The New Richland Jazz American Legion baseball team snapped a four-game skid by sweeping a doubleheader at Hayfield Saturday, June 27. The locals were coming off a 10-0, five-inning shutout loss at Rochester Lourdes. The Jazz improved its record to 3-4.
Rochester Lourdes 10, Jazz 0
The Jazz could not contain a Lourdes team that reached the state high school semifinals this spring.
John Hubly and Eli Lutgens had the lone hits for Post 75.
Dempsey Tucker started on the mound and took the loss. Lutgens and Sam Prigge pitched in relief. The Jazz had three errors.
“We were unable to minimize their bats as they accounted for 10 runs in five innings off of 11 hits,” said Jazz coach Jake Staloch. “Though the bats were silent, our hitters were able to cut the strikeouts to just two. As a team it is nice to see that we are putting the ball in play more often and limiting ourselves from striking out. When you put the ball in play it gives yourself a chance to win ballgames. We are slowly coming along. We just need to hold a positive attitude and continue getting the number of players to each game like we have been."Jazz 9, Hayfield 1
The Jazz rolled in the first of two games, led by C.J. Schiltz, who was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs. Prigge was 3-for-4 with two runs, Trai Wicks 2-for-2 and scored twice, Tucker 2-for-4, Evan Dobberstein 2-for-4. Lutgens, Matt Jensen and Cole Staloch had one hit each.
Prigge started and got the pitching win. Tucker was tough in relief.
“Dempsey looked sharp on the rubber,” said Coach Staloch. “He held Hayfield hitless over 1 2/3 innings, allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out three.”
New Richland plated two runs in the first inning on an RBI double by Schiltz and a ground out by Lutgens. The visitors added four in the third, when Schiltz singled home Staloch and Wicks.
Hayfield pulled within 6-5 in the fifth before Tucker came in and slammed the door.
"It was great to get back in the win column against a young Hayfield team,” said Coach Staloch. “We also took our game a step further as Eli was able to successfully put down a great bunt. Eli has been one of the better bunters on the team this season. As a coach it is great being able to move runners over into scoring position. We are not a long ball hitting team and being able to add bunting to our selection of plays is a great improvement."
Jazz 8, Hayfield 6
The Jazz outlasted the home team in game two of the doubleheader.
Jensen swung a big bat, hammering a home run and a double while scoring twice. Others with hits: Prigge, Lutgens, Tucker, Thompson, Staloch.
It was a back-and-forth affair, with Hayfield taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and adding two each in the third and fourth.
The game's last lead went to Jazz thanks to a fourth-inning rally that saw three runs cross the plate on a groundout by Wicks and two singles.
Tucker was again strong on the hill, getting the victory in relief of Staloch and Jack Schultz. He held Hayfield hitless over 2 1/3 innings, walking none and fanning five.
"We were behind for a great part of the game,” said Coach Staloch. “Jensen connected on a long ball to left to help the team when we were desperately looking to score. Cole Thompson is also showing great strides at becoming a better ballplayer as he put down a good bunt that ended up being a sacrifice."