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Tomahawk East League

Offense on Display as American Powers Over National

6/29/12

On Friday night the Tomahawk East League took a night off from regular season play to gather at the Stark Ballpark for a burger and a ballgame. The all-stars from the American and National Divisions faced off in an exhibition match-up in front of a large crowd. A pair of veteran hurlers took the ball for their respective divisions. However, it would not be a night about pitching, as the teams combined to score twenty-six runs. Extra-base hits were frequent as the teams mashed eight doubles and three homers. After falling behind 10-7, the Americans put up nine unanswered runs to cruise to a 16-10 win.

Stark southpaw Brad Mathiowetz made the start for the National Division. A lead-off single from Eric Portner led to a sacrifice fly from Zach Fischer, putting the American Division up 1-0. In the home half of the first, a walk to Alex Fink, a wild pitch, and an RBI double by Joey Wahl, tied the game at one.

Mathiowetz ran into trouble in the second when the Americans scored four times. Key hits came from Kyle Helget, who ripped a two-run double, and Portner who followed with a two-run home run.

The National Division went to Nathan Kral in the third. The American Division continued their scoring with a double by Kyle Fischer, followed by Helget's second hit to drive him in, making the score 6-1. The National Division got a run back in the third. Kral's defense helped him out in the fourth, turning a double-play to keep the Americans off the board, their only scoreless inning of the game.

Chris Peters took over the mound duties from starter Dayton Larson for the American Division in the bottom of the fourth. Brandon Menssen and Austin Kretsch greeted him with back-to-back two-baggers. A walk and a base hit loaded the bases. Next Johnny Pistulka crushed a grand slam over the centerfield fence to give the National Division a 7-6 lead.

Dusty Fleck was hit by a pitch to start the fifth inning. He came around to score when Helget got his third hit and fourth RBI of the game.

The American Division went back to Hanska for another pitcher in Portner for the bottom of the fifth. Portner struck out the side, but mixed in were three hits and a walk, including a two-run double from Joey Walter and an RBI single from Fink. The three-run fifth put the Nationals on top, 10-7.

Landon Zinniel got into a bases loaded jam when he took over on the hill in the top of the sixth. A groundout pushed across a run to cut the National Division's lead to two. An error and a pair of walks in the seventh spelled more trouble for the Nationals. A two-run double from Dave Hatle put the Americans up 11-10.

After Portner's tough first inning of work, he buckled down to work through the seventh, allowing just one more base runner on a two-out walk. A pair of walks from Erich Panitzke haunted him when Zach Hoffmann crushed a three-run bomb near the batting cage beyond the leftfield fence, making the score 14-10. Austin Kretsch allowed a pair of runs in the ninth to push the visitor's score to sixteen. Tony Stadtherr came on in relief for the Americans to work a pair of scoreless innings and make the final 16-10.

Kyle Fischer and Kyle Helget both had perfect nights at the plate going three-for-three. Joey Walter also had three hits. Eric Portner and Brandon Menssen added two knocks each to their team's totals. Portner earned the win on the mound, working three innings, allowing three runs on three hits, with six strikeouts. Landon Zinniel took the loss, going two innings, giving up four runs, just one of which was earned, on two hits, but issuing four free passes.

The Jeff Cook MVP award went to winning pitcher Eric Portner. At the plate, Portner was two-for-three, with a homer and two runs batted in. Thanks to Stark for hosting and to all who came out to support their favorite ballplayers! It's always fun to get the best of the league together for the love of the game. Best of luck to all teams as they resume their regular season games and move toward the playoffs!


Linescore

123456789RHELOB
American1410113321615110
National101530000101127

American All-Stars Box

ABRHRBIBBSO 
Portner, LF/P322201HR
   Hoffmann, LF221310HR
Stadtherr, SS/P321030 
Ranweiler, 1B301000 
   Maurer, 1B2111012B, SAC
Z. Fischer, DH100110SAC
   Hatle, DH2012102B
Larson, P------ 
Peters, C/P200001 
   Munoz, C100010 
   Buegler, C200001 
Fleck, RF120000HP(2)
   Pfaff, RF2212103B
K. Fischer, 2B/SS3230002B
   Stueber, 2B211111 
Mickelson, CF610002 
Helget, 3B3134002B
   Berberich, 3B200000 
 4016151697 
        
 IPHRERBBSO 
Larson3 32223 
Peters1 45511 
Portner (W)3 33326 
Stadtherr2 10002

National All-Stars Box

ABRHRBIBBSO 
Walter, CF5232002B
Fink, 3B/SS421111 
Pistulka, RF311401HR
   M. Verdoes, RF200002 
Wahl, LF2011102B
   Panitzke, LF/P/3B100001 
Reiner, DH201100 
Mathiowetz, P------ 
   Hager, 1B301000 
Kral, 1B/P300002 
   Zinniel, P100000 
   C. Verdoes, LF100000 
Mangen, C100000 
   Menssen, C2220002B
   Bisel, C200002 
Schmid, SS100000 
   Kretsch, 3B/P4111022B
Jenniges, 2B100011 
   Loomis, 2B120020 
 39101110512 
        
 IPHRERBBSO 
Mathiowetz2 45532 
Kral3 52201 
Zinniel (L)2 24142 
Panitzke1 13320 
Kretsch1 32202

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