Sox sweep four-game stand to stay undefeated in CRBL

By Ginna Young

They may have had four games back-to-back-to-back, but it didn’t even phase them, as the Cadott Red Sox Baseball team is heating up for summer action.

May 28 vs. Bloomer (W22-2)

First up, was a home game against the Bloomer Fightin’ Woodticks, the first night game the Sox ever played on Cadott’s improved baseball facility, thanks to the field lights that were installed through a community project.

“It was a great atmosphere,” said manager Rick Danielson.

The Sox piled up the runs over Bloomer, only allowing the visitors two runs in the fifth inning, as opposed to the 22 that were knocked in by Cadott.

The offense was firing on all cylinders, banging out 19 hits,” said Danielson. “Every starter had at least one hit.”

Picking up his first career win in the Chippewa River Baseball League (CRBL), was Ryan Zimmerman, who went five innings.

On offense, Jonah Hanson and Cole Bakkum each had 4 hits for the Sox, with Hanson hitting a three-run homer. Coming up with 2 hits each, were Carter Hesselman, Jack Kein, Luke Burzynski and Luke Erickson, who hit a grandslam.

May 31 vs. Eau Claire (W 7-1)

It was then off to the Eau Claire Cavaliers, for a Saturday game, which saw it go the way of the Sox, in a 7-1 victory.

On the mound for Cadott, was Henry Wilkinson, returned to the Red Sox this year, after pitching for the Eau Claire Express last season. Wilkenson went four scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 4 batters. Gio Basile then came in to pitch relief, going four innings, to earn the win, giving up 2 hits and a run, while striking out 9.

Jack Gabler was also at the helm, with a lone hit. Offensively, Jack Redwine had 2 hits, while Hanson, Bakkum, Burzynski, Wilkenson and Tony Riley all added a hit in the win.

June 1 vs. Whitehall (W 7-2)

The next day, Cadott was on the road to face Whitehall, in a doubleheader, who was no match for the Sox. Cadott got on the board early and never looked back, to claim a 7-2 win.

Jalen Pascal began the game, but had to go out after two innings, because of arm discomfort, so Zack Thiesse took over, going two innings, allowing a single hit and a single run. Christian Schaller finished out the game, going three innings, with just a lone hit.

Erickson, Redwine and Burzynski all came up with 2 hits in the match-up, while Hesselman, Conor O’Reilly and Chad Kron all added a hit.

June 1 vs. Whitehall (W 6-1)

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Sox and the Whitetails seemed evenly match early on, as each scored a run in the first inning. Scoring then dried up until the fifth inning, when Cadott had four runs cross the plate, along with one in the next inning, to take a 6-1 victory.

Cadott is now 7-0 in league play, with a three-game lead in the North Division.

“This is the best record in the CRBL,” said Danielson. “The team is playing great baseball right now. Everyone in the lineup is contributing on offense. Pitching has been tremendous as well.”

Thiesse was again on the mound, going the entire stretch, allowing 5 hits and a run, while striking out 6.

Erickson and Bakkum each added 2 hits on offense, with Hesselman, Hanson, Redwine, Wilkinson, O’Reilly and Kron all chipping in with a hit.

“Playing four games in a five-day stretch isn’t easy, but the guys did a great job,” said Danielson.