PHS falls to Huskies at Fox Cities Stadium

APPLETON – Costly mistakes by Plymouth paved the way for New Holstein’s 8-4 victory over the Panthers at Fox Cities Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

The Eastern Wisconsin Conference baseball matchup capped off a day in which PHS fans earlier watched the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers edge Clinton, 4-3, in a minor-league contest.

The Huskies upped their league-leading mark to 12-1 (14-2 overall). PHS slipped to 7-8 in the conference (10-11 overall). It was the third straight year the two teams squared off at the Rattlers’ outstanding ballpark.

Panther head coach Butch Cain was happy with how his team hung tough against the reigning EWC champions who competed at state last year.

“We were right there. We battled,” Cain said.

“You can’t give a team like New Holstein extra outs. They were able to take advantage of their opportunities.

“We made errors on routine plays,” he pointed out.

“It was a game that kind of slipped away for us.”

The Panthers outhit New Holstein 8-7 but also led in errors, 3- 1. Plymouth’s miscues led to four earned runs. PHS stranded 12 baserunners, compared with only five by the Huskies.

New Holstein broke the game open with four runs in the top of the fifth inning to build a 7-3 cushion. Cody Thiede’s two-run single was the crucial hit. An infield error by PHS scored a run.

PHS cut the deficit to 7-3 with two runs in its half of the fifth but failed to come any closer. Justin Rooker’s two-run single accounted for the runs.

The Panthers loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but relief pitcher Parker Schrage fanned the final two batters to end the game.

Brock Reichardt led PHS in hits with two. Rooker had a teamhigh two RBIs.

Schrage and Eric Weber paced the Huskies in hits with two each. Weber, who belted a two-run homer, Schrage and Thede had a team-best two RBIs apiece.

Weber’s homer came in the first and gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead. Both runs were unearned because of a two-out error that Schrage reached on the error and Weber followed with his roundtripper.

Weber, the starting hurler, was the winner. He allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in five innings.

Cory Thuemmler was the losing pitcher – going 5-1/3 frames and giving up eight runs (four earned) on seven hits with seven walks and three strikeouts.

“We hit the ball well against two of the top pitchers in the league,” Cain said.

“Overall, I was pleased with our effort. The guys had a fantastic time. It was a great experience [playing at Fox Cities Stadium].”

Cain appreciated the efforts of the Plymouth Baseball Booster Club which hosted a tailgate party for PHS fans before the Rattlers’ game, and the Panther followers to attended the EWC contest.

“I’d like to thank the Timber Rattlers. They were a great host,” the coach said.

BASEBALL
NEW HOLSTEIN	8
PLYMOUTH	4

Score by Innings New Holstein…..….…..201 041 0 – 8 7 1 Plymouth……………..…100 021 0 – 4 8 3

Eric Weber, Parker Schrage (6) and Zach Lefeber; Cory Thuemmler, Trevor Thiel (6) and Brock Reichardt. W – Weber. L – Thuemmler. 2B – New Holstein, Schrage. HR – __________ _N_ew__ H_o_ls_te_i_n,_ W__eb_e_r_. __