LANNON, WI -  The Beavers hosted the Land O' Lakes Baseball 2020 Season Opener vs the West Bend 7-Up on a beautiful Friday night at Joecks Memorial Field in Lannon. A nice crowd showed up itching for baseball and were treated to a tight pitchers' duel that not many saw coming. 

The Beavers had not beaten West Bend since May of 2016, were outscored 31-10 in 3 defeats last season, while the 7-Up ended their year with 13 straight league wins and the LOL Grand Championship. Milwaukee also tossed out a young southpaw, Tyler Drezek, on the mound in his first Lakes appearance but it was apparent after the first inning that he would challenge the dangerous veteran lineup after a 1-2-3 first inning. 

Milwaukee took advantage of walks and a few errors to take a 2-0 lead in the 4th and then in the 5th, Justin Reminger ripped an RBI double down the RF line to make it 3-0.

West Bend finally got to Drezek in the 6th with a run and were looking to add more with the bases loaded and only one out. A fly ball was hit to Joe Green in RF who made a running catch and fired the ball home to catcher Bryce Kulinski, who snagged the one-hopper up the line and swiped runner tagging from 3rd for a double-play to end the inning. 

Josh Smith came in to pitch for the Beavs in the 7th, escaped a jam, but a passed ball in the 8th allowed the 7-Up to creep within one run. In the bottom of the 8th, Reminger got on base with a walk and with two-outs, Justin Barkhurst padded Milwaukee's lead with an RBI double down the RF line to make it 4-2. Smith again wiggled himself out of trouble in the 9th, stranding two runners to earn the save and the dub. 

Drezek was impressive, claiming his first W as a Beaver. He tossed 6 innings, allowing one run, 4 hits, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Smith allowed one unearned run in 3 innings. The "Justins" were on base 7/8 times. Reminger had a double, 2 walks, RBI and a run. Barkhurst had 3 walks, a double, an RBI and a stolen base. 

Box Score >>> https://bit.ly/2Ukhr1d

Next up: The Beavers host a Sunday afternoon matchup (6/14) vs the defending Lake Country division champs, the Brookfield Bulldogs at 1pm. See you at the ballpark!