Game Summary

Game on Sunday, May 25, 2008
Evansville Jays at Stoughton Merchants

Pitchers:
Stoughton - Van Haden, Engler (10, L)
Evansville - Drefahl, Vredeveld (7), Legler (7, W)
Strike Out Leaders:
Stoughton - Van Haden 13
Evansville - Drefahl, Legler with 2 each
Leading Hitters:
Stoughton - Van Haden 2x4
Evansville - Je. Rasmussen 2x4
Doubles:
Evansville - Je. Rasmussen

Game on Monday, May 26, 2008 (Memorial Day)
Deerfield Demons at Evansville Jays

Pitchers:
Deerfield - Weigel (L), Anderber (7)
Evansville - Je. Rasmussen (W), Larson (8)
Strike Out Leaders:
Deerfield - Weigel 2
Evansville - Je. Rasmussen 6
Leading Hitters:
Deerfield - Coffey 2x5
Evansville - Je. Rasmussen 2x3, Bronkema 2x5
Doubles:
Deerfield - Klawitter
Evansville - Cashore
Triples:
Deerfield - Wolf

Game on Sunday, June 1, 2008
Evansville Jays at Orfordville Orioles

Pitchers:
Orfordville - Moore, Cox (10, L)
Evansville - Drefahl, Larson (9, W)
Strike Out Leaders:
Orfordville - Moore 7
Evansville - Drefahl 5
Leading Hitters:
Orfordville - Cox 2x5
Evansville - C. Rasmussen 3x5, Frey 2x4
Doubles:
Orfordville - Cox
Evansville - Cashore, Kraus

EVANSVILLE HOME TALENT BASEBALL WINS 3 IN-A-ROW

After losing the first game of the Home Talent Sunday League season to Albion, the Evansville Home Talent Baseball team finds themselves in the middle of a 3 game winning streak with 2 of those wins coming in extra innings.

On Sunday, May 25th Evansville traveled to Stoughton to play the Merchants. Evansville faced pitcher and outstanding hitter Ryan Van Haden, former Wiota player. In 2004 with Wiota, Van Haden was co-awarded the HTL's Kendall Murray Memorial Award for outstanding competitiveness in pitching. Also that year, he was named the West Section MVP and won the West batting title with a .528 batting average.

Van Haden struck out two of the first 3 batters he faced in the top of the first, but Evansville scored 2 in the second and 2 in the third to take a 4 to 1 lead. In the second inning Jon Frey reached on an error, Brookes Baumberger singled, and Tim Legler hit a clutch 2-out 2-RBI base hit to score Frey & Baumberger. In the third inning Jeremy Rasmussen lead off the inning with a base hit, two batters later Brent Cashore and Jon Frey each reaching on errors with Rasmussen scoring. Chad Rasmussen hit an RBI base hit to score Cashore.

Stoughton was able to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Jays score the eventually the winning run in the top of the tenth inning. Evansville scored when Jeremy Rasmussen lead off the inning with a walk and advanced to third when Craig Paton reached on an error. Next batter, Brent Cashore, recorded the game winning RBI by singling in Rasmussen. Evansville won in ten innings 5 - 4.

First year pitcher, Matt Drefahl (works at the Evansville Piggly Wiggly), pitched a great game by only giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run in six innings of work. Relief pitcher, Tim Legler, was awarded the win and also did great job working in extended relief.

For the Memorial Day holiday weekend most HTL teams play on Sunday and Monday, which forces teams to show the strength of their pitching staff. Evansville had a couple aces in the hole with Jeremy Rasmussen and Nic Larson available for Monday's show down against the Deerfield Demons.

The Memorial Day game at the high school's Stan Sperry Field was sponsored by Evansville's Andrew Peart Agency who provided free hot dogs, soda and Brewers tickets raffle to fans in attendance. At the game there was a DJ game announcer and flags for the National Anthem were provided by Military Color Guard made up of Evansville's Veterans.

Deerfield scored first in the top of the first inning, but Evansville bounced back to score two in the bottom half of the first inning when Jeremy Rasmussen (starting pitcher) walked and was followed by a base hit from Jake Bronkema. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Brent Cashore hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to right field to score Rasmussen from third. Bronkema scored and a base hit by Jon Frey. Evansville leads 2 to 1.

Deerfield tied the game in the fourth inning. Evansville scored in the fifth inning when Brent Cashore lead off the inning with a double and scored the go ahead run on a clutch 2-out base hit by Ryan Lindemann. The Jays tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning when Brookes Baumberger and Craig Paton had back-to-back walks. Next batter, Nic Larson, hit a base hit to score Baumberger. Jeremy Rasmussen hit singled in the inning. A couple of batters later with the bases loaded and two outs, Brent Cashore was hit by a pitch to bring in Larson. Evansville won 5 - 2.

Evansville pitching once again did an outstanding job. Starting pitcher, Jeremy Rasmussen, went 6 innings, scattered 4 hits, struck out 6 batters to earn the win. While relief pitcher, Nic Larson, pitched 2 innings gave up one hit and struck out 2 batters to record the save.

On Sunday, June 1st Evansville traveled down to Orfordville, who is under new management of Trevor Wallace and BJ Cook when long time manager Jan Toubl stepped down after the 2007 season. Once again, Matt Drefahl received the nod for the start. Drefahl, alum for Orfordville-Parkview, chose Evansville Home Talent due to the chance to pitch and that Orfordville Home Talent roster was full.

Evansville was down early in the game 2-0 going in to the top of the fourth inning when Brent Cashore doubled and scored on a base hit by Jon Frey. The Jays took the lead in the sixth inning when Craig Paton singled, and was followed by a Brent Cashore walk. Then two batters later Chad Rasmussen hit a ball in the infield with Paton breaking for home plate from third scored safely with a play at the plate. Next batter, Ben Kraus, hit a double to score Cashore. Evansville leads 3 - 2.

Evansville scored again in the eighth inning when Jon Frey lead off with a base hit and stole second base, then Chad Rasmussen scored Frey on a single. Orfordville tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with two runs.

Relief pitcher, Nic Larson, came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning and shut Orfordville down with 3 up and 3 down. With one out in the tenth inning, Jon Frey walked and was followed by a Chad Rasmussen base hit. Next batter Ben Kraus walked to load the bases. Chad Rasmussen scored from second base when Ryan Lindemann hit a ball in the infield. Orfordville got Frey out on a force at home, but Orfordville's throw to first for the double play hit the runner and got by the first baseman to score Rasmussen. The Jays added another run when Kraus scored on an infield throwing error.

Nic Larson again, shut down Orfordville in the bottom of the tenth inning with 3 up and 3 down. Evansville won 6 - 4. Larson received the win by pitching 2 innings and striking out 2 batters. Drefahl pitched well going 8 innings and striking out 5.

Despite the rain and wet weather on Thursday, May 29 the Jays were able to get their Night League game in with Verona at Leota Park; however, Verona won 8 - 0.

This Thursday, June 5 Evansville will travel to Middleton for a 7:30 pm Night League game, and for Sunday, June 8 Evansville with travel to Whitewater for a 1:00 pm game. For the latest schedule and results please visit the team's website at www.evansville.hometalent.org.

This week the Evansville Home Talent Team would like to recognize their Silver Sponsors: Midwest Dental, VFW Post 6905, Roger Roth CPA & Associates, American Legion, Subway of Evansville, The Night Owl, Hoffy's House of Tunes Mobile DJ, Andrew Peart Agency American Family Insuranc. Next week the Bronze sponsors will be listed. A complete list of sponsors is listed on the team's website.