Riverdogs fall to Port

PORT WASHINGTON – The Port Washington Lakers seized a 5-0 lead after four innings to key a 9-2 win over the Howards Grove Riverdogs here Monday night.

The victory moved the Lakers into a first-place tie with the Cedarburg Mercs in the Northern Division race of the Land O’ Lakes Baseball League.

Port Washington and Cedarburg will meet in one-game playoff Saturday to decide the regular-season champion and the No. 1 seed for the division tournament. Both teams are 14-4 in the division.

Howards finished 10-8 in LOL play and is the No. 5 seed for the tourney. The Riverdogs, 13-14 overall, will play at No. 4-seeded Thiensville-Mequon in a first-round game Saturday at 1 p.m. in Mequon.

“We were short [less than full strength] tonight, which hurt us offensively,” said Riverdog playermanager P.J. Weber.

“We look forward to the playoffs and getting back to full strength.”

Weber paced the Riverdogs’ bats with two hits and also scored a run. Ben Stanczyk had one RBI.

Matt Schroeder was the losing pitcher. Schroeder went five innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits with two walks and pair of strikeouts.

The Lakers pounded out 16 hits, led by Derek Kozlowski’s three. Matt Soderlund earned the victory – allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts in seven frames.