Black Sox end season on high note

The Colfax Black Sox team concluded the summer baseball season with back to back games, losing 7-3 to the Baldwin Buzz at home July 22, then coming from behind for an 11-8 win over the Menomonie Junior Legion team at Wakanda Park July 23.

Baldwin

Colfax fell in a hole early as the Buzz scored three runs in the first with only one hit – a lead off double –and they took advantage of three Black Sox errors to go with two walks and a wild pitch off starting pitcher Logan Mittelstadt. Mittelstadt settled down after that and pitched shut out ball for the next three innings, allowing Colfax to peck away at the lead. They put a run up in the second when Sawyer DeMoe drew a walk, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, then came home on a double by Zach Meyer. Colfax tallied another run in the second when Nate Leibfried took a walk, swiped second, moved to third on a balk by the pitcher and scored on a bunt from Mittelstadt.

Walks can kill a team and Baldwin found that out as Andrew Harmon patiently drew one with one out, moved to second on a base hit from Trevor Olson then scored the tieing run on another timely hit, this time by Leibfried. Olson was thrown out at the plate with the go ahead run on the play however. The Black Sox had another chance to take the lead in the fourth after a lead off double by Brandon Anderson who then stole third, but he was also thrown out at home trying to score.

Errors again plagued the Black Sox as they committed four of them, allowing Baldwin to come up with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings for a four run lead. Colfax gave it their best shot in the bottom of the seventh as they put runners on second and third with two out on a walk and an error, but a pop up ended the threat.

Mittelstadt struck out four Buzz batters while walking four in five innings on the mound while DeMoe finished up, also whiffing four and walking four.

Baldwin    3  0  0  0  2  2  0 – 7
Colfax        0  1  1  1  0  0  0 – 3

Menomonie

There was no room for injuries as the Black Sox had just nine players dressed for the game with several players on vacation or at their summer jobs. DeMoe was the only pitcher with a lot of experience available while coach Randy DeMoe had to make a call or two to round up a ninth player for the game.

After falling behind early again, 7-3 after two innings, Colfax got the score closer by adding two runs in the third when Brady Simonson singled and moved to third on a bunt by Olson that was misplayed by Menomonie. Simonson was thrown out at home trying to score on a wild pitch but Olson moved to third on the play  and after Brett Prince walked, Olson came in on a base hit from Ben Christianson. Mason Harmon took another walk and Jeremiah Wait (who hadn’t played all summer for the team) brought a run in on a fielder’s choice.

DeMoe whiffed two of the three batters he faced in the bottom of the inning and forced a pop up by the other, and the Black Sox manufactured a run in the fourth when DeMoe was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a ground ball and came home on a wild pitch to get within a run at 7-6.

Simonson did his best imitation of Carlos Gomez with an over the shoulder catch in deep centerfield to help DeMoe out and a ground ball out and another K by DeMoe ended the Menomonie fourth. Wait reached base on a fielder’s choice in the fifth and swiped second and third before scoring the tying run on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. DeMoe was all business as he struck out three batters with a walk in between in the bottom of the inning to keep the game knotted at 7-7.

Colfax came up with four big runs to take the lead in the top of the sixth as Nate Leibried (who also plays for the Eau Claire U17  Legion team) walked, stole second and came all the way home on a wild pitch. DeMoe also walked, stole second and scored on a Simonson base hit and Olson knocked the third run of the inning in with another hit and ended up at home on yet another wild pitch. DeMoe was in command from there on out as he gave up just one run in the final two innings while striking out four batters including the final two to end the game. He was also helped out by his defense as catcher Leibfried threw out two runners trying to steal third with Mason Harmon putting the tag on both times.

DeMoe earned the win as he struck out 13 batters while walking the same amount.

Colfax                2  1  2  1  1  4  0 – 11
Menomonie   3  4  0  0  0  0  1 – 8