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DCL BASEBALL: Silent Bats

A big, fat zero.

Most of the scoreboard operators could have taken the day off Sunday because three of the losing teams were shut out. It takes a lot to go right for this to happen. Good pitching, great defense and untimely hitting told the story in three of the games. In fact, in one of those games, a combined no-hitter was thrown. Sister Bay’s Andy Woerful and Matt Hecht kept Baileys Harbor hitless on the day.

One person who didn’t have a zero on his scoreboard was the Swami. The one game that he said might bite him did just that, with the Ports pitching their own shutout, leaving the Swami 3-1 for the week and making him wait at least another week for his 40th win on the year. His season record now sits at 39-9.

Let’s take a look at week 13.

Egg Harbor (4-8) @ Sister Bay (8-4)

The Indians were the only losing team that didn’t get shut out this weekend. In fact, they led going into the ninth inning before the Island pulled its late-game heroics. Cory Fuller, who is leading the league in hitting, had another three hits, as did Cody Bauer and Joe Sawyer. They will all need to continue that effort to beat a playoff-bound Bays team.

The Bays no-hit the As. That’s a tremendous feat in itself, but consider that one of the pitchers, Andy Woerful, has not pitched in the county league for well over a decade and is in his 40s. There just must be something in the bloodline because his Uncle Mark pitched into his 60s.
But lost in the pitching gem was the lack of hitting by the Bays as they had only four hits against the winless As. They can’t get away with that again this week.

Swami says: Bays.

Washington Island rallied in the ninth inning July 24 to defeat Egg Harbor and stay in the playoff race. Photo by Rachel Lukas.

Kolberg (11-1) @ Washington Island (8-4)

The Braves won the league title in blowout fashion. Austin Dart, Austin Rohe and Jake Schneider were the hitting stars on the day, but as well as this team can hit, it really doesn’t matter when you have the pitching staff that it does.

The Islanders have a tendency lately of giving their fans, and probably their coach, some fast-beating hearts. Two late comebacks in back-to-back weeks have the Island tied for second and chasing down that home-field playoff game.
Even though they have the title already in hand, I just don’t see the Braves taking the last two weeks off. What I do see is them letting some of their younger pitchers get some work, and they are good enough to keep the train rolling.

Swami says: Braves.

Institute (3-9) @ Maplewood (6-6)

Two weeks ago, the Mets were in a prime spot and controlled their own destiny. However, the hangover from the late-game meltdown on the Island the week before must have carried over because they were shut out and beaten soundly at home by the Ports. 

The Cubs were also beaten soundly at home and now must hit the road for the final time this season. Their playoff dreams were dashed weeks ago, but they can now play spoiler during the final two weeks against the Mets and Bays. The Cubs won a walk off, wild one against the Mets the first time around. I expect the Mets to get some revenge.

Swami says: Mets.

Baileys Harbor (0-12) @ West Jacksonport (8-4)

Just when you think things can’t get any worse for the As, they get no-hit on Sunday. But a silver lining in that game was the fact that they held a very potent Bays lineup to only four hits. It doesn’t get any easier for them this weekend as they travel to Jacksonport for their second of three-in-a-row away games to end the season. 

The Ports, as I thought they could, sent the Swami a message in a 13-0 thrashing of a good Mets team. Drew Tanck returned to form with a nice outing in that game. The Ports finish the regular season on the Island, which will be a game for the ages in what could be the determiner for that second seed in the playoffs. The Ports can ill afford to look ahead to that one, but I think they will be OK this week. 

Swami says: Ports.

July 24 Results

Sister Bay 4, Baileys Harbor 0

Kolberg 18, Institute 0

Washington Island 10, Egg Harbor 5

West Jacksonport 13, Maplewood 0

Standings 

Kolberg 11-1

Sister Bay 8-4

Washington Island 8-4

West Jacksonport 8-4

Maplewood 6-6

Egg Harbor 4-8

Institute 3-9

Baileys Harbor 0-12