JANESVILLE — Wisconsin’s 11-9 loss against the Northshore Bobbers was a whirlwind that saw the Cheese Kings lead twice, but ultimately fall short Sunday evening at the Janesville Youth Sports Complex.
Wisconsin trailed 7-3 after five innings but came alive late with a six-run eighth inning.
During the inning, Garrett Guenther scored on a passed ball, Konner Giddley smacked a two-RBI double and Drew Snipes delivered another 2-RBI double on a full count to give Wisconsin a 9-7 advantage.
The following frame didn’t go quite as well.
Relief pitcher Dylan Snyder gave up a leadoff single and hit the next batter. Ryne Dzierzynski later scored two runners on a triple, and then scored himself after an errant throw on his way to third.
Snyder, who pitched four innings, only gave up two hits. They each came in the eighth.
“In those big moments, with that first guy getting on, you can’t let that affect you,” said Cheese Kings coach Luke Schultz. “You know you’re one pitch away from getting a double play and you’re pretty much out of it.”
Early on the Cheese Kings were well on their way to victory as starting pitcher Henry Bishop only allowed one hit through three innings.
That promising start however crumbled when the Bobbers scored four runs in the fourth inning. Sam Meidenbauer homered to start the inning. Andres Cruz and Nolan Tomsyck hit back-to-back doubles.
A wild pitch, an error and a stolen base helped give Northshore its 4-3 advantage. The Bobbers then piled on three more runs in the fifth inning.
“I’m proud and a little bit heartbroken at the same time,” Schultz said. “I’m proud that we didn’t give up. We came back. Credit to them. They put the ball in play.”
The Cheese Kings fall to 7-16 with just five games left until playoffs. They host Johnson Creek at 4 p.m. on Monday in their next game.
“Once this team finally puts together a full game, we are going to be really good,” he said. “It’s taken us this long; we’ve shown glimpses of it like we did again today.”
NORTHSHORE 11, WISCONSIN 9
Northshore 000 430 004 — 11 10 1
Wisconsin 300 000 060 — 9 7 3
Leading hitters—Dzierzynski (N) 3x4,Snipes (W) 2x4, Ellis (W) 2x3. 2B—Snipes (W) 2, Giddley (W), Ellis, Cruz (N), Tomsyck (N). 3B—Dzierzynski. HR—Meidenbauer
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-k-bb)—N:Stuck (7-5-3-1-4-0), Eckert (0-0-3-3-0-2), Apel (2/3-2-3-3-0-2), Idleman (1.1-0-0-0-1-1); W: Bishop (5-8-7-6-5-2), Snyder (4-2-4-3-0-1).
Friday: Lakeside 3, Wisconsin 1 (8) —The Cheese Kings trailed 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning as strikes of lightning appeared in the distance at the Janesville Youth Sports Complex, and the game was cut short as Wisconsin collected just two hits.
“We didn’t hit,” Schultz said. “We had opportunities all day to put runs on the board and we didn’t.”
Jake Ulbert scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning to tie the game at one. In the following inning, UW-La Crosse pitcher AJ Curtis retired all three batters. Curtis, who was named the Newcomer of the Year in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Conference, had a no hitter through three innings.
In the seventh inning, the Cheese Kings got their first two batters on base with each being walked. Lakeside responded with three consecutive outs.
In six innings, Curtis only allowed two hits.
Lakeside claimed its 3-1 lead in the seventh. The Beach Bums got their first two hitters on base with a walk and a single.
With no outs, Wes Lindee bunted. Relief pitcher Dylan Snyder fielded the ball and made an errant throw to first, allowing two runners to score.
Schultz said the mishap “speaks wonders” on how the season has been.
“Dylan’s been solid for us, so I was a little surprised that would happen there. And I think he’s surprised too.”
Patrick Schork got the start for Wisconsin. He allowed five hits, issued five walks but only gave up one run.
FRIDAY
LAKESIDE 3, WISCONSIN 1
Lakeside 100 000 20 — 3 8 0
Wisconsin 000 100 0- — 1 2 1
Leading hitters—Burns (L) 2x4, Calico (2x3). 2B—Beavers (L).
ʾٳԲ—L: Curtis (W-6-2-1-1-6-2), Berg-Hoffman (1-0-0-0-1-2); W: Schork (5-5-1-1-6-5), Snyder (2-2-2-0-2-2), Giddley (1-1-0-0-1-1).
