Bulldogs win, split series

Any chance the Brookfield Blue Sox had to share the Land O' Lakes Western Division title went out the window Sunday, and it was their friendly rival Brookfield Bulldogs who did the damage.

The Blue Sox and Bulldogs played a doubleheader Sunday - but not against each other. The Bulldogs traveled to North Lake (2-15) and came home with a 15-2 win, while the Sox hung on to beat Lannon (9-8), 9-6, at McCoy Field.

Both teams then met at McCoy Field in a rescheduled game and the Bulldogs prevailed, 6-2, behind the seven-hit pitching of Greg Basthemer. The win gained the Bulldogs a split in the series - the Sox won the first meeting, 5-3, May 9.

But both teams are still in good shape for the playoffs - barring an unusual collapse - going into the final weekend.

Oconomowoc (13-3) is in first place with two games left. The Five-O's played second-place West Bend (10-4) on Tuesday at home and they travel to McCoy Field to play the third-place Bulldogs (12-5) at 2 p.m. Saturday- the Bulldogs' final game. Besides Tuesday's game with Oconomowoc, West Bend played Monches (6-9) on Wednesday and then closes out with road games against Sussex (11-6) and Pewaukee (9-6) on Saturday and Sunday.

The fourth-place Blue Sox (11-5) face the two worst teams in the division over the weekend. They travel to North Lake for a 2 p.m. game Saturday and then host Hartland (3-12) at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Timing is right

"It's a huge win," Bulldogs manager Jason Booth said. "We're peaking at the right time. I know it's a cliché, but the guys are hitting the ball hard. We knew we were a talented club all year long. It just took us awhile to get going.

"We're undefeated on the road (9-0). Guys are jelling. We know we have the strongest pitching in the division. We're pretty confident about that."

Basthemer pitched one of his typical games against the Blue Sox, allowing an unearned run in the fourth, fanning three and not allowing a walk.

"He has been one of the most consistent pitchers I've known in this league the past four years I'd say," Booth said. "He started the All-Star game as our representative. Everybody has respect for him. He throws strikes. He doesn't walk anybody. We just have so much faith in him to come out and do a good job."

The modest Basthemer gave catcher Brandon Reddinger credit for the win.

"I just throw what my catcher puts down," he said.

The Bulldogs scored in the second off losing pitcher John Arnold, who hit Ernest Castro with a pitch to start the inning. Mike Jacobs, who went 4-for-5, singled to center, moving Castro to second. Arnold then retired the next two hitters, but Josh Lemke doubled in Castro for a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added two runs in the third. Kris Franzen singled and Scott Booth walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Franzen scored when Castro was robbed of a hit by second baseman Tim Kahle, with Scott Booth moving to third. Jacobs drove in Scott Booth with an infield hit to third.

Sox coach says loss hurts

For the Sox, singles by Paul Archambeau, Andy Tuler and Shaun Lena loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning and Archambeau scored when Kahle's grounder to second was mishandled.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the seventh when Castro doubled in Scott Booth and Eric Sobczak singled in Jacobs. The damage might have been worse if not for the brilliant right arm of right-fielder Pat Tobiaz, who threw out runners at home and second base during the inning.

Scott Booth walked with the bases loaded in the eighth for the Bulldogs' final run. Bill Posteluk's long home run to right-field off reliever Josh Eidt scored the final Sox run.

"The loss hurts a little bit," Sox manager Jeff Lemmermann said. "We split our two games. It would be nice to get the tie-breaker. It looks like there might be some ties at the top. That one hurts. Splitting against the two playoff teams is acceptable, but if I could I would flip the two because of the tie-breaker."

Lemmermann then talked about this weekend's games.

"We still have our playoff destiny somewhat in our hands," he said. "Coming into the season, setting goals, that was our main goal - we want to challenge for the top and at least get ourselves a playoff appearance, and a home playoff appearance was key. A top-four finish is still in our hands."

SUNDAY'S FIRST GAMES

Bulldogs 15, North Lake 3 - The Bulldogs exploded for 20 hits against North Lake, led by the bats of Brandon Reddinger, Kris Franzen and Jason Rutz. Reddinger finished the game 4-for-6 with two homers (a grand slam and a 3-run shot), a triple, a single and eight RBI. Franzen was 5-for-6 with a double, a stolen base and four RBI. Rutz led off the game with his second homer and was 4-for-5 with a stolen base and a HBP. Mark Erickson got the win with five scoreless innings (3 H, 2 Bb, 8 K).

Blue Sox 9, Lannon 6 - Third baseman Shaun Lena doubled twice and drove in five runs to lead a nine-hit attack against the Stonemen, who walked six to help the Blue Sox along the way. Brookfield scored five runs in the first, three coming in on Lena's two-out bases-loaded double. Pat Tobiaz doubled in a run in the second and Lena had a two-out, two-run double in the fifth. Manager Jeff Lemmermann struggled (6 R in 7.1 IP) but got the win as Bobby Jost worked the final 1.2 innings to stop the surging Stonemen. Bill Posteluk singled twice and added a sacrifice fly.

STANDINGS

Oconomowoc (13-3), West Bend (10-4), Brookfield Bulldogs (12-5), Brookfield Blue Sox (11-5), Sussex (11-6), Pewaukee (9-6), Lannon (9-8), Monches (6-9), Menomonee Falls (6-10), Merton (4-13), Hartland (3-12), North Lake (2-15)