The Dairyland Collegiate League has returned for another summer in southern Wisconsin. For three of its four seasons of existence, one team in particular has called Waterloo home. The Maunesha River Rats return to Waterloo Firemen’s Park in 2024, vying to win the title of the now six-team league.
The DCL started with only three teams back in 2021, but interest from collegiate players nationwide in the wood bat summer development league has doubled that number to six. This season, the River Rats will be up against the Johnson Creek Mapaches, Lakeside Beach Bums, Northshore Bobbers, Waukesha Foxes, and Wisconsin Cheese Kings.
Maunesha was considered a favorite to win the league last summer, entering the postseason as the No. 2 seed thanks to a 15-13 record. The River Rats fell victim to a Cinderella run from No. 5 seed Johnson Creek.
This summer, Maunesha is off to a 2-2 start. The River Rats started off red-hot, winning their first two games against the Cheese Kings and Bobbers. A doubleheader with the Beach Bums brought them back down to earth, a pair of losses to bring their early record to an even .500.
Things kicked off on Thursday, June 6 at Waterloo Firemen’s Park with a 6-4 win over the Cheese Kings. The Rats established dominance early, scoring one run in each of the opening three innings before exploding for three more in the bottom of the sixth alone.
Jack McDonough (NIACC), Tyler Froland (NIACC), James Love (Eastern Illinois University), Bradyn Horn (UW-Milwaukee), and Connor Greuel (Upper Iowa University) all drove in RBIs in the game. Froland and Greuel pulled theirs off by connecting on doubles. While he didn’t drive in any runs, outfielder Jackson Hunley (Lewis University) came in to score twice after drawing a pair of walks.
On the pitching mound, Maunesha got four and two thirds innings from starter Alex Oddo (Waubonsee College), allowing only two hits but surrendering five walks to let two runs score. He also struck out four batters. Andrew McGray (Manchester University) took care of the next three innings, allowing only one hit but giving up three walks for two more runs. Alek Zdziarski (Edgewood College) closed out the final one inning and one out. He was flawless, allowing no hits with no walks and a strikeout to close things out.
Momentum from this season-opening win carried over into a trip to face Northshore on Friday, June 7. The River Rats exploded for seven runs in the third inning to come away with the eventual 9-5 win.
Noe Marrero (Waubonsee College) set the pace for Maunesha, going 2-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. It was also a solid day at the plate for Lincoln Becker (NIAAC) who drove in two RBIs. Horn connected on a pair of doubles to drive in an RBI. The Rats also got RBIs from Jaiden Jung (Milwaukee Area Tech) and Nick Guidici (Parkland College). Froland came in to score twice.
Maunesha got a quality pitching start from Luke Klekamp (St. John’s River State). He went five innings, allowing only three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The one run Northshore allowed over this stretch came via error. The Bobbers’ ensuing four runs came off of relief pitcher Ben Olsen (Carroll University), who closed out the game.
The Rats’ hot start was cooled off on Sunday, June 9 with a pair of losses in a doubleheader with reigning DCL champion Lakeside. The Beach Bums won the first game 6-2 and the second 6-0. While those losses sting, Maunesha remains near the top of the current DCL standings with an even 2-2 record.
Maunesha’s stretch of road games continues as it looks to break brush off the pair of losses. The Rats will rematch the Cheese Kings in Janesville on Tuesday, June 11. They’ll return to Waterloo Firemen’s Park on Thursday, June 13 to host the Bobbers. The week closes on Friday, June 14 as Maunesha will travel to Frame Park in Waukesha to face the Foxes.
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Dairyland Collegiate League standings
-as of Sunday, June 9
1. Lakeside, 4-0
T2. Maunesha, 2-2
T2. Waukesha, 2-2
T4. Northshore, 1-2
T4. Johnson Creek, 1-2
6. Cheese Kings, 1-3
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