By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
ASHWAUBENON — Nadir Lewis scored in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Green Bay Booyah defeated the Madison Mallards 5-4 in a Northwoods League game July 16 at Capital Credit Union Park.
“It’s definitely rejuvenating,” Tristan Toorie, Booyah field manager, said. “We were behind the eight-ball early in the season. You can feel the energy amongst the guys right now walking around the clubhouse.”
Starter Evan Estridge went 6 1/3 innings while giving up seven hits and one run.
It was the fourth victory in the last five for Green Bay who catapulted to second place in the Great Lakes West Division behind Fond du Lac in the early part of the second half of the season.
Green Bay cranked out 10 hits, with Dalton Pearson going 2-for-3.
Max Wagner and Brendan Ryan each collected a pair of key hits.
The Mallards picked up a run in the top half of the first, but the Booyah responded.
Ryan was hit by a pitch and Pearson walked to put runners on first and second.
After a successful double-steal, Dayson Croes had an RBI groundout to score Ryan and even the game.
Seconds later, Wagner connected on a single to left field bringing Pearson home for a 2-1 lead.
“Max has been in there collecting his hits when he can,” Toorie said. “He was hurt for a while, but he’s still swinging a hot bat.”
There was plenty of action in the subsequent four innings, but neither team could muster any runs, as Estridge settled into the mound.
“That’s been Evan’s thing – to take an inning or two to get things under control,” Toorie said. “Once he gets the changeup going, he’s hard to hit on. You saw it tonight with six zeros on their scoreboard after the first (inning).”
In the top of the fifth, Lewis made a diving catch against the center-field wall to preserve an extra-base hit.
“Nadir has heart and leadership,” Toorie said. “He knows this ballpark probably better than anybody else on this team. He made some great defensive plays.”
The bottom of the sixth brought good fortune to Green Bay as they added to the lead.
With two outs, Pearson laced a 1-2 count into center field, scoring two runs for a 4-1 advantage.
“Dalton is lightning in a bottle,” Toorie said. “Every time he steps on the field or in the batter’s box, he has the capability of doing exciting things.”
However, Madison didn’t go away.
In the top of the eighth, the Mallards scored three runs to even the game.
With their final at-bats in the ninth, neither team could score, sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Madison put a baserunner on, but reliever Kyle Coates retired the final two batters to set up Lewis’ heroics in the bottom of the inning.
“These kids have a quick memory, and they turn the page,” Toorie said. “They have lots of fire, and they get after it every game.”
Box Score:
Madison: 100 000 030 0 — 4
Green Bay: 200 002 000 1 — 5