DAIRYLAND LEAGUE SMALL - Paul dominates as Moondogs get into win column for first time

DAIRYLAND LEAGUE SMALL

Brett Paul struck out 15 batters while he and the Medford Moondogs took advantage of 14 walks issued by Spirit pitching in a 12-2, seven-inning win over the Twins Saturday night at Jaycee Field.

The win was the first in Dairyland League play this summer for the Moondogs, who improved to 1-4 in the Small Division. Spirit is 0-5.

Paul allowed just four singles and one walk while pounding the strike zone against the Twins’ young lineup. The Twins’ only dent on the scoreboard came in the top of the sixth when Matt Jensen capped a two-out rally with a two-run single to the right side, cutting Medford’s lead at the time to 10-2.

The Moondogs built a 3-0 lead through three innings. Trent Klemm hit a firstinning sacrifice fly and Ryan Paul drove in a run with a groundout while a second run scored on a wild pitch in the third.

The home team then broke it open in the fourth and fifth frames.

Josh Budimlija and David Hecker walked to set up Trenton Woebbeking’s RBI double to start the fourth. Josh Turner grounded into a fielder’s choice, but the Twins failed to tag Woebbeking on a rundown between second and third. A run scored on the play and runners remained at second and third with no outs. Woebbeking and Turner scored on Klemm’s single to make it 7-0.

Ethan Fuchs singled, Hecker blooped in another hit and Woebbeking walked to load the bases in the fifth. Turner and Austin Davies got RBIs the easy way by drawing walks and a third run scored on an error for a 10-0 lead.

Klemm added his fourth RBI with a base hit in the seventh and the game ended on a throwing error on a basesloaded grounder hit by Jason Lang.

Klemm was two for three for Medford, while Woebbeking was two for two and drew three walks. Hecker was two for four. Four Twins had a hit apiece.

Nick Pittman covered the first four innings for the Twins. He allowed five hits, seven runs and eight walks, but he did also strike out seven batters. Dominic Quednow threw the last 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and five runs, three of which were earned, and six walks. He struck out five Moondogs.

Medford is back at home one last time on Saturday, hosting Tomahawk at 7 p.m. Spirit hosts Abbotsford Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in its last league home game of the season.