Abby/Colby shares conference crown

Co-op puts end to their title drought

There was no shade in sight for the Abbotsford/Colby baseball team, nor an end to games, as the co-op endured a grueling stretch of games in the upper 80’s, and to close out the regular season.

But there was a sweet reward waiting at the end. With victories over Prentice and Phillips, the co-op clinches a three way tie of the Marawood - North with Rib Lake and Athens.

“I think earning a conference title is a huge step for us, and a building block for the program,” coach Ryan Bargender said about the accomplishment. “We’ve played a mix of seniors, junior, sophs, and freshmen throughout the year and we will look to build upon this success.”

8-1

The first match-up in their seven game series came against Marawood- North rival Phillips. Abby/Colby had chased the Loggers out of Red Arrow Park with a 13-3 victory two nights before, and it was more of the same on Thursday night.

If Philips was counting on playing in Veteran’s Memorial Field to help, they were sorely mistaken. The co-op jumped out in front, but the Loggers held the coop to a slim 3-0 lead after five innings.

The tide turned when Abby/Colby separated themselves from Phillips with three runs at the top of the sixth. Two runs came in the top of the seventh, and Abby/Colby’s twelve hits to the Logger’s one proved to be Phillips undoing.

Marco Olvera turned in a masterful performance on the mound, striking out ten of the 20 batters he faced.

Mason Carpenter had his best performance in the batter’s box, finishing 3x4. Cade Faber punched in a double and a triple. Mateo Lopez added two hits.

13-6

A day later saw a much different result as Abby/Colby hosted the Edgar Wildcats at Red Arrow Park.

Abby/Colby struck first, going up 1-0, but Edgar quickly answered, taking a 2-1 lead at the bottom of the second. The co-op fired off their reply, scoring three runs to take a 4-2 lead into the fourth.

Edgar had answers, picking up two runs in the fourth to make it 4-4. Edgar regained the lead with one run at the top of the fifth. In a nervy, error filled game, Abby/Colby made some timely hits and steals, and took advantage of four errors, to take a 6-5 advantage.

Abby/Colby almost closed out the match in the seventh, but a crucial error turned the tide. Edgar was holding onto dear life, down one and saddled with two outs, but forced the game into extra innings after scoring on an error.

The co-op had one more chance to win the game, with Hunter Soyk in scoring position on third, but Edgar’s Austin Schuett had the ice running in his veins, as he struck out nine batters and gave up just two hits over the last five innings.

That seventh inning hangover proved disastrous for Abby/Colby, and after hours of baking under 90 degree temps, the wheels fell off the bus in a 45 minute eighth inning.

Edgar took advantage of errors, a season high nine from the co-op, to rattle off seven runs at the top of the eighth. Schuett did the rest of the work, forcing three outs from the exhausted co-op.

“We didn’t play good defense, committing far too many errors,” Bargender lamented “We had the lead heading into the seventh, but didn’t finish the game.”

Hunter Soyk pitched the first five innings, fanning six, and allowing only two earned runs off four hits. Olvera took the loss, giving up five hits and two earned runs. Castillo closed out the final 2/3 innings, fanning one batter.

Soyk recorded over half of the co-op’s hits, going a perfect 4x4, which included a pair of doubles. Cade Faber, Brandon Diedrich and Mateo Lopez were the only others to record a hit, all singles.

Tomahawk, 19-17

Abby/Colby played in their longest game of the season in the first game of their double-header with Tomahawk.

Both sides blew up the scoreboard, combining for almost 40 runs.

It didn’t start out that way. After two innings, things were going smoothly for the co-op. Abby/Colby scored five times in the first, and two in the secon, and were up 7-4.

The Hatches held the co-op scoreless in the third and fourth innings before making their move. Tomahawk scored once in the third and three times in the fourth for an 8-7 advantage before Abby/Colby got back on track with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Tomahawk added two runs in the seventh, and the co-op went scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, sending them into extra innings.

The lead changed hands multiple times in the 90 degree sun, but after ten grueling innings, it was 13-13 as the game headed into the eleventh inning.

Abby/Colby blinked first and the Hatchets put up six runs. The co-op nearly extended the game to a twelfth inning, but Tomahawk held back the flood waters, limiting Abby/Colby to four runs as the co-op tasted defeat.

“We committed far too many errors to win the game,” Bargender said bluntly. “We had chances to close the name a few times, but couldn’t get the last out to end the game.”

The co-op put up some gaudy numbers in the loss, tallying 22 hits in 51 at bats with seven players picking up multiple hits.

Hunter Soyk went 4x5, Cade Faber went 3x5 and had a grand slam home run, Brandond Diedrich was 3x7, Mateo Lopez went 3x6, Ross Elmhorst and Blake Bargender were both 3x7. Evan Reis and Elmhorst also hit doubles.

Lopez, Elmhorst and JV Castillo combined to strike out six batters as Elmhorst took the loss.

Tomahawk, 12-1

Abby/Colby refused to dwell on their loss as they returned to Red Arrow Park for part two of their double-header with the Tomahawk Hatchets.

The co-op unloaded on Tomhawk to open the game, rattling off five runs in the first, two in the second and five more in the third.

“We hung in there and took it to them early in game two,” Bargender said. “Brandon Diedrich pitched well and the bats stayed hot.”

Abby/Colby unloaded on the Hatchets for 12 hits. Ross Elmhorst went 3x3, Brandon Diedrich had two hits, both doubles, and Hunter Soyk and Marco Olvera added two hits apiece. Diedrich dumped four batters in three innings for the win.

7-0

The co-op was back at it two days later, hosting the Medford Red Raiders at Red Arrow Park on Monday afternoon.

The Red Raiders have been in devastating form in 2021. Medford won the Great Northern Conference outright with a sterling 12-0 record and has been ranked as high as third in the state in D2.

“Medford has a very solid team,” Bargender said. “They are the #1 seed in our regional, and have state hopes. We gave up 14 runs in a total of two innings. Other than that we held them down.”

In each of their losses to Medford, it was one bad inning that was the deciding factor. Abby/Colby allowed seven runs in the second inning, then regrouped and held Medford scoreless through the remainder of the game. Abby/Colby could only manage two hits in their first game, a pair of singles from Marco Olvera and Cade Faber, as Medford shut-out their hosts.

Olvera took the loss, giving up seven earned runs and walking seven and striking out three in 4-2/3 innings.

7-2

As in their first game, it was a seven inning spurt that doomed the co-op. Abby/ Colby took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning, but could not hold on as they once again gave up seven runs in the second.

“We played solid defense, not committing an error in either game, so that was great to see,” Bargender said. “We just have to eliminate the big innings.”

Once again the co-op did not allow another Medford run through the du- ration of the game, but Abby/Colby scored once more, one run in the fifth.

The co-op hit the ball much better, recording six hits. Ross Elmhorst went 2x3 and had one double. Evan Reis, Hunter Soyk, Brandon Diedrich and Blake Bargender all singled.

Diedrich and Nick Olvera shared pitching duties, with Diedrich taking the loss, fanning two batters, giving up three walks and seven earned runs in two innings.

14-0

Abby/Colby wrapped up their season on a truly high note, defeating the Prentice Buccaneers at home in their final regular season home game.

The conference victory allowed the co-op to enjoy a three way tie with Athens and Rib Lake for the Marawood - North, and becomes the first conference title in the co-op’s history, and the first conference title for Abbotsford since their 2006 crown.

Abby/Colby galloped to quick start on Tuesday, scoring four runs in the first, four more in the second and five in the third to cement their first conference title in over 15 years.

The co-op finished with 11 hits in their final regular season game of the year. Cade Faber, Brandon Diedrich and Ross Elmhorst all had two hits apiece. Christian Ploeckelman took the win on the mound.

The co-op’s next game will be a first round regional road game with Great Northern member Mosinee on Thursday. With seven games in the last five days, Bargender feels his players are battle tested and ready for the post-season, which starts this week.

“We’ve played very good competition recently,” Bargender said. “Hopefully this stretch prepares us for the playoffs. Mosinee is a very good team. We will have our work cut out for us, but it is a game we can win if we play our best.”

I’M READY -Brandon Diedrich gets ready to faces off against Edgar’s pitchers on Friday night. Diedrich has been a reliable hitter this season.

THROWING TO FIRST -JV Castillo slings a ball to first base for an out during the co-op’s meeting with Edgar on Friday. Castillo has made a big impact in 2021 with his pitching, batting and fielding. STAFF PHOTO/ROSS PATTERMANN