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Wiota hangs on to top Dodgeville 12-11
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Wiota’s Barry Schliem is greeted at home by his teammates after hitting a grand slam home run in the top of the first inning in a 12-11 win Aug. 2 at Dodgeville. - photo by By Thomas Gunnell

DODGEVILLE — Wiota plated six runs in the top of the first inning, and then spent the rest of the game fight back the Dodgeville Knights as the visiting Indians made it two wins in a row with a 12-11 victory in a Home Talent League exhibition baseball game held at Dodgeville’s Centennial Park on Aug. 2.

Barry Schliem drove in five runs to lead Wiota at the plate on the day, while HTL veteran Rooney Janecke worked three crafty innings of relief for the Indians.

Janecke singled in a run to put Wiota into the lead to stay early in the first frame, and Schliem followed with a grand slam home run to left later in the stanza to give the Indians a 6-0 cushion.

The Knights sliced the deficit down to 6-4 with a run in the first, two in the third and another in the fourth, however Wiota rallied for two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to go back on top 10-4. Schliem had an RBI-single in the fifth and an error brought in the other two runs in the sixth for Wiota.

Dodgeville tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth and one in the seventh to get back within two at 10-8; but, after a scoreless eighth, Wiota tacked on two important insurance runs in the top of the ninth to open up a 12-8 lead. Back-to-back bases loaded walks by Brad Schliem and Alex Mersden drove in the runs for the Indians.

The Knights went down fighting, scoring three times in the bottom of the thanks to an RBI-single by Justin Baehler and an RBI-double by Isaiah Place, which put the tying run in scoring position with nobody down.

Baehler scored a sacrifice fly Trevor Wanek to make it 12-11, but Janecke coaxed a fly ball out to first base for the second out and then struck out Grant Hying to end the game.

Janecke worked three innings allowing five runs on four hits and two walks with two Ks to earn the victory on the mound.

Barry Schliem went 2-for-5 with a homer, five RBI and a run scored in the game. Will Schwartz, Cade Janecke, Rooney Janecke and Brad Schliem each scored twice for the Indians.

Baehler was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored for the Knights. Grady Gorgen added two hits and struck out 10 batters in relief, while Adam Halverson and Jordan Olson each had a double with two runs scored and a RBI for the hosts.  

Next up, Wiota is scheduled to host Belleville at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.