Green Bay, Wis. (Indiana Schilz) – Hot offense and clutch hitting sparked a comeback as the Green Bay Blue Ribbons defeated the Greenville Stars 8-6.
The Stars jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but Green Bay responded in the top of the fourth after a leadoff double by Brady LaViolette saw him score later in the inning.
The Blue Ribbons tied the game in the top of the fifth after a single by Brendan Willadsen and a sacrifice fly by LaViolette. The Stars slugged a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-3 lead.
Green Bay’s comeback began in the top of the seventh after a walk from Willadsen and two hit-by-pitches from LaViolette and Payton Kohnle to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and zero outs, Landen Lozier drew a clutch walk to bring the Blue Ribbons to within two. Carter Kallies singled to center field, driving in two runs and tying the game at 6. That would be all the Blue Ribbons could muster in the top of the seventh.
Eason Hurd got things started in the top of the eighth with a leadoff triple and eventually scored thanks to a Willadsen fielder’s choice later in the inning to give the Blue Ribbons their first lead of the day.
Green Bay scored one more run in the top of the ninth for a little insurance before Austin Grube shut the door to give the Blue Ribbons their eighth win in the Northeast Wisconsin Baseball League.
Altogether, the team had twelve hits, headlined by Willadsen and Kallies, who had two RBIs each. TJ Hockers drew the start for the Blue Ribbons and went five innings, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out four and walking two.
Grube, who earned the win, allowed three hits over four innings while striking out two and walking three. He did not allow a run.
The Blue Ribbons have themselves a nice little break for the Fourth of July before heading out to Kewaskum to take on the A’s.
