WIOTA - Hitting with runners in scoring position has been like a black hole for the Wiota Indians Home Talent League baseball team all season.
Wiota struggled hitting with runners in scoring position for most of the game against Blanchardville on Thursday. That's until Jay Haldiman ripped a game-winning RBI single to center off Blanchardville relief pitcher Tim McKeon in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Indians a walkoff 6-5 win over the Bullets.
"We have been struggling hitting with runners in scoring position all year," Haldiman said. "For any of us to get a hit, it might be something to get us going. To be able to come through and make a play when we needed it, it's a big thing for the team."
Wiota (2-4) in the Home Talent League's Thursday night league had their game-winning scoring opportunity set up when Blanchardville starting pitcher Matt McGowan walked Wiota's Brad Schliem leading off the seventh. McKeon then came in relief and Brad Solberg dragged a bunt down the first base line. McKeon fielded the ball and his flip throw to first hit Solberg. That set the stage for Haldiman's heroics.
Wiota overcame 13 runners left on base.
"That's been the story of our season," Wiota co-manager Dick Schliem said. "Tonight, Jay came through at the right time."
Blanchardville struck right away in the first. Player-manager Aaron Olson delivered an RBI single off Wiota starting pitcher Jeremy Williams. Williams threw his first complete game. He gave up just one earned run on five hits, walking five and intentionally walked one.
"When he (Williams) really needed to come through, he did," Schliem said.
The Indians answered with a four-run first. McGowan, who walked seven and hit one in six innings, walked Solberg and Alex Abraham. Solberg scored on a wild pitch and Taylor Goodman, who was 2-for-4, singled. Williams then helped his own cause when he smoked an RBI double to left. The big blow in the first came on Taylor Wiegel's two-run single to left that gave the Indians a 4-1 lead.
Blanchardville (1-6) rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second. Milton Kurschner knocked in a run for the Bullets when he reached on a fielder's choice. Harley Demler later scored on a botched pickle play by Wiota to cut the Indians' lead to 4-3.
The Bullets tied the game in the third as David Cleary led off with a double and scored when a throw from the catcher down to third sailed into left.
The Indians took advantage of two Blanchardville errors in the bottom of the third that opened the door. Brad Schliem came through with a go-ahead RBI single that scored Cody Carpenter and gave the Indians a 5-4 lead. Blanchardville committed five errors in the game.
"We have been struggling," Olson said. "We are finally getting a group of guys who want to play. We have played Monroe and Wiota tough. Errors and walks hurt us."
Wiota struggled hitting with runners in scoring position for most of the game against Blanchardville on Thursday. That's until Jay Haldiman ripped a game-winning RBI single to center off Blanchardville relief pitcher Tim McKeon in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Indians a walkoff 6-5 win over the Bullets.
"We have been struggling hitting with runners in scoring position all year," Haldiman said. "For any of us to get a hit, it might be something to get us going. To be able to come through and make a play when we needed it, it's a big thing for the team."
Wiota (2-4) in the Home Talent League's Thursday night league had their game-winning scoring opportunity set up when Blanchardville starting pitcher Matt McGowan walked Wiota's Brad Schliem leading off the seventh. McKeon then came in relief and Brad Solberg dragged a bunt down the first base line. McKeon fielded the ball and his flip throw to first hit Solberg. That set the stage for Haldiman's heroics.
Wiota overcame 13 runners left on base.
"That's been the story of our season," Wiota co-manager Dick Schliem said. "Tonight, Jay came through at the right time."
Blanchardville struck right away in the first. Player-manager Aaron Olson delivered an RBI single off Wiota starting pitcher Jeremy Williams. Williams threw his first complete game. He gave up just one earned run on five hits, walking five and intentionally walked one.
"When he (Williams) really needed to come through, he did," Schliem said.
The Indians answered with a four-run first. McGowan, who walked seven and hit one in six innings, walked Solberg and Alex Abraham. Solberg scored on a wild pitch and Taylor Goodman, who was 2-for-4, singled. Williams then helped his own cause when he smoked an RBI double to left. The big blow in the first came on Taylor Wiegel's two-run single to left that gave the Indians a 4-1 lead.
Blanchardville (1-6) rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second. Milton Kurschner knocked in a run for the Bullets when he reached on a fielder's choice. Harley Demler later scored on a botched pickle play by Wiota to cut the Indians' lead to 4-3.
The Bullets tied the game in the third as David Cleary led off with a double and scored when a throw from the catcher down to third sailed into left.
The Indians took advantage of two Blanchardville errors in the bottom of the third that opened the door. Brad Schliem came through with a go-ahead RBI single that scored Cody Carpenter and gave the Indians a 5-4 lead. Blanchardville committed five errors in the game.
"We have been struggling," Olson said. "We are finally getting a group of guys who want to play. We have played Monroe and Wiota tough. Errors and walks hurt us."
