Slow start derails Riverdogs

HOWARDS GROVE – The Howards Grove Riverdogs dug themselves an 8-0 hole after only one-half inning as they stumbled, 12-4, against visiting Thiensville-Mequon Sunday afternoon.

Howards, which has lost four in a row, dropped to 8-7 in the Land O’ Lakes Baseball League Northern Division. The Twins hiked their division mark to 9-7.

The Twins took advantage of five walks in the top of the first. Riverdog starting pitcher Nick Reschke experienced arm trouble which adversely affected his control.

Eric Zuelsdorf relieved Reschke in the first and pitched 5-2/3 solid innings. Zuelsdorf allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with five walks and no strikeouts.

“Nick wasn’t throwing like he usually does. His velocity was down,” said Riverdog player-manager P.J. Weber.

“After an eight-run first, that kind of took the wind out of our sails. I was hoping we could claw back.

“Zuelsdorf pitched well,” Weber said.

Howards tallied three runs in the second, keyed by Weber’s two-run single, to shave the deficit to 8-3. The Riverdogs were blanked the next five innings by Andy Monigal.

The Riverdogs’ other runs came on Andrew Stern’s single in the second and Chris Menart’s basesloaded walk in the eighth.

Monigal, Nick Doedens and Vinny Daniels led the Twins’ bats with two hits each. Monigal notched a complete-game win and allowed six hits.

BASEBALL
THIENSVILLE 12
RIVERDOGS	4

Score by Innings
Thiensville….…..801 200 100 – 12 11 5
Riverdogs……….030 000 010 – 4 6 1
Andy Monigal and Ryan Finnerty; Nick Reschke, Eric Zuelsdorf (1), Brad Traas (7) and Matt Bakke. W – Monigal. L _R_e_sc_h_k_e_. ____________________