HTL: Cambridge takes down Fort Atkinson

FORT ATKINSON -- Cambridge used a six-run rally in the fifth inning to beat Fort Atkinson 8-4 in Home Talent League Baseball at Jones Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Generals (3-3, 2-2 in division games) jumped out of the gates behind Branden Zastrow's two-run blast to right-center with one out in the first inning.

The Blues (4-1, 3-1) used three hits to score their six runs in the fifth and lead 6-2.

Jared Marty led off the inning with a walk, Jake Willey then bunted for a hit before lead off man Colton Ehrke was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.

Marty got Cambridge on the board by scoring on a wild pitch before Tyler Kledzik walked. Connor O'Brien's bunt single plated Willey and made it 2-all.

Chase Jarlsberg lined a single to left next to plate the go-ahead run. The Blues took advantage of third baseman Braedon Sayre's error on a ground ball off Logan Koch's bat to push two more runs across. Denver Evans' sacrifice fly resulted in the first out of the inning and final run of the frame.

Fort clawed back in the eighth, using three walks to load the bases for Austin Paul, whose RBI single to left scored Isaac Heederik and cut the margin to 6-3. Cambridge reliever Sam Mickelson got Jay Rueth to line out to Kledzik at short, then induced a fly ball to Marty in right off Sayre's bat to end the threat.

Cambridge took advantage of two errors in the ninth, scoring insurance runs via Evans' single to left and on a passed ball.

JT Parish earned the decision for Cambridge, allowing three earned runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and four walks in seven innings. Mickelson permitted a run on two hits in two frames to seal it.

Fort starter Kroix Kucken took the loss. He was charged with four earned runs on four hits in four frames. Paul worked the final five innings, allowing three unearned runs with five strikeouts, three walks.

Ehrke had two hits, including a triple, for Cambridge while designated hitter Conner Kienbaum had two hits for Fort.

Next Sunday, Cambridge travels to play Stoughton at 4 p.m.

CAMBRIDGE 8, FORT 4

Cambridge 000 060 002 -- 8 8 0

Fort 200 000 011 -- 4 6 4

Cambridge (ab-r-h-rbi) -- Ehrke 3-1-2-0, Kledzik 4-1-1-0, O'Brien 4-1-2-1, Jarlsberg 5-2-1-1, Koch 4-0-0-2, Evans 5-0-1-2, K. Parish 5-0-0-0, Marty 3-1-0-0, Willey 5-1-1-0. Totals 38-8-8-6.

Fort Atkinson (ab-r-h-rbi) -- Heederik 4-1-1-0, Crandall 3-1-1-1, Zastrow 5-1-1-2, Hansen 2-0-0-0, Kucken 1-0-0-0, Paul 2-0-1-1, Wolter 3-0-0-0, Rueth 1-0-0-0, Appelbaum 2-0-0-0, Sayre 2-0-0-0, Dunkleberger 4-1-0-0, Kienbaum 4-0-2-0. Totals 33-4-6-4.

3B -- Ehrke (C).

HR -- Zastrow (FA).

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- C: JT Parish W; 7-4-3-3-4-8, Mickelson 2-2-1-1-1-2; FA: Kucken L; 4-4-5-4-3-4, Paul 5-4-3-0-3-5.