Home Talent: Local 9 rally falls short at Middleton

That clutch hit eluded the Waunakee Local 9.

After falling behind 4-0 in the third inning and trailing 5-1 after the fifth, Waunakee mounted a comeback that came up a bit short in a 5-4 loss Sunday to Middleton.

The Local 9 loaded the bases in the eighth but failed to score. In the ninth, Waunakee got the first two runners on; however, the Local 9 couldn’t get the tying run home.

Waunakee got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, when Ryne Fueger led off with a single and Zach Johnson doubled, putting runners on second and third. Wade Farmer’s sacrifice fly plated Fueger, pulling Waunakee to within 4-1. But Middleton responded with a run in the bottom of the frame.

Riley Ripp doubled to center in the top of the sixth and Jeff Thomasen walked. Ryne Fueger hit a two-out single to score Ripp, making it 5-2. An inning later, Farmer doubled and Ripp blasted a two-out, two-run homer over the rightfield fence to make it 5-4.

Moving to the eighth, Ryne Fueger, Johnson and Henry Pitsch had two-out singles to load the bases, but the Local 9 couldn’t get the big hit. Andy Nordloh and Ripp led off the ninth with singles. Again, Waunakee couldn’t score.

For the game, Waunakee outhit Middleton 14-6, as Ryne Fueger collected four hits and Ripp had three, including a double and a home run. Johnson ripped a single and a double, as Farmer and Jarrett Fueger each had doubles. Shea DuCharme, Pitsch and Nordloh all had singles.

Johnson started on the mound and went four innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out three. Dayne Oleson tossed the next inning and a third, giving up two hits, three walks and one earned run to go with one strikeout. Ryne Fueger pitched the next inning and two-thirds, surrendering two hits and a walk, Nordloh mopped up the last inning, fanning one and allowing no baserunners.

Waunakee is now sitting in a fourth-place tie with a 3-2 record. The Local Nine hosts Cross Plains (3-2) at Murphy Field at 1 p.m. and travels to Mazomanie on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game.