Oconomowoc has made the LOL playoffs for the last 15 years, and that is not going to change this year. Going into the final two games, Oconomowoc needed a lot to happen to not break that streak. They needed to beat two other solid playoff teams on the road (Sussex and West Bend) and have Monches and Brookfield Blue Sox lose their last games. All of that came to fruition Saturday as Oconomowoc beat West Bend 15-8 and secured the final playoff spot. It was a scoreless game going into the top of the 4th when Chandler Ziemann led off with a walk. Luke Nelson bunted him over to 2nd and then Jeff Rhoads singled to make it first and third. A walk to Derek Nelson loaded the bases and then an almost-double-play ball by Mitchell scored Ziemann from third. A two-out double to left by Josh Bouche scored two more runs making it 3-0 Oconomowoc. West Bend scored one in the bottom of the 4th on a sac fly to make the score 3-1. Things remained that way until the top of the 7th when the Five O's made it 5-1 with hits by Bob Bolson, Chandler Ziemann and Jeff Rhoads. West Bend's bats woke up and scored five runs in the bottom of the 7th, taking a 6-5 lead. The damaging blow came from a three run home run by Dylan Hinkley and eventually chased starter Justin Mortensen. Oconomowoc reared back by sending 12 batters to the plate in the top of the 8th and scored seven runs to regain the lead and put the score at 12-6. The inning started with a lead off double by Mike Mitchell. Josh Bouche then put a perfect bunt down which was thrown into right field, scoring Mitchell and allowing Bouche to advance to third base. A double by Andrew Bauer scored Bouche. Oconomowoc got some help with some walks and a hit batter before Mitchell eventually came up a second time in the inning and laced another double to center field. West Bend scored two in the bottom of the 8th to make it 12-8 but Jeff Rhoads gave the Five O's three more insurance runs in the top of the 9th with a home run to right. This marks the 6th consecutive game Rhoads has homered.
Justin Mortensen got the no-decision going 6+ solid innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits while walking 4 and striking out 1. Luke Nelson picked up the win going the final 3 innings allowing 3 runs on 3 hits while hitting one batter.
At the plate Oconomowoc was led by Jeff Rhoads who was 3 for 5 with a double, home run, hit by pitch and 6 RBIs. Luke Nelson was 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs and Mike Mitchell was 3 for 6 with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs.
The win finishes the LOL regular season for Oconomowoc giving them a 9-9 record. With the loss to Brookfield and Monches, the also secured the 6th playoff spot. They will take on the #3 seed Lannon in the first round next Saturday at 1:00 pm in Lannon.
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