A Week of Upsets: Kolberg, Sister Bay knocked off in week 2

It’s a new year in County League baseball. The top two teams of a year ago, Sister Bay and Kolberg, were upset on Sunday.

The first two or three weeks of every season is hard to gauge because many teams are missing key starters who are finishing a high school or college sports season commitment. But Kolberg and Sister Bay had their top players on hand in week 2 losses to Maplewood and West Jacksonport, respectively.

With those upsets the mighty Swami was a mortal 2-2 last week leaving the season record at 6-2.

Let’s move on to week 3. 

Egg Harbor (2-0) @ Kolberg (1-1), 1:30 pm

After two games Egg Harbor has scored 44 runs. Some teams can go darn near a whole season to reach that total. The offense alone can give the Indians a shot at the title. You know the normal cast of characters but you toss in recent contributions from Nick Posh, Anthony Jennerjohn, and Cody Bauer who hasn’t played in years and this team is darn right scary.

Kolberg had a slip-up Sunday in their title chase, but lucky for them the Bays lost as well. Jake Schneider returned to pitch but wasn’t treated very well by his southern rivals from Maplewood. Sometimes a tough loss is what makes a great team angry and more focused. I believe that will be the case here.

SWAMI PREDICTION: Braves

Washington Island (2-0) @ Sister Bay (1-1), 1:30 pm

The Island found themselves in a bit of a donnybrook on Sunday leading the young Cubs only 4-3 going into the seventh inning Then the floodgates opened and now the Island sits atop the standings. Young pitcher Johnathan Buchta looked sharp in his mound work and Caleb Cornell was doing Caleb Cornell things. His four hits along with Ben Geiger’s four was enough to keep the Island undefeated.

The Bays are in a strange position – looking up in the standings. Bays’ pitchers don’t typically give up double digits on the scoreboard so you know it was an off day. Like the Braves, the Bays can ill afford a second loss so early in the season. 

SWAMI PREDICTION: Bays get back on track.

Maplewood (1-1) @ Baileys Harbor (0-2), 1:30 pm

The Mets woke up Monday morning with huge smiles on their faces. It is one thing to win a game, but to beat your rivals makes it all the more sweeter. Drew Price pitched with zero fear and it showed against a good team. Kordell Draves’ four hits led the offense as they dropped 11 runs on a typical stout Kolberg staff. A win this week and the Mets might find themselves tied for first place.

Baileys Harbor took another big loss on Sunday giving up 17 runs. That is 35 in two games and you are not going to win many games like that. Coach Wood continues to take the hill for the team in hopes others will step up. I believe the A’s will get into the win column.

SWAMI PREDICTION: Mets in a close one.

Institute (0-2) @ West Jacksonport (1-1), 1:30 pm

They say that defense wins championships but no defense wins very few games. The Cubs had nine errors on Sunday which makes sixteen for the season. Until they clean that part up they are going to be on the receiving end of more big defeats. A close 4-3 game Sunday quickly got away from them. Injuries to the pitching staff aren’t helping matters.

Jason Lindemann had two hits for the Ports who got a strong start out of Drew Tanck. Getting Luke Steebs back from college is only going to make this team more dangerous. They too might find themselves tied for the league lead after Sunday. They were swept by the Cubs last season, but I bet that doesn’t happen this year. 

SWAMI PREDICTION: Ports

Week 2 Results

Egg Harbor 17, Baileys Harbor 2

Maplewood 11, Kolberg 9

Washington Island 15, Institute 3

West Jacksonport 10, Sister Bay 5

Standings

Washington Island, 2-0

Egg Harbor, 2-0

West Jacksonport, 1-1

Kolberg, 1-1

Sister Bay, 1-1

Maplewood, 1-1

Baileys Harbor, 0-2

Institute, 0-2