In a tremendous pitching performance for both teams, it was a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 9th by Bob Bolson which gave Oconomowoc a 2-1 victory over Menomonee Falls on Sunday. The gamed cruised through the first four innings without either team scoring. In the top of the 5th, Falls took a 1-0 lead off starter Chris Fischer on two singles. Oconomowoc tied the game up in the bottom of the 6th when Andrew Bauer led off with a broken bat single. He was moved to second on a sac bunt by Luke Nelson and then was driven home on a two-out single by Mike Mitchell. After retiring Falls in the top of the 7th, the Five O's had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the bottom half when Steve Rhoads led off with a single and after a miscue on a bunt by Mike Bolson, had runners at second and third with no outs. Veteran Don August pitched out of the inning without a run after getting a ground out, strike out and flyout to end the inning. Things remained that way until the bottom of the 9th when Steve Rhoads reached on a one out single. Mike Bolson laid another sacrafice bunt down which was once again mishandled by Falls and put runners at second and third with one out. Bob Bolson came to the plate and with one ball on him, Oconomowoc attempted a suicide squeeze on a high fastball which Bolson managed to foul off. In only a move Pat Neary can truly appreciate, two pitches later Bolson laid a bunt down the first base line which allowed Rhoads to score from third and seal the win.
On the mound Chris Fischer went 5+ innings allowing one run on six hits while walking two and striking out one. Luke Nelson picked up the win going the final four innings allowing no runs on one hit while walking none and striking out five. At the plate Oconomowoc was led by Steve Rhoads who was 3 for 4 with a run scored.
The win puts Oconomowoc at 4-3 in the LOL West and 6-5 overall. They take on Rubicon in Tri County action in Juneau Tuesday night (7:30 pm) and then have the first round of SWABA Friday night against Stoughton in Johnson Creek (7:30 pm). They then return to LOL action on Sunday with a game at North Lake at 1:00 pm on Sunday.
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