ARGYLE — It took a little baserunning improvisation, but the Argyle Beavers are moving on in the Home Talent League playoffs after a 7-6 win over Blanchardville Sunday.

“We’ve played them three times now in the past two weeks,” Argyle right fielder Drew Nafzger said. “We thought that eventually we might get beaten by them. But we played it out, stayed on top of our game and made less mistakes than they did.”

After letting a 3-1 lead turn into a 4-3 deficit in the sixth inning, Argyle was eager to recapture the lead. The Beavers scored three in the bottom half of the sixth to go back ahead 6-4 thanks to a couple of unorthodox baserunning decisions.

With bases loaded and two outs and the team’s No. 2 hitter Drew Nafzger at the plate, Dylan Schwitz, the runner at first base, took off for second looking to draw a balk. Instead, Blanchardville pitcher Drew Schliem stepped off and chose not to make a play — forcing Schwitz back to first. The idea leapt into the minds of the rest of the Beavers.

“I don’t think that was even part of the game plan,” Nafzger said. “I think Dylan just went to second base and everyone reacted.” 

Nafzger was behind in the count, and while Schwitz attempted the same trick on the very next pitch, Nafzger hit a chopper right to the Bullets shortstop Brooks Chandler. Schwitz was basically standing on second as Nafzger made contact, eliminating the force-out, but second-base runner Kramer Henning placed himself perfectly in the path of the bouncing ball. 

By the time Henning broke to third, Chandler misplayed the short hop, allowing the ball to sneak into the outfield and for Brent Ritschard and Henning to score, which gave the Beavers the 5-4 advantage.

“I was down in the count and was just trying to make contact,” Nafzger said. “There were baserunners everywhere, so (I was trying to) put the ball into play and see what happens.” 

Schliem intentionally walked three-hitter Hogan Edwards to again load the bases, and Edwards attempted the same trick Schwitz did — this time drawing the throw to second. Schwitz, now running at third, dashed to home plate and slid in safely under the high throw home and Argyle stole another run to take the 6-4 lead.

Blanchardville would tie it up in the top of the seventh on back-to-back RBI plate appearances from Cory Linder and Presly Hauser, but the Beavers would get one run back in the bottom half of the frame.

Argyle had another chance to add insurance runs in the eighth, but Ryan Kleppe stranded the bases loaded with back-to-back K’s.

Edwards closed the door in the ninth with a groundout and a pair of strikeouts.

“At Madison (College) I focused on pitching more than anything. Going 3 1/3 innings and jumping in like that helps lot,” said Edwards, whose red-shirt college season in the spring kept him stretched out for the Home Talent run. “I think that coming from Madison to here gives me a little bit of an edge since I’ve been able to play year-round, where as these guys come in swinging bats in April.”

Nafzger finished the day 2-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch and two steals. Alec Treuthardt was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI for the Beavers, teammate Travis Erickson had a clutch 2-RBI double in the fourth and Schwitz had a triple, two runs and a steal. The Beavers had nine walks and six strike strikeouts as a team.

Seven different Bullets had hits in the game, and Blanchardville drew six walks and struck out 10 times.

Both teams were bothered by errors, with Blanchardville committing three mistakes and Argyle four. Blanchardville’s four earned runs was one more than Argyle. 

Kris Rieder took the no-decision for Argyle, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. Edwards picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. Edwards also struck out six batters.

“Rieder always gives us a pretty strong start — and he did today, too,” Edwards said of his teammate, who was on the league’s all-star squad Friday night with Schwitz. “We have confidence in him the whole way. He’s given us several strong starts this year.”

Schliem took the loss on the mound in relief for Blanchardville, allowing four runs (zero earned) on four hits and five walks in 1 2/3 innings. Jared Carney took the no-decision for the Bullets, allowing three earned on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Lucas McKeon and Kleppe also pitched in relief, with Kleppe walking one and striking out the side in the eighth inning.

Argyle hosts West Middleton, which defeated Shullsburg-Benton Sunday. Verona, which beat Oregon, will take on Pine Bluff-Mount Horeb, which knocked Wiota out of the playoffs.

“It’s another week to hang out with the boys, and it’s another nine-inning game,” Nafzger said.