Ka-Boom!! Bulldog bats explode against the Spartans. After a scoreless 1st, Matt Hills lead off the top of the second with a walk and Tyler Simon followed with a double. Clint Van Tilborg then delivered with a single to left scoring both Matt and Tyler. Seven Lakes answered with 1 run in the bottom of the second. The Bulldogs got on the board again in the top of the 4th. Matt Hills reached on an error at short, Tyler Simon followed with a single to center. Clint was next to bat, sending a seeing-eye single between 3rd and short scoring Matt from second. A walk and fielders choice scored 2 more runs making the score 5-1. Seven Lakes scored 1 unearned run in the bottom of the 4th making the score 5-2. The Bulldogs were back at it again in the top of the 5th. With 1 out Matt Hills hit a double to right. Clint then came up with 2 outs and hit a shot off the fence in left center to bring in Matt. Ben Timmer followed with a single to center scoring Clint from 3rd. Austin got in the act with a single to left. Eric Hughes hit a single to center bringing in Ben to end the scoring for the Bulldogs in the top of the 5th. With the score 8-2, the Bulldogs seemed to have the game well in hand, but the Spartans were ready to rally. A walk 3 singles and 2 errors got the Spartans back in the game scoring 5 runs. After 5 innings the Bulldogs were now holding on 8-7. The Bulldogs and Spartans went scoreless in the 6th. With the Bulldogs looking to pad their lead, Ben Timmer got things started with a single to left center. Ben then moved to 3rd on an errant pickoff attempt by the Spartans. With one out Eric Hughes finished off the scoring for the Bulldogs by bringing in Ben with a single to right. The Spartans did not go down easy in the bottom of the seventh. After getting the first two Spartans the #6 and #7 batters reached with singles. AJ then got the #8 hitter to fly out the Eric in centerfield. Wheeew!!!

Offensive highlights:

· First baseman Clint VanTilborg paced the Bulldogs 15 hit attack with 3 hits. Eric Hughes, Tyler Simon and Ben Timmer had 2 hits each. Gavin Tores, Eric Schweiger, AJ Glasshoff, Matt Hills, Scott Duncan and Austen Smith had 1 hit apiece.

· Clint VanTilborg had 4 RBI's, Eric Hughes followed with 2 RBI's, Cory Whitcher and Austen Smith each had 1 RBI.
Pitching highlights:

· Rocky Branagan went 4 innings, 3 K, 6 H, 1 BB 1 ER (1-0)
· Lance Judy went 2/3 innings, 0 K, 0 H, 0 BB 0 ER
· AJ Glasshoff went 1 1/3 innings, 3 K, 4 H, 0 BB 0 ER

Score by inning:

Submitted by; Donald Russell