By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
ASHWAUBENON – If you were at the Green Bay Booyah’s June 25 afternoon tilt with Madison, you witnessed one grand slam, a three-run homer, two solo homers, six doubles and a triple.
The fans were treated to an offensive explosion at Capital Credit Union Park in the Booyah’s 13-4 loss to the Mallards in a Northwoods League baseball matchup.
“They are the best team we have seen in the first half of the season,” said Booyah head coach Tom Carty. “They have been very good at putting together a bunch of wins, with today being no different.”
Quinn Gudaitis got the win for Madison, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up four runs and four hits.
Eight of the nine batters for the Mallards scored at least one run in the game.
Tommy Miller (Siena University) took the loss for Green Bay, giving up nine runs in 3 2/3 innings of action.
The Booyah got off to a hot start on a scorching day for a game.
After a groundout by lead-off hitter Cooper Morrison, Jacob Buchberger took a high fast ball inside against Gudaitis and sent it 380 feet over the left-field wall for an early 1-0 lead.
Miller, on the other hand, struck out three and wasn’t tested through the first two innings.
The tide turned after Green Bay loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning but stranded all three base runners after John Tuccillo hit into a double play with one out.
Madison carried that defensive momentum into the top half of the third.
Ryne Stanley took first after a perfectly executed bunt.
“Their lead off guy got a single on a lay-down and they played a flawless inning,” added Carty. “Up to that point, Tommy had pitched very good baseball for us, not only in this game, but for the season. The hitters for Madison got hot at the wrong time for us.”
E.J. Ranel walked and Logan Michaels sent a shot to center field that bounced out of the park for a ground-rule double scoring Stanley to even the game at one.
Moments later, with two on, Drew Benefield walked, loading the bases.
Andre Nnebe sent a screamer to the warning track that brought home all three runners to give Madison a 4-1 lead.
After a 1-2-3 third for the Booyah, Madison scorched the scoreboard in the top of the fourth.
Timo Schau, Jordan Stephens and Ranel all singled to load the bases.
With two outs, Justice Bigbie connected on a grand slam to right field to extend Madison’s lead to 8-1.
Three more hits produced two additional runs to give the Mallards a 10-1 lead after four innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the Booyah trailing by 11 runs, they produced some much-needed fireworks for the home crowd.
Buchberger walked, Jarrett Ford hit a double to center and Nick Kreutzer followed with a walk to juice the bases.
Joe Mason stepped up to bat facing Gudaitis, who was at his 96th pitch for the game.
Then the unusual happened.
Mason’s shot started in foul territory and then curved back into play hitting the foul pole on the fly.
Those in attendance thought they had witnessed a rare feat of seeing two grand slams in one game, but in the excitement of the moment, Mason somehow got ahead of Kreutzer while base running and didn’t realize it until it was too late.
When the dust had settled, the head umpire ruled that three runs had scored (not four) and that Kreutzer by rule was put out.
“It was an unfortunate situation that happened,” said Carty. “It’s a teachable moment for all the guys to not get ahead of themselves and trust what we’ve taught them. We’ll get back after it with tonight’s game.”
The Mallards added a late solo homer to improve to 20-8 on the season, while the Booyah fell to 14-14.
The two teams play the second game of the day/night doubleheader at 6:35 tonight.
Box score
Madison: 004 602 010 – 13, 20, 0
Green Bay: 100 003 000 – 4, 4, 0