A determined and feisty Monches gave Oconomowoc a tough battle on Sunday but the Five Os were able to top the Irish 11-8. Oconomowoc struck first pushing a run across in the top of the 1st off starter Kirk Ressler. Tim Schlosser led off the game with a single and came around to score on a single by Derek Nelson. Monches fired right back by getting 4 runs in the bottom of the 2nd off starter Matt Schref which was capped off by a 2 run home run by Mike Mudge to put the score at 4-1. A soccer tournament prevents Schref's faithful band of brothers from enjoying the game without their shirts on. Scref settled down and Oconomowoc chipped away at the lead scoring 2 runs in the top of the 3rd inning when Derek Nelson walked and was driven to third on a single by Mike Mitchell. Those runs came across later in the inning on a ground out by Josh Bouche and single by Steve Rhoads. Going into the top of the 5th Oconomowoc was down 4-3 when they pushed a run across to tie it before Steve Rhoads hit a grand slam to put the Five Os up 8-4. Once again, the determined Monches players battled back and scored 2 in the bottom of the 5th and 2 more in the bottom of the 6th to tie the game back up 8-8. Things stayed this way until the top of the 8th when Josh Fenzl drew a lead off walk which sparked a rally for 3 runs. Tim Schlosser then reached first on a miscue on his bunt and Luke Nelson bunted the runners to 2nd and 3rd. With one out Jeff Rhoads grounded a single through the infield to score 2 runs and later came around to score the 3rd on a balk by the pitcher. This was all the cusion Luke Nelson needed as he shut the door for the Five Os victory. This then paved the way for some "interesting" post-game renditions of YMCA by the Village People and Thriller by Michael Jackson from the Monches faithful.
Leading Oconomowoc at the plate was Steve Rhoads who was 2 for 5 with a run scored and 5 RBIs. 4 other Oconomowoc players had 2 hits each. On the mound, Luke Nelson earned his 5th win of the season going 3 innings, walking 1, striking out 4 and not allowing a hit. Matt Schref threw the first 5 innings giving up 5 earned runs, 4 hits, walking 3 while striking out 3. Rob Becker threw 1+ innings of work giving up 2 unearned runs, 2 hits and striking out 2.
The win puts Oconomowoc at 16-0 in the LOL West and 20-7 overall. Their next matchup will be against Hartland at home on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
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