DCL BASEBALL: Bays Surge to the Top

West Jacksonport’s Drew Tanck (4) slides into second base to beat the throw to Institute’s Frankie Ash (7) during the July 7 Door County League baseball game at Sevastopol Town Park. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

Don’t look now, but we have a dogfight. 

With Egg Harbor’s season sweep of the Kolberg Braves, it has slightly changed the optics of the league. Sister Bay is back leading the way, with the Island and Kolberg one game back, and Egg Harbor just two back. With five weeks to go in the regular season and a big matchup this weekend, things could get very interesting.
Last Sunday was kind of a rarity because all four home teams lost.

Egg Harbor’s upset win, if you could call it that, left the Swami at 3-1 for the week and 32-4 on the season. 

Let’s take a look at the Week 10 games. 

Baileys Harbor (1-8) @ Institute (0-9) Friday Night

The A’s were a couple of errors away from making it interesting against Maplewood when they held the Mets to just five hits. Brothers Caleb and Bryce Plzak have joined the squad this year, and both collected a hit in Friday night’s game. Jace Johnson and Jon Kordon pitched well. 

The Cubs are battling. Down a couple starters to injuries, they made a run after falling behind 14-0 to West Jacksonport. The problem is that with those injuries, coupled with players missing a game here and there, the consistency just isn’t there. The pride is, however, and they know this will be their best chance to win a game for the rest of the season.
The A’s broke their 34-game skid against the Cubs this first time they met. Do the Cubs break theirs? 

Swami says: Cubs.

Kolberg (7-2) @ Sister Bay (8-1) 

This game was circled several weeks ago as the one to watch, and now with the defending champs looking up, it really magnifies this one.
There’s no sugar-coating it: The Braves were manhandled by Egg Harbor on Sunday to the tune of 23 hits. All you can do after a game like that is put it behind you and focus on the next one, and they will. Jake Schneider got roughed up on the mound, but he was the hitting leader on the team with three hits. Christian Counard and Austin Dart chipped in with two each. 

The Bays had an easy time on the Island, which is rare. Matt Hecht led the way with three hits, and Tom Sawyer, Griffin Cole, Spencer Krause and Sawyer Johnson all had two apiece. Sam Forkert gave up nine hits over six innings of work, but he spread them out enough to keep the Island scoreboard operator bored. 

This is about as big as it gets. The Bays could end the day two games up on everyone with four to play. The Bays lost a close one the first time, 4-3. There will be more runs scored this time around, but this game could go either way. Obviously, that is not breaking news. 

Swami says: Bays.

West Jacksonport (5-4) @ Egg Harbor (6-3)

One would think a team would be happy after a 19-7 victory, but the Ports appear disjointed at the moment. They currently sit on the outside of the playoff picture. The potential return of Luke Steebs will certainly bolster a pitching staff that seems to be running on fumes at this point. The hitting is there, and when it’s on, they can compete with anybody.
The Indians’ bats went crazy in their victory over the league-leading Braves. Cody Giesseman cranked two home runs on his three-hit day, and Riley Spetz, Nick Kita and Brady Kita all had four hits. Anthony Jennerjohn chipped in with three during a game that saw them get 23 hits in 50 at bat. However, they also did strike out 14 times. 

The Ports walked it off the last time these two played, and although the Ports are good, Egg Harbor as of late is playing great.

Swami says: Egg Harbor.

Washington Island (6-3) @ Maplewood (3-6)

The Island is a place where runs are usually scored at a frenetic pace, but the Islanders now have had two home games against the top teams when they have a combined one run. Sunday they had a total of only five hits, with Caleb Cornell and Ben Johnson getting two each. 

The Mets shut out the A’s Sunday, with Jeremiah Jahnke pitching a gem. It’s rare anymore to see a pitcher at any level go the distance, but Jahnke did just that while getting nine strikeouts and only one walk. Control is a pitcher’s best friend, and he had it. The Mets mustered only five hits on the day, which turned out to be plenty, but they’re going to need a heck of a lot more this Sunday to keep pace with the Islanders, who beat them 20-6 the first time around. It’s a short porch in Maplewood, so expect a few runs again. 

Swami says: Islanders.

Week 9 Results

Sister Bay 9, Washington Island 1

Maplewood 4, Baileys Harbor 0

Egg Harbor 15, Kolberg 7

West Jacksonport 19, Institute 7

Standings

Sister Bay 8-1

Kolberg 7-2

Egg Harbor 6-3

Washington Island 6-3

West Jacksonport 5-4

Maplewood 3-6

Baileys Harbor 1-8

Institute 0-9