Phil Zynda hit a 2-run Homer and Stephen Nezerka connected for a 3-run shot to lift the Pierz Brewers to a 5-3 win over the Opole Bears on Sunday at Hellie Field.
In a matchup of 2 Class C State Tournament teams that advanced to the Sweet 16 last year, the Pierz Brewers downed the Opole Bears 5-3.
The game was scoreless until the top of the 3rd when Opole got a lead-off infield single from Brodi Huls. He was wild pitched to 2nd and then scored on a 1-out rbi single from Mavrick Novitski to mske it 1-0.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the 6th when the Brewers got a lead-off single from Kaden Kruschek, a sacrifice bunt from Rylee Rauch and then Phil Zynda launched a 2-run Homer over the scoreboard in center field to give Pierz a 2-1 lead after 6 innings.
The Brewers had used Nathan Solinger and Gunnar Wicklund on the mound for 3 innings each and in the top of the 7th, it was Pete Schommer’s turn on the mound. Opole’s Isaiah Folsom greeted him with a single, then Folsom went to 2nd on a ground out. Luke Biniek tied the game with an rbi single to plate Folsom and make it 2-2. Biniek was then wild pitched to both 2nd, went to 3rd on a single by Mavrick Novitski, then scored on another wild pitch and the Bears were back in front 3-2 at the 7th inning stretch.
After Isaiah Folsom had thrown the first 6 innings for Opole, the Bears turned the ball over to Tate Lange to pitch the bottom of the 7th. He started with a strikeout, but then Walked Michael Nezerka. Gunnar Wicklund then laced a double to center to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Stephen Nezerka came up and fell behind in the count 0-2, but then got a hold of a pitch and belted a 3-run Homer over the wall in left to put Pierz back in front 5-3. It’s Nezerka’s 2nd Homer in as many games in a Brewer uniform after Homering at Freeport in the season opener.
That was all Pete Schommer needed as he shut down the Bears the rest of the way, retiring the side in order in both the 8th and 9th innings to earn the Win.
Opole 3 7 0 – 3
Pierz Brewers 5 9 2 – 5
WP: Pete Schommer 3.0 IP 2 runs 3 hits 3k 0bb
Nathan Solinger 3.0 IP 1 run 3 hits 2k 0bb 2hp
Gunnar Wicklund 3.0 IP 0 runs 1 hit 3k 0bb
LP: Tate Lange 2.0 IP 3 runs 2 hits 4k 4bb
Isaiah Folsom 6.0 IP 2 runs 7 hits 4k 0bb 2hp
Brewers:
Michael Nezerka 1-2 bb, 2hp, run
– Parker Kimman 0-0
Gunnar Wicklund 2-4 2B, run
Stephen Nezerka 2-4 Hr, 3 rbi, run
– Jared Prokott
Kaden Kruschek 2-3 bb, run
Rylee Rauch 0-3 sac
Phil Zynda 1-3 Hr, bb, 2 rbi, run
Nate Solinger 1-4
Derek Dahmen 0-3 bb
Pete Schommer 0-3
– Jesse Marshik 0-1
Bears:
Masyn Patrick 0-5
Brodi Huls 1-4 sac, run
Luke Biniek 1-4 rbi, run
Mavrick Novitski 2-4 rbi
Keaton Gustin 1-3 hp
– Will Eichten 0-0
Alex Lange 1-4
Jordan Schmitz 0-3 hp
Tate Lange 0-4
Isaiah Folsom 1-4 run