BRODHEAD — Darlington’s Hunter Hardyman drove in four runs and scored twice to lead the 2022 Lafayette County All-Stars to a 15-1 victory over Green County at the third annual All-Star All-Cancer Baseball Game held at Brodhead High School’s Larson Field on Saturday, July 30.
Every member of the Lafayette team reached base at least once in the game with eight scoring runs and five driving in runs in their six-inning 10-run rule win over their Green County counterparts. Lafayette banged out seven hits and took advantage of seven hit batters, six base-on-balls and three Green Co. errors to run away with the game.
Lafayette struck for two runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead for good. Pecatonica’s Keegun Bruker and Argyle’s Alex Gilbertson were hit by pitches to start the game and each came in to score thanks to a fielder’s choice by Hardyman and a RBI-single by Pec’s Hunter Enloe.
Lafayette played five more runs in the third after getting back-to-back-to-back RBI-doubles by Pec’s Bryce Johnsrud, Hardyman and Enloe.
Hardyman drove in Gilbertson with an infield single in the fourth, and then Lafayette tallied seven more insurance runs in the sixth to build up a 15-0 advantage. Brunker doubled and scored while also walking in a run during the rally. Black Hawk’s Nathan Figi also scored a run and drove in a run after getting hit by pitches twice in the inning, and Gilbertson and former Oriole teammate Brady Penniston each walked in a run for Lafayette.
Green County avoided the shutout in the bottom of the sixth when Monroe’s Kollin Zahradka started off the frame with a hit and scored on a fielder’s choice by Monticello/Albany’s Evan Rufer.
Argyle pitcher Buddy Gerber tossed five no-hit innings for Lafayette to earn the win on the mound. He struck out seven batters and walked two in five scoreless frames.
At the plate, Enloe went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Brunker and Johnsrud each scored twice and drove in one run. Hardyman added two hits and Gerber scored twice to help his own cause.
Kohen Sawle singled in the sixth for Green’s lone hit.
This year’s event also featured an All-Start All-Cancer alumni game held prior to the 2022 All-Star Game. The game ended in a 5-5 after six innings as the team’s reached the two-hour time limit.
Lafayette scored once in the first and twice in the third to take an early 3-0 lead on Green, and then extended the lead to 5-1 with single runs in the fourth and fifth frames.
Green plated three runs in the third to cut the deficit to 5-4, and then tied the game in the sixth when Monroe’s Hayden Zahradka doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cheesemaker teammate Payton Sawdey.
Enloe singled and scored twice for Lafayette, while Pec’s Easton Schraepfer reached base four times and scored once. Darlington’s Braden Davis and Pec’s Devon Doran added runs and Black Hawk’s Brandon Schiferl, Pec’s Zander Brunker and Argyle’s Miken Godfrey drove in runs in the game.
Brodhead/Juda’s Jacob Miller scored twice for Green, while Monticello/Albany’s Josh Dahl doubled and scored a run. Monroe’s Matt Sniff and Brodhead/Juda’s Jackson Fields had RBI-singles, and Monroe’s Preston Ambrose scored a run for the hosts.
The ultimate winner on the day was Justice For A Cure organization, who received a generous donation from all the fundraising efforts held during the game.
According to event organizer Christina Foley, more than $8,000 had be raised during the first two years of the All-Star All-Cancer event and Saturday’s games brought in more donations from a 50/50 raffle, donation pots, honor stickers, concession stand food and merchandising sales.
Justice For A Cure provides financial support to local community members who are dealing with cancer to help them through their treatment.
Foley, a life-long resident of Green County, a wife and mother of three who was diagnosed with stage 3 young onset Colorectal cancer at the age of 37.
During her time of treatment and healing, she devised the All-Star All-Cancer Baseball Game as a way to pay it forward to other survivors who are in cancer fighting situations. Teaming with and a group of local sponsors including the Monroe School District, the Bank of New Glarus and the Sugar River Bank Branches, Woodford State Bank, Colony Brands and Affiliates and Kwik Trip, Foley made her dream a reality.
All the players, coaches, umpires, announcers and concession workers volunteered their services for the game.
To make a donation or become a sponsor, please contact Christina Foley at
allstarallcancer@gmail.com. They also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/allstarallcancergames.
Donations can be sent to: Justice For A Cure, Att: All-Star All-Cancer Games, 2935 S. Fish Hatchery Rd. #333, Madison, WI, 53711.
