Thursday Recap: A’s Win Back-And-Forth Affair Against Dodgers

Sheboygan A’s 6, De Pere Dodgers 5

The Sheboygan A’s and De Pere Dodgers played a taut affair on Thursday, but it was Sheboygan who eventually prevailed 6-5 after taking the lead for good in the sixth inning.

Sheboygan took an early lead in the first inning when one run scored on a Harry Steldt single with two outs in the first inning.

After the Dodgers answered for one run in the top of the fourth when Cole Clark singled off of A’s pitcher John VanderPloeg, Sheboygan came right back with one of their own when Weston Nelson singled off of Carson Jacques.

De Pere would eventually take a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, but Sheboygan found a way to send all of its batters to the plate, bringing in four runs in the inning to take a 6-3 lead. De Pere would make it interesting in the seventh, scoring two and having the tying run on second base with two outs, but A’s relief pitcher Aiden Wojciehowski induced a ground ball to get the final out.

Wojciehowski was credited for the win for Sheboygan. He threw two and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs, three hits, and striking out three. Jacques took the loss for De Pere. He went five and a third innings, surrendering six runs, 11 hits, striking out four, and walking zero.

VanderPloeg started the game for Sheboygan, going four and a third innings, allowing three runs, three hits, and striking out three.

The A’s collected 11 hits in the game with Mitchell Sutton and Nelson each collecting multiple. Connor Rutherford led De Pere Dodgers with two hits in three at bats.

With the victory, the A’s move to just 3.5 games behind league-leading Lombard. The Orioles sit in first place at 18-3, while the A’s sit right behind them at 15-7. The A’s and Orioles have a four-game weekend series in Sheboygan Saturday and Sunday, in what could very well determine the Wisconsin State League championship. The loss drops the Dodgers to fifth in the seven team WSL at 11-11.