AMATEUR BASEBALL: Clemensen brothers lead Cologne to a big win over Mayer
COLOGNE – The month of June was a big one for the Cologne Hollanders. After getting off to a tough start this season, the Hollanders turned things around in a big way and kept that rolling as they got the final month underway by hosting the Mayer Blazers.
Led by big games from Casey and Carter Clemensen along with a pair of young pitchers, the Hollanders rallied late to pick up a 3-2 win over the Blazers July 5 at Fritz Field.
Scoreless through two innings, Cologne got on the board in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Casey Clemensen came through for the Hollanders with an RBI single to give them a 1-0 lead. Clemensen would finish with three hits on the day for Cologne.
Struggling to get anything going through five innings, Mayer broke through in the top of the sixth. After not being able to score after getting the leadoff hitter on in the previous two innings, the third time was the charm for the Blazers.
Kody Yantes led off the inning with a walk and Blake Tritch singled to give Mayer runners at first and second with nobody out. Needing to come through, Henry Bushey did just that for the Blazers with an RBI single to score a pair and give Mayer a 2-1 lead.
Needing to rally, the Hollanders had the answer in the bottom of the seventh. Casey Clemensen got the rally going with a single. Then it was Carter Clemensen delivering a two-run home run to put Cologne back in front 3-2.
Cologne would have a chance to add to their lead in the bottom of the eight. After Graham Burke led off the inning with a double, Mayer’s Josh Anthony worked out of trouble to keep it a one-run game.
In the top of the ninth, the Blazers had a chance in their final at-bat. With one out, Caden Robbins gave Mayer some life with a double. After stealing third, the Blazers had the tying run just 90 feet away but David Solfelt came through with a big strikeout to seal the win for the Hollanders.
Solfelt picked up the win on the mound in relief for Cologne. He went the final three innings allowing no run off one hit while striking out six. He took over after Burke turned in an impressive outing in his first career town ball start on the mound. Burke went the first six innings allowing two runs off six hits while striking out five.
Casey Clemensen led the way for the Hollanders offensively with three of their nine hits. Carter Clemensen had the big two-run home run while Zack Nelson added a hit and scored a run.
With the win, Cologne moved into the second spot in the Crow River Valley League South standings behind Plato. Mayer fell to 9-5 on the season with the loss and moved four games back of Watertown in the CRVL North standings.
Follow Kip Kovar on Twitter – @Kovar_HJSports