Kohnle went 2-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, and a run scored, Garrett Foth went 2-3 with a run scored, James Bornick went 2-4 with a stolen base and one RBI, and Ashton Long reached base on all three plate appearances going 1-1 with a run scored and reaching base on two hit by pitches.
The Blue Ribbons now start 2024 with a 2-0 record and will look to keep momentum going against the Sheboygan A’s on Tuesday, June 4, at Joannes Stadium for Military Appreciation Night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and all active military members and military veterans will receive free admission to the game for themselves and their entire family.