The Five Os had a very difficult weekend scheduled for them but were up to the task and pulled out 2 wins in very close games. The opened the weekend hosting the Sussex Cardinals (4-3). Oconomowoc struck first off starter Matt Kopp with a run in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd innings. After a 1-2-3 1st, Derek Nelson led off the 2nd with a single and eventually came around to score on a throwing error by second baseman Nick Ghelfi. In the 2nd, Luke Nelson doubled with no outs and was brought home on a single by Derek Nelson. Sussex tied the game up with 2 runs in the top of the 2nd off starter Rob Becker. The Cardinals tacked four hits in a row on Becker to bring their two runs across. The Five Os answered with a run in the bottom of the 4th when Tim Schlosser singled home Mike Bolson to put the score at 3-2. Sussex got to Becker again in the top of the 5th with a 3-run home run by Seth Kroenke to put the Cardinals up by two. The Os answered yet again with a solo home run by Jeff Rhoads in the bottom of the 5th to put Oconomowoc down by one. Things remained that way until the bottom of the 7th when the Five Os bats came alive off Kopp with five hits in the final two innings including home runs from Mike Mitchell, Tim Schlosser and Derek Nelson putting the final at 9-5. Luke Nelson came in to pitch in the top of the 9th to earn the save.
At the plate Oconomowoc was led by Derek Nelson who was 4 for 4 with 3 runs scored, a home run, walk and 3 RBIs. Tim Schlosser was 3 for 4 with a home run, 2 RBIs and hit by pitch. On the mound Rob Becker picked up his 4th win of the year going 8 innings, allowing 5 earned runs, 14 hits, 2 walks and striking out 5. Luke Nelson picked up the save going 1 inning, allowing no hits and striking out 2.
On Sunday the Five Os faced another challenge when 2nd place Lannon strolled into Oconomowoc. Coming off a 12-0 run rule the day before, Lannon was looking to hand Oconomowoc it's first LOL loss of the season. Going for the Stonemen was the ageless wonder and Five Os killer, Ron Kozlowski. Taking the mound for this lefty-on-lefty matchup for Oconomowoc was Matt Schref. Oconomowoc struck first with a run in the bottom of the 1st when Jeff Rhoads singled with 2 outs and was brought home on a double by Derek Nelson. Lannon tied the game up in the top of the 2nd when Ron Kozlowski led off with a walk and eventually came around to score on a fielders choice by Jason Kahlman. The score remained that way until the top of the 5th when Lannon dumped 3 runs on Oconomowoc on 4 straight hits off Schref. In a story similar to Saturday's game, the Os pitching staff was able to shut down Lannon the rest of the way and leave it up to Oconomowoc's bats to bring them back. In the bottom of the 8th, Luke Nelson started a rally with a lead off double in the right-center gap. Following a single by Jeff Rhoads, Derek Nelson singled in Luke to put the score at 4-2. Derek eventually came around to score later in the inning on a throwing error by catcher Dean Haase on a failed pick-off attempt. Luke Nelson came in to shut Lannon down in the top of the 9th which brought Oconomowoc up to bat in the bottom of the 9th down by one. Newcomer Josh Bouche led off the inning with a walk and Tim Schlosser bunted him over to 2nd. Luke Nelson singled to put runners at first and third with one out. Jeff Rhoads was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a strike out, Mike Mitchell came up with the bases loaded and two outs. Mitchell was hit on the arm by a pitch to tie the game and put it into extra innings. Luke shut down Lannon again in the top of the 10th highlighted by a spectacular catch by Josh Fenzl behind the plate. In the bottom of the 10th, Tyler Malay led off the inning with a walk and was moved to second on a failed fielders choice (sac bunt) by Josh Fenzl. A throwing error put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs when Josh Bouche stepped up and singled through the drawn in infield to win the game.
On the mound Matt Schref went 8 innings and got the no-decision. Matt allowed 4 earned runs, 10 hits, 3 walks and struck out 2. Luke Nelson came in to pitch 2 innings earning the win giving up 2 hits, walking 1 and striking out 3. Leading Oconomowoc at the plate was Luke Nelson, Jeff Rhoads and Derek Nelson who each had 3 hits. Derek Nelson went 7 for 9 over the weekend with a home run, double and 5 RBIs.
The win puts Oconomowoc at 10-0 in the LOL West with a 3 game lead over three teams tied for second place. They continue with Tri County action with a game at Hustisford on Friday night before hosting North Lake on Sunday in LOL action.
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