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Bulldogs overcome Polar Bears

New London also fights Menasha for 13 innings

By Scott Bellile


Hortonville senior Braden Van Camp (20) slides to a base as Neenah's Brandon Beauchamp leaps for the ball on May 17.  Submitted photo
Hortonville senior Braden Van Camp (20) slides to a base as Neenah’s Brandon Beauchamp leaps for the ball on May 17. Submitted photo

Tylan Brown’s walk-off base hit in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in Kyle Wolf for New London’s winning run in a victory over Hortonville on Friday, May 20.

“Although it was only a non-conference game, I thought it was a very big win for us,” New London Head Coach Tom Frederick said. “Hortonville has a great program and we are working hard to get better each day.”

Following a competitive first inning, New London led 4-3. Hortonville tied the game in the top of the second inning. The score stayed at 4-4 for four innings.

Hortonville runs in the sixth and seventh innings brought its lead to 6-4, but two New London runs in the bottom of the seventh tied the game 6-6. Brown and Wolf’s tiebreaking play in the ninth “set off a wild celebration,” Frederick said.

“Both teams had played a lot of innings this week and had to use several different pitchers, but it was a very entertaining game for the fans,” Frederick said.

Winning pitcher Will Wohlt took to the mound the final two innings while Jake Hoier, Kyle Krenke and Bryce Stegall also pitched for New London. Cameron Regan, Aaron Bonikowske and Bryce Cross pitched for Hortonville.

“I thought that Aaron Bonikowske came in and did a great job for us on the mound,” Hortonville Head Coach Greg Yeager said. “He had only pitched three innings all year and he came in in the second inning and only gave up a couple of hits until the seventh inning.”

Brayden Kurth, Wolf, Wohlt, and Brown all added key hits for New London, Frederick said.

“For the past three weeks, we had some very tough losses in which the kids played with a lot of heart, but we just couldn’t get over the hump with that big hit,” Frederick said. “This was a huge win for the kids. They had to battle hard for nine innings to beat a very good opponent. I was very happy for the kids.”

Yeager said the game was “no doubt” a rivalry game for the two teams.

“I give New London a lot of credit,” Yeager said. “They battled all night and overcame a couple of mistakes that could have cost them and we weren’t able to take advantage of.”

The late-evening game allowed Hatten Stadium to officially power on new lightning that was installed this past winter. Hatten Stadium Foundation members were formally recognized at the game for their efforts to refurbish the facility.

New London stat leaders: Kyle Wolf 3×4, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 2B. Tylan Brown 2×4, 2 RBIs. Logan Locy 1×3, 2 RBIs, 1 run.

Hortonville stat leaders: Tyler Hafeman 3×4, 1 RBI, 1 run, 2B. Joe Cliver 1×5, 1 RBI, 3B.

Menasha 8, New London 5
NEW LONDON – A 13-inning Bay Conference showdown ended with Menasha prevailing over New London on May 17.

The teams entered a 4-4 deadlock after each team scored a run in the fifth inning. Seven scoreless innings lapsed before Menasha cranked out four runs in the top of the 13th inning.

“This was an unbelievable high school baseball game,” New London Head Coach Tom Frederick said. “It was also one of the toughest losses I can remember being a part of. The kids played with so much heart and deserved to win the game.”

Frederick said the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalize on a key hit despite several chances in innings seven through 12.

“Baseball can be a cruel game at times,” Frederick said. “In the ninth inning, Austin Hanson hit a laser that would have won the game, but the Menasha shortstop made an incredible diving catch for the third out.”

Logan Locy pitched just over seven innings, Hoier handled four and losing pitcher Stegall pitched the last inning and a third.

“I was very impressed with how the kids competed the entire 13 innings,” Frederick said. “They played with a lot of grit. They deserved to win. I felt bad that they were not able to be happy after the game.”

Stat leaders: Kyle Wolf 4×6, 2 RBIs, 1 run. Austin Hanson 3×6, 1 RBI. Dylan Moeller 2×5, 1 run. Logan Locy 2×6, 1 run.

Neenah 4, Hortonville 2
NEENAH – The Neenah Rockets broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the Polar Bears in a Fox Valley Association game on May 17.

Neenah established a 2-0 lead in the second inning before Hortonville tied it at the top of the fifth.

Losing pitcher Joe Cliver allowed eight hits and one home run. He struck out five batters while Neenah struck out 11 Hortonville batters.

Stat leaders: Joe Cliver 1×3, 2B. Colton Glocke 1×3, 1 run, 2B.

Menasha 5, New London 1
MENASHA – New London didn’t put up the same fight it had against Menasha on May 17, in a loss on Thursday, May 19.

“We only had three hits and didn’t play very good defense,” Frederick said. “I thought that we came out very flat, and we are not good enough to do that and still win.”

Hortonville 10, Appleton East 2
HORTONVILLE – Two three-run innings in innings five and six helped Hortonville solidify its win over Appleton East on Thursday, May 19.

Zak Kosloske had a home run and three RBIs for Hortonville, while Eli Kramer produced four runs. Adam Buchinger pitched a complete game.

Stat leaders: Zak Kosloske 2×4, HR, 3 RBIs, 1 run. Cliver 2×3, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 2B. Eli Kramer 1×3, 4 runs, 1 RBI. Bryce Cross 1×3, 2 RBIs, 1 run.

Hortonville 5, Waunakee 2
HORTONVILLE – Hortonville lost 5-2 to Waunakee in a nonconference game on Saturday, May 21.

Tyler Hafeman went three for three with a run. Brock Young also earned a run. Sam Schuldes had an RBI.

Hortonville 10, Osh North 1
HORTONVILLE – A five-run second inning helped by Tyler Hafeman’s home run lauched the Polar Bears over Oshkosh North in an FVA victory on Monday, May 23.

Joe Cliver pitched the complete game, allowing four hits. Hortonville produced 12 hits.

Stat leaders: Hafeman 2×4, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs. Cliver 1×4, 3 RBIs. Kramer 2×4, 2 RBIs, 1 run. Glocke 2×3, 2 runs, 1 RBI. Kosloske 2×4, 1 run, 2B.

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