The Sister Bay Bays scored eight runs in the first three innings en route to a 12-2, eight-inning win over the Institute Cubs Friday night.
The Bays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Matt Hecht knocked in two runs on a single. The Cubs would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning when Robbie Pollman grounded into a double play, forcing the Bays to trade two outs for a run scored by Brent Haberli. Haberli would struggle in the next inning, allowing two hits and three walks in a three-run second inning that saw Alex Laughlin, Tom Sawyer, and Spencer Krause drive in runs.
Josh Pflieger could not tighten things up when he entered the game with three hits, compounded by three errors, which led to three more runs to score in the third inning to make it 8-2. Pfleiger would calm down after that, allowing no hits or runs in his final two innings of relief.
The Cubs would take a small bite out of the Bays' lead in the sixth inning when a Kyle Ploor double drove in Jaeger Brusky to make it 8-2. The Bays would bite back in the seventh, registering another three runs to put the Cubs on the brink before bringing it to a mercy rule in the eighth inning when Sawyer's second RBI flyout drove in Rylan Caldecott.
The Cubs would threaten to force a ninth inning by loading the bags against Matt Hecht in the seventh and the eighth against Brandon Krause. Both pitchers were able to wiggle off the hook to force an early exit and help keep the Bays in first place.
Sawyer led the way with three RBI on a 2-4 night, while Laughlin and Krause each posted multi-hit games and drove in runs. For the Cubs, Frankie Ash posted three hits, while Pollman and Brusky each had two hits in the loss.
The GOAT's next broadcast will be Sunday when Maplewood travels to Egg Harbor for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch. The other Sunday games include Baileys Harbor visiting Kolberg and Washington Island hosting West Jacksonport.
