Jarrett Fueger’s grand slam punctuated a late rally that lifted Waunakee past Mazomanie on Sunday in a 7-6 road victory.
Fueger had a good approach to that last plate appearance.
“I had seen a lot of off speed from him my previous at bat and knew he was struggling with his fastball,” said Fueger. “I was just trying to get something that stayed up and hit it hard somewhere to keep it moving to the next guy. From a personal perspective it was the coolest moment I have ever had in my baseball career. It’s everything you grow up dreaming about, and it’s the situation you make up for yourself as a kid in the backyard — to hit the go-ahead grand slam down three in the ninth. I couldn’t have been happier than to do it and share that moment with these guys.”
The Local 9 went into the top of the ninth inning trailing by four runs. Waunakee plated a run before Fueger’s heroics.
Mazomanie scored a run in the bottom of the second to take the early lead. Waunakee tied it when Jack Shepski doubled and scored on a Luke Shepski single to right. The Mustangs went back on top in the fifth on a solo home run, but the Local 9 responded with a run of their in the top of the next inning when Andy Nordloh hit a lead-off single and Jarrett Fueger doubled, putting runners on second and third. Shea DuCharme’s two-out RBI single made it 2-2.
The Mustangs took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning on a walk and a double, and Mazomanie added three more runs in the eighth inning to make it 6-2.
Waunakee mounted its comeback in the top of the ninth, with Luke Shepski reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Wade Farmer singled and Nordloh got on base via an error. Riley Ripp also reached base on an error and Luke Shepski scored on the play, pulling Waunakee to within three runs of the Mustangs. Fueger went deep, sending the second pitch he saw over the left field fence.
With 11 hits for the game, Waunakee was led by Jarrett Fueger, who had three, including a single, double and home run. DuCharme and Luke Shepski each collected two hits, while Ripp and Jack Shepski both had doubles. Jeff Thomasen walked twice.
Blake Bieri started on the mound, going six innings, giving up six hits, one walk and two runs while striking out two. Dayne Olesen pitched the seventh inning and gave up a run. Jack Shepski pitched the eighth inning to earn the win, despite giving up three runs. Nordloh earned the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Waunakee hosts Reedsburg on Sunday, June 30, at 1 p.m. at Murphy Field. The Local 9 will also be at home on July 4 at 1 p.m. against Ashton.
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