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Front-running Wiota crumbles to Rockies, 8-2
home talent hollandale wiota
Hollandale shortstop Kyle Thompson secures the force out of Wiota’s Brad Schliem and throws on to first base to try to complete a double play during Sunday’s game in Hollandale. - photo by By Thomas Gunnell

WIOTA — Hollandale brought Wiota closer to the pack in the Western Section South Division by bashing a pair of home runs en route to an 8-2 Sunday League victory over the visiting Indians in a Home Talent League baseball action on Sunday, July 7.

Jared Rear’s two-run home run sparked a four-run rally fifth-inning that sent the Rockies (5-5 Sunday League) over the front-running Indians (10-4 overall, 7-3) in a South Division clash at Valley View Park on Sunday afternoon.

Shullsburg/Benton (7-5) is now just two games behind Wiota in the loss column with Blanchardville (6-5), Argyle (6-6) and Hollandale all very much alive in the playoff hunt with less than a month remaining in the season.

Hollandale’s Kyle Thompson led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to put the Rockies into the lead, but Wiota came back with a two-run double by outfielder Tommy Meier in the top of the second to grab a 2-1 advantage.

The Rockies struck for two runs of their own in the bottom of the second to regain the lead for good. Alex Schauff’s bases loaded walk brought home Gavin Burdick for the go-ahead run.

Burdick added a two-run single for the hosts in the fifth inning, while Derek Baumgartner had an RBI single in the seventh to seal the victory for Hollandale.

Thompson finished 3-for-5 on the day with two RBI and a run scored, while Rear and Burdick each had two RBI and a run as well for the Rockies.

Shortstop Merrill Brunson went 3-for-4 to lead Wiota at the plate. Hayden Hardyman added a pair of singles, while Brad Solberg and Will Schwartz scored runs for the Indians.

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Wiota second baseman Will Schwartz and Hollandale runner Dylan Gratz await the umpires call during Gratz’s steal attempt in Sunday’s game. He was called out on the play. - photo by By Thomas Gunnell

Wiota 10, Dodgeville 5

WIOTA — Wiota took care of business on the Fourth of July by banging out 15 hits on the way to a 10-5 Western Section Sunday League victory over visiting Dodgeville at Wiota Park.

First baseman Brad Solberg provided some early fireworks for the Indians by tallying two hits and driving in four runs in the win. His base-clearing, three-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning ignited a five-run rally, which put the hosts ahead to stay.

Schwartz went 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored, and Rooney Janecke finished 3-for-5 with a RBI for Wiota. 

Brunson added two hits and a run, while pitcher Jeff Solberg (2-0) earned a complete-game victory for the Indians after scattering five runs and 12 hits over nine innings with four strikeouts and just one walk. He also helped the cause at the plate by going 2-for-4 with two singles.

Jesse Sturtz scored twice and drove in a run, and Hardyman added two runs scored in the win.

Wiota has a Sunday League make-up game at Shullsburg/Benton on Saturday, July 13, starting at 1 p.m.; and will head to Argyle for a regularly scheduled Sunday League game on Sunday, July 14, also at 1 p.m.

The Indians also rescheduled their twice rained out Sunday League game at Belleville (1-10) for Friday, July 26. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.