After three separate rainouts, Oconomowoc finally took on the #3 ranked team in the state, The Stoughton Merchants, in the first round on SWABA on Wednesday. The O's managed to come back from a 3-run deficit to tie the game before scoring one in the last inning to earn the walk off win and advance to the second round of SWABA.
Oconomowoc got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the 2nd when Josh Bouche singled to left and was moved to third on a hit by pitch to Shawn Tremaine followed by a single from Brett "One and Done" Marshall. Steve Rhoads then lifted a fly ball to center which Bouche was able to tag up on and put Oconomowoc up 1-0. Things remained that way until Stoughton took the lead in the top of the 4th with three runs making it 3-1. They added another run in the top of the 6th (SWABA games are 7 innings long except for the championship game which is 9 innings) to make it 4-1. In the bottom of the 6th Chandler Ziemann led off by reaching on an error and then moved to second on a single by Luke Nelson. Jeff Rhoads then came up and drove both of them home on the first pitch with a double to left to make the score 4-3. Derek Nelson then stepped to the plate and hit a slow dribbler to the pitcher. Attempting to get Rhoads out at third, the pitcher threw the ball into left field, allowing Rhoads to score and tie the game. Luke Nelson relieved Chris Fischer to throw the top of the 7th and got in a jam. Stoughton managed to get runners on second and third with one out however Nelson buckled down and struck out the next two batters to get out of it. In the bottom half of the 7th (final inning), Luke Nelson doubled with two outs to center. Jeff Rhoads then singled to center and scored Nelson on a close play at the plate to win the game.
Chris Fischer threw 6 solid innings for Oconomowoc allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits while walking 1, striking out 4 and hitting two batters. Luke Nelson picked up the win going 1 inning allowing no runs on 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2.
At the plate Luke Nelson and Jeff Rhoads were each 2 for 4 with a double. Nelson had 2 runs scored and Rhoads had 3 RBIs.
There are 12 teams in this years SWABA A Division meaning two teams will receive a second round bye. The final game of the first round will be held July 9 and then the second round matchups will be made available. SWABA results can be found in the menu at the top of every page.
The Five O's will return to LOL play this weekend with a home double header against the Brookfield Blue Sox (5-6) on Sunday at 1:00 pm and Monches (7-5) on Monday at 1:00 pm.
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