Game Story

By Christopher Heimerman of the Monroe Times

JUNE 22, 2006 - NEW GLARUS ‹ An early series of errors proved costly Thursday night as the New Glarus Tourists lost a 4-2 Home Talent baseball game to Evansville. Evansville player-manager Jon Frey led off the game with a seeing-eye single to right field. Then the defensive gaffes began. Recent New Glarus High School graduate Scott Stuessy walked the next batter, then got Brent Cashore to hit a come-backer. But Stuessy's throw to second base was air-mailed into center field, allowing Frey to score. After Jerod Steindl's sacrifice fly made it 2-0, Cashore stole second and third. Stuessy then buried a breaking ball in the dirt that escaped catcher Ross Reuter to allow the third run of the inning. After that Stuessy settled in, at one point facing 19 consecutive baitters without allowing a hit. His sweeping curveball buckled the knees of Evansville batters for much of the game. "It's only his second start in Home Talent. He threw really well for us, and he's incredibly effective when he is getting his offspeed stuff over," said New Glarus player-manager Stein Rear, who had two hits. New Glarus (2-4 Thursday nights, 4-10 overall) got both of its runs in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and a solid RBI single to center field by Corey Wirth. "We managed to gather some momentum back, but we put ourselves in a tough spot when we let it get away early," Rear said. Evansville starter Josh Copeland was lifted in the fifth, and the Jays bullpen shut the door. Tim Legler struck out two batters to end the fifth, stranding runners at second and third. Jeremy Rasmussen picked up the save, only issuing a walk over two innings and striking out three. He ended the game with a curveball that froze Ryan Brugger stiff. "That's what that pitch is for," Rasmussen said. "I don't always locate it very well, but it will get guys off balance." Frey added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Stuessy couldn't get out of a jam with runners at the corners and two outs. After he and his teammates conferenced momentarily, Frey did what any professional hitter would do. He flew his hips open and drilled the first-pitch fastball to left field to drive in Legler. "I was definitedly sitting on a fastball. It was there and I jumped on it right away," Frey said. New Glarus next plays at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ridgeway.

Christopher Heimerman can be reached at cheimerman@themonroetimes.com.

Text provided by the Monroe Times.