DCL BASEBALL: Hall of Fame Help Wanted

A Hall of Famer is defined as a person who’s recognized as one of the top performers in an activity, especially a sport. The Door County League started a Hall of Fame during the early 1990s to recognize those players who had stellar careers not only in the county league, but also during their time playing the sport in high school and Legion in the county. 

Kenny Schaefer, Jocko Rader, Pat Donnelly and others had a Hall of Fame vision and saw it to fruition. The last induction was in 2018. Since then, we’ve experienced a pandemic and the loss of several key players with the passing of Rader and, at the time, league secretary Skip Kaeske. 

It was these gentlemen’s passion to keep the league thriving and the Hall of Fame moving forward, and that shall be done. Kolberg coach Dave Neinas and I have agreed to take the reins, and we’re looking for a couple more folks who have a good knowledge of the history of the league and the players to help us. There are so many more Hall of Famers out there and many current players staking their claim to future consideration. 

If you’re interested in volunteering for this effort, please contact Dave or me. We all hope to get another one in the books in 2023. 

Speaking of greatness, the Swami was a perfect 4-0 last week, bringing his season record to 19-5. Let’s look at the games that will take us to the season’s halfway point. 

Institute (2-4) @ Sister Bay (4-2)

The young Cubs won an exciting, extra-inning game Friday night but now must take on the defending champs, who need every game moving forward. The Cubs are getting production from the bottom of their lineup, and that will help win some games. Catcher Johnny Jorns leads the team in hitting.

The Bays won a back-and-forth contest with the Indians last week and sit only a game out of first place. They, too, are getting production from the bottom half of their lineup. Spencer Krause and Alex Laughlin notched two hits Sunday, and Sawyer Johnson’s double extended a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Sister Bay swept the Cubs in all three meetings last year, including the playoffs. 

Swami says: Bays.

Kolberg (5-1) @ Baileys Harbor (0-6)

Kolberg won a showdown Sunday to take sole possession of first place. However, there are three teams breathing down their necks just a game back. One of those teams will be waiting for them next week, but don’t think the Braves will have a letdown game against the struggling As. 

The As had a moral victory Friday night, holding the Ports to eight runs. It’s the third time during the past four games when they’ve held their opponents to under double digits. However, their run production hasn’t been good. Hopefully the addition of some recently available high school players such as Cal Ellefson will get the team headed in the right direction. 

Swami says: Braves.

Washington Island (4-2) @ West Jacksonport (4-2)

A late Island comeback against Kolberg was thwarted, knocking the Islanders from the top spot. It doesn’t get much easier as they travel for the second week in a row and take on a Ports team that’s jockeying for room at the top.
In an odd scheduling quirk due to some early switching, the Islanders will play their sixth road game during the first half. If they can get past the Ports, they’ll play at the friendly confines across the water for most of the second half.
The Ports once again got a stellar pitching performance from Luke Steebs with the Friday-night shutout of the As. The Islanders have a better lineup and are not the types to get shut out. The Ports have a make-or-break stretch of three straight games against the top teams. This is about as much of a toss-up as it gets.

Swami says: Ports steal one.

Egg Harbor (2-4) @ Maplewood (3-3)

The Indians’ free fall continued Sunday with their fourth straight loss. Their pitching has been decent enough to keep them in games, but the hitting just isn’t what it was to open the season. Elijah Reimer and Nick Kita helped to get a few runs on the board, but it wasn’t enough.

The Mets are flat-out fast. They took third base several times Friday night and manufactured runs. Kordell Draves did something in Institute that hasn’t happened very often since the change to wood bats: hit one over the fence. Cam Schroeder is a nice hitter at the bottom of the order, and if the likes of Zac Marchant, Mark Villers and Draves can continue to score runs for starter Drew Price, they will be in the playoff hunt up until the end of the season.
This is about as much of a must-win game as it gets for the Indians. 

Swami says: Indians.

Week 6 Scores

West Jacksonport 8, Baileys Harbor 0

Institute 9, Maplewood 8

Kolberg 9, Washington Island 6

Sister Bay 10, Egg Harbor 5

Standings

Kolberg 5-1

Washington Island 4-2

West Jacksonport 4-2

Sister Bay 4-2

Maplewood 3-3

Egg Harbor 2-4

Institute 2-4

Baileys Harbor 0-6

June 19 Schedule

Institute @ Sister Bay

Kolberg @ Baileys Harbor

Washington Island @ West Jacksonport

Egg Harbor @ Maplewood