Alexis Martinez’s go-ahead two-run triple in the ninth inning fueled Fort Atkinson’s Senior Legion Post 166 19U baseball team to a 6-5 victory over Hartland at Jones Park on Saturday afternoon.
Hartland forced extra innings when Riley Zirgibel doubled home the game-tying run with two outs in the seventh to make it 2-2.
In extra innings the MLB rule of placing an automatic runner on second base to start the inning was utilized, with both teams scoring a single run in the eighth.
Fort, the visiting team, took the lead on Jordan Zahn’s one-out RBI single. Hartland countered on Tyler LaMack’s two-run single up the middle with two outs.
Braeden Hoth bunted for a hit to bring a Fort run across in the top of the ninth, followed by Martinez’s line shot triple to center on a first-pitch offering.
Hartland did not go quietly in the ninth, pulling with 6-5 after Ethan Kirley singled home a run and Zirgibel grounded into a run-scoring double play. With runners on the corners, Brady Byrnes retired Issei Takahashi on a foul pop fly to end it and earn the save.
Alex Block started for Fort, allowing two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts in seven effective innings. Mason Ketterhagen pitched the eighth inning, allowing three runs on two hits, in the decision, before Byrnes got the final three outs.
Fort’s Saturday night game against Little Chute was scrapped after four innings due to inclement weather and deemed an unofficial game. Fort was slated to face Oconomowoc in the tournament title game on Sunday, but the game was cancelled due to early-day storms. Fort plays at Oconomowoc on Wednesday in what will be considered the tournament title game.
FORT ATKINSON 6, HARTLAND 5 (9)
Fort 000 101 013 — 6 6 2
Hartland 000 000 212 — 5 6 1
Leading hitters — Hoth 2x4, Martinez 2x5 (3B); HA: Zirgibel 2x4 (2B).
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — FA: Block 7-4-2-2-1-3, Ketterhagen W; 1-2-3-2-1-1, Byrnes SV; 1-0-0-0-0-0; HA: Bigler 5.2-4-2-2-3-6, Dudek L; 2.2-3-4-4-0-0, Takahashi 0.2-0-0-0-0-1.
FRIDAY’S RESULT
Alexis Martinez delivered the go-ahead hit — a two-out single in the seventh inning — as Fort Atkinson’s Senior Legion Post 166 19U baseball team topped Janesville 5-4 at Jones Park on Friday.
Fort came to the dish in the seventh trailing 4-3 before Braeden Hoth led off the inning with an infield single. Drew Enger bunted next, reaching safely on pitcher Nick Gregg’s error to put runners on first and third.
Bobby Butz then laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Hoth to tie the game up.
After Braden Hausen grounded out, Martinez dug in and singled to left field on the first pitch he faced, bringing Enger home from third for the winning run.
“Alexis is super aggressive and I liked having him in that spot,” Fort manager Andy Schwantes said. “He was ready to hit right away and jumped on a fastball. We had him up in the spring as a sophomore and there were some growing pains. His summer didn’t get off to a great start, but he’s starting to turn it back on. He’s got great energy and brings a lot of effort and intensity. That walk-off hit was a great moment for him.”
Jordan Zahn went the distance to earn the win for Fort. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, striking out four while walking one.
“Jordan emerged as our No. 1 (pitcher) in the spring, and in the summer, he’s been our guy all year,” Schwantes said. “He throws a ton of strikeouts and gets a ton of ground balls.
“He’s super mentally tough. A lot of guys in that spot, when trailing late in the game, if the defense doesn’t make a play you think they should make or you don’t get a strike call you want, they can melt real quick, but Jordan did not do that.”
Martinez and Hausen both had two-hit games for Fort. Hausen led off the Hawks’ first by tripling to right. Martinez followed with a run-scoring double to left, then came around on Zahn’s line shot single to center to put the Hawks in front 2-1.
Hausen led off the sixth with a single and scored on Trent Wilson’s sacrifice fly, cutting the margin 4-3.
FORT 5, JANESVILLE 4
Janesville 101 101 0 — 4 6 2
Fort 200 001 2 — 5 7 3
Leading hitters — J: Treinen 2x3, Kruser 2x3; FA: Hausen 2x4 (3B), Martinez 2x4 (2B).
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — J: Hobon 2-3-2-2-1-1, Gregg L; 4.2-4-3-2-1-1; FA: Zahn W; 7-6-4-2-1-4.
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