A week after falling in extra innings to the lone undefeated team left in the DCBL, Sister Bay was back on its home diamond with a date against Baileys Harbor. This matchup, however, would not go as planned for the Bays.
After Sam Forkert got the first three batters with two flyouts and a groundout, the Bays' batters would get to Aaron Brey quickly in the first. Three consecutive singles from Alex Laughlin, Stew Larsen, and Spencer Krause would quickly result in a 1-0 lead, as Larsen would scamper home on a passed ball. Two more singles for a total of five would drive across two more runs, and Sister Bay had built up a dominant 3-0 lead early in the first. It appeared the Bays were looking to right the ship and use the A's as a get-right game.
The A's had other plans, however, as Owen Dannhausen and Caleb Plzak would single and double, respectively, putting runners on second and third in the first three pitches. Danny Lodl would cut into the Bays three run lead with a 2 RBI single through the left side, resulting in a 3-2 Bays lead. After Spencer Krause came around to score in the third inning and the Bays had built their lead back up to 2, the game became a pitchers' duel.
Forkert, who is chasing his fifth pitcher of the year title, may not have had his top-of-the-line strikeout stuff, but was able to force much weak contact through his six innings of work. Forkert would finish his day with 6 innings pitched, 5 hits, 2 runs, and just 2 Strikeouts.
However, it was Aaron Brey who changed the tide for Baileys Harbor, as after the 3rd inning, Brey did not give up a single run the rest of his day. Even with multiple at-bats with runners in scoring position, second and third, two out, Brey held his ground and continued to put up zeros. The end line for Aaron Brey was 8 innings pitched, 9 hits, 4 runs, and 4 strikeouts.
Once Forkert's day was complete, Ernie Erickson came on to pitch for Sister Bay in the seventh. Erickson issued back-to-back walks to Isaac Baudhuin and Danny Lodl, and a Gavin Blink 2 RBI single back up the middle tied the game at 4. Matt Hecht would enter after the single and shut things down, but the damage was already done. After a few more zeros, Baileys Harbor got its offense going again, as Baudhuin led off the ninth with a single. After a bunt from Blink advancing the runner to second, a weak flyball off the bat of River Pawelski dropped over the head of Spencer Krause, giving the A's their first lead of the game, and put them 3 outs away from their first marquee win.
Danny Lodl would replace Brey in the ninth, striking out Rylan Caldecott and Stew Larson on his way to the save and the dramatic win for the A's, a team that found itself in the basement for so long. Baileys Harbor improved to 3-4 with the win, and Sister Bay fell to 5-2 on the season.
