A pair of newcomers to the Upsala Bluejays franchise had a big hand in Upsala’s 8-6 road win at Hellie Field over the Pierz Bulldogs on Sunday. Travis Barthel, who signed this season after playing for Swanville, belted a 2-run Homer, walked 3 times and drove in 3 runs and Jaxon Bartkowicz made his Victory League pitching debut a memorable one, going 5 innings to get the Win and 1 day after collecting his first career hit with a double at Royalton, Jaxon led off the 5th with a triple and came in to score a run.
The Bulldogs took a lead in the bottom of the 1st when Craig Luberts reached on a fielders choice, went to 2nd on a single from Cody Weiss, then went to 3rd on a wild pitch. After Teddy Dehler lined out to 1st for the 2nd out, Gunnar Gustafson walked to load the bases. Link Toops then singled to right to score Luberts to make it 1-0.
In the top of the 2nd inning, Jeremy Mugg walked with 1 out, then Travis Barthel smashed a 2-run Homer to left to put the Bluejays up 2-1.
Upsala used the long-ball again in the top of the 3rd to increase their lead when Bryce Binek walked with 1 out and then Brandon Welinski sent a pitch over the wall in the left, giving the Bluejays a 4-1 lead. Upsala left the bases loaded in the 3rd as well.
In the top of the 4th, the Bluejays took advantage of some wildness from Bulldogs pitching, as Justin Cichon was hot by a pitch with 1 out, then Bryce Binek walked. After Brandon Welinski flew out to left, Matt Swanson walked and Upsala had the bases loaded with 2 outs. Then 3 straight walks to Jack Primus, Jeremy Mugg and and Travis Barthel forced in 3 more runs before a strikeout ended the inning with the Jays now in front 7-1.
The Bulldogs got 1 of those runs back in the bottom of the 4th on an error, a single by Deegan Beck, and a couple of force plays, the 2nd one by Brian Kiel that allowed Link Toops to score and make it 7-2 after 4 innings.
In the top of the 5th, Jaxon Bartkowicz led off with a triple to right, then a Justin Cichon single brought him in to put Upsala ahead 8-2.
In the bottom of the 5th, Teddy Dehler belted a 2-out solo Homer to center to make it an 8-3 game.
Pierz scored again in the 7th when Brian Kiel walked, then was wild pitched to both 2nd and 3rd before scoring on a ground out by Cooper Grashorn to make it 8-4.
In the bottom of the 8th, Gunnar Gustafson led off with a single, but was still at 1st after a strikeout and a fly ball to left. Kyle Hastings then singled to right, moving Gustafson to 2nd. Brian Kiel then singled as well, driving in Gustafson to make it 8-5 as Kyle Hastings advanced to 3rd. Cooper Grashorn then lined another single, scoring Hastings to make it 8-6 with runners at 1st and 2nd and 2 outs. A single by Craig Luberts loaded the bases and out the tying run at 2nd. But Upsala got ut of the inning on a ground out to 3rd as Upsala took an 8-6 lead to the 9th.
Upsala got a lead-off single from CJ Clear in the 9th, then a 1-out single by Brandon Welinski. But then 2 pop ups, one to right and another to 1st, ended the Upsala threat.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Bulldogs got a lead-off bunt single from Teddy Dehler, followed by a pair of strikeouts. Deegan Beck kept the Bulldogs hopes alive with a 2-out walk, but Matt Swanson closed things down with a strikeout to end the game with an 8-6 Upsala win.
Upsala 8 11 1 – 8
Pierz Bulldogs 6 11 1 – 6
WP: Jaxon Bartkowicz 5IP 3 runs 5 hits 6k 3bb
SV: Matt Swanson 4IP 3 runs 7 hits 8k 2bb
LP: Cody Weiss 2.1IP 3 runs 4 hits 1k 2bb
Aeden Janson 1.1IP 4 runs 2 hits 0k 6bb 1hp
Gunnar Gustafson 1.1IP 1 run 2 hits 1k 2bb
Kyle Hastings 4IP 0 runs 3 hits 0k 2bb
Bluejays:
Justin Cichon 2-3 hp, rbi, run
– CJ Clear 1-1 bb
Bryce Binek 1-3 3bb, 2 runs
Brandon Welinski 2-6 Hr, 2 rbi, run
Matt Swanson 1-5 bb, run
Jack Primus 0-5 bb, sb, rbi
Jeremy Mugg 1-3 2bb, rbi, run
Travis Barthel 1-2 Hr, 3bb, 3 rbi, run
Cohl Clear 1-4 bb
Jaxon Bartkowicz 1-5 3B, run
Bulldogs:
Cooper Grashorn 1-4 bb, 2 rbi
Craig Luberts 2-5 2B, run
Cody Weiss 2-4 bb, sb
Teddy Dehler 2-5 Hr, rbi, run
– Mason Herold 0-0
Gunnar Gustafson 1-4 bb, run
Link Toops 1-5 rbi, run
Deegan Beck 1-4 bb
Kyle Hastings 1-4 run
– Aeden Janson 0-1
Brian Kiel 1-3 bb, sb, 2 rbi, run