5/16 > OPENING DAY GOES TO WATERFORD RIVERMEN 6-2

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entering his 12th year as a Beaver and first as player+manager, Justin Barkhurst gave the Opening Day nod to 7th-yr vet SP Josh Smith who pitched well but some bad luck and a 2-run homer landing just over the 300 ft LF fence put the Beavers in a early hole in Waterford. 

 

Milwaukee CF and lead-off man Jordan Bloch got the Beavs on the board with an RBI double in the 5th, but was thrown out at home even after arguments ensued when Barkhurst singled him home and the rally was killed.  Ryan Wood and newcomber Matt Magni pitched well in relief the bats couldn't get much going against the reigning Land O Lakes Southwest Champs.  

 

5/22 > BEAVERS RUN-RULE EAST TROY EXPRESS IN HOME OPENER

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Beavers looked to go 3-0 in Home Openers at Joecks Memorial Field and the bats made sure that happened vs the East Troy Express. Second-year Beaver Ryan Wood took the bump and East Troy jumped on top with one in the 1st. Milwaukee responded by sending 12 guys to the plate to score 7 runs, aided by 3 walks and 2 HBP in the bottom half. Rookie 1B Matt Magni unloaded the bases with a 2-RBI double in his first at bat, singled in his 2nd and stroked a 3-run HR in his 3rd AB in the 3rd - not bad for his offensive debut after pitching 2 scoreless relief innings vs Waterford.

 

Wood cruised through 6 innings, giving up just the 1 run while striking out 8, walking one.  The Express fought back aided by errors in the 7th vs reliever Dom Bumadianne with 5 runs but he held them scoreless in the 8th. In the bottom half the 8th the bats exploded for 6 runs - capped off by a run-rule walk-off 3-run shot by Jordan Bloch (his first career HR) to end the game 17-6.  

 

Bloch finished 3-5 with 2 runs, a HR and 4 RBI's. Justin Barkhurst went 2-3 with a 2B, SB, and 3 runs. Magni went 4-5 with 5 RBI's a HR and 3 runs scored. Peter Nelson went 2-5 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs.  Another Beaver rookie behind the plate, Paul Heinkel went 1-3 with 2 runs and 2 BB's. 

 

5/29 > WOOD TOSSES COMPLETE GAME IN 7-4 WIN OVER SUSSEX

 

The Beavers played in their first Northern Kettle Moraine division game (Beavers, Sussex, West Bend, Menomonee Falls, and Stone Bank) in Sussex on a beautiful Memorial Day weekend afternoon. Ryan Wood started on the bump for Milwaukee and looked sharp in a rematch of the 2020 Lakes semifinals last season with Sussex winning 7-3 in a time-limited game. The Beavs also owned a 5-game losing streak vs the Cards ever since a 12-0 run-rule win at Hank Aaron Field in 2016.  

 

Things got off to a good start in the 1st inning after Justin Barkhurst singled, Jarrett Gates got hit for the 4th time this season, Peter Nelson walked and Doug Martin knocked in 2 with a 2-out single to right. In the 2nd, Evan Barbian knocked home Judd Reminger with a double kinda right over bag down the RF line to go up 3-0. Paul Heinkel singled home Gates to go up 4-1 in the 3rd. In the 4rd, Jordan Bloch singled, stole 2nd, was hit over to 3rd by Barkhurst and stole home on a wild pitch to go up 5-3 after the Cards rallied for 2 the bottom of their 3rd. 

 

It turned into a pitchers duel after Sussex brought in Nick Schreiber to pitch in the 5th. The Cardinals scored 1 and were looking to tie it in the 7th but a diving catch by Barbian in RF kept a 5-4 Beaver lead intact. In the top of the 9th, Barkhurst led off with a double and advanced to 3rd on a strikeout in the dirt. Gates walked, and Nelson grounded out to bring home a run. Martin added one more insurance run by burning the CF with an RBI double to go up 7-4.  Wood pitched a perfect 1-2-3 9th to seal the deal. 

 

Doug Martin led the offense going 3-5 with 3 RBI's and a 2B. Barkhurst was 3-5 with 2 runs and a 2B. Gates scored 3 times and Paul Heinkel was 2-5 with an RBI and 2B.  Wood went the distance, gave up 8 hits, 4 ER, 2BB and 6 K's moving to 2-0 on the season. He is 3-0 and a 2.97 ERA in 39.1 innings since joining Milwaukee last season. 

 

* * * ON DECK THIS WEEKEND * * * 

 

  > FRIDAY 7:30PM - 6/4 - at Racine Kiwanis at Historic Horlick Field 

  > SUNDAY 12PM   - 6/6 - vs Stone Bank (division game) at Joecks Family Field