WIOTA - Jay Haldiman's teammates went ahead and assumed that he'd bring the fireworks to Friday's traditional Fourth of July celebration.
Wiota's stocky, lefty slugger reached base in all four plate appearance and was a triple shy of the cycle as he drove the Indians past the Monroe Brewers in seven innings, 10-0, at home Friday afternoon.
The ball leapt off Haldiman's bat like Black Jack firecrackers and had a similar sound, one that the other members of the Tribe have heard a lot lately.
"He's been red hot," cleanup hitter Aaron Lancaster said.
"Jay's been seeing the ball really well lately to say the least," starting pitcher Kory Tuscher said.
After singling home the second run in a two-run first, Haldiman officially kicked off the holiday with a two-out, two-run moon shot to right center on an 0-1 count. Brewers starter Nick Budden got away with a hanging breaking ball that Haldiman fouled back. Budden went back to the well and Haldiman crushed the spheroid into the cornfield to grab a 4-0 lead.
"He threw the same pitch again and I just nailed it," Haldiman said. "I got all of it."
And how did it sound?
"Like it was gone," Haldiman said with a laugh.
Merrill Brunson, the Indian's power-hitting shortstop, arrived about half an hour late due to car troubles, but was along for the ride after singling with one down.
For Tuescher, watching Haldiman's bomb was just the latest chapter of a family tradition.
"He's my cousin, so of course I love him to death. It was great to see him get into one here," Tuescher said.
Haldiman inside-outted a double into the left-center alley to lead off the fifth and caught some playful flack as fans asked him why he didn't end up on third.
"I'm just happy to make it to second without falling down or something," Haldiman said.
Tim Lancaster provided the knockout blows with two-run singles in both the fifth and sixth innings. Two batters after lefty Justin Hahn relieved Budden, Lancaster drove in Haldiman after his fifth-inning double, along with Tommy Meier, who singled, by rapping a ball back through the middle.
Lancaster then brought Haldiman, along with Lancaster, with a bases-loaded liner into left field in the sixth. He came through by going against the book that Monroe player-manager Rooney Janecke had the veteran.
"I'm not a very good curve ball hitter and Rooney knew that," Lancaster said. "I figured I'd see some and I put good wood on both curves I got."
No. 9 hitter Nick Flannery made it a 10-run lead with a single to center.
While the Indian bats were as noisy as well-executed grand finale, Tuescher kept the the Monroe Brewer bats as silent as defective Whistling Petes.
Playing through a pulled right hamstring, Tuescher fanned four and allowed just two hits in a complete game shutout.
"Kory pitched a hell of a game," Lancaster said.
"It's always good to see a guy just gut," Haldiman said. "I love it, it's the greatest thing when a guy's hurt but still goes out there and does his job."
The Brewers committed five errors, including two on the play that brought in the first Indians run.
"I don't think it mattered who we played today," Scheuerell said. "We would've lost to anybody. We would've lost to area high school teams the way we played."
The Indians played down the clubs' rivalry.
"Everything is done, over and in the past," Tuescher said. "They're a good club and we've been struggling over the past couple weeks so it was just good to get a big win under our belts."
That being said, business gave way to pleasure.
"The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday in Wiota, so we're gonna go enjoy this one for a while," Tuescher said.
Wiota's stocky, lefty slugger reached base in all four plate appearance and was a triple shy of the cycle as he drove the Indians past the Monroe Brewers in seven innings, 10-0, at home Friday afternoon.
The ball leapt off Haldiman's bat like Black Jack firecrackers and had a similar sound, one that the other members of the Tribe have heard a lot lately.
"He's been red hot," cleanup hitter Aaron Lancaster said.
"Jay's been seeing the ball really well lately to say the least," starting pitcher Kory Tuscher said.
After singling home the second run in a two-run first, Haldiman officially kicked off the holiday with a two-out, two-run moon shot to right center on an 0-1 count. Brewers starter Nick Budden got away with a hanging breaking ball that Haldiman fouled back. Budden went back to the well and Haldiman crushed the spheroid into the cornfield to grab a 4-0 lead.
"He threw the same pitch again and I just nailed it," Haldiman said. "I got all of it."
And how did it sound?
"Like it was gone," Haldiman said with a laugh.
Merrill Brunson, the Indian's power-hitting shortstop, arrived about half an hour late due to car troubles, but was along for the ride after singling with one down.
For Tuescher, watching Haldiman's bomb was just the latest chapter of a family tradition.
"He's my cousin, so of course I love him to death. It was great to see him get into one here," Tuescher said.
Haldiman inside-outted a double into the left-center alley to lead off the fifth and caught some playful flack as fans asked him why he didn't end up on third.
"I'm just happy to make it to second without falling down or something," Haldiman said.
Tim Lancaster provided the knockout blows with two-run singles in both the fifth and sixth innings. Two batters after lefty Justin Hahn relieved Budden, Lancaster drove in Haldiman after his fifth-inning double, along with Tommy Meier, who singled, by rapping a ball back through the middle.
Lancaster then brought Haldiman, along with Lancaster, with a bases-loaded liner into left field in the sixth. He came through by going against the book that Monroe player-manager Rooney Janecke had the veteran.
"I'm not a very good curve ball hitter and Rooney knew that," Lancaster said. "I figured I'd see some and I put good wood on both curves I got."
No. 9 hitter Nick Flannery made it a 10-run lead with a single to center.
While the Indian bats were as noisy as well-executed grand finale, Tuescher kept the the Monroe Brewer bats as silent as defective Whistling Petes.
Playing through a pulled right hamstring, Tuescher fanned four and allowed just two hits in a complete game shutout.
"Kory pitched a hell of a game," Lancaster said.
"It's always good to see a guy just gut," Haldiman said. "I love it, it's the greatest thing when a guy's hurt but still goes out there and does his job."
The Brewers committed five errors, including two on the play that brought in the first Indians run.
"I don't think it mattered who we played today," Scheuerell said. "We would've lost to anybody. We would've lost to area high school teams the way we played."
The Indians played down the clubs' rivalry.
"Everything is done, over and in the past," Tuescher said. "They're a good club and we've been struggling over the past couple weeks so it was just good to get a big win under our belts."
That being said, business gave way to pleasure.
"The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday in Wiota, so we're gonna go enjoy this one for a while," Tuescher said.
