Union Grove rolls past Badger 11-1 behind fast start and Northup's strong outing
Union Grove broke the game open early and never let Badger back in Friday, beating the Badgers 11-1 in a Southern Lakes Conference game at Union Grove High School. The Broncos seized control in the first inning with a four-run burst, then kept adding on behind disciplined at-bats and a sharp start from Evan Northup.
Union Grove went to work immediately in the bottom of the first. Tucker Katterhagen tripled to help spark the inning, and the Broncos capitalized as Badger committed an error. Drew Dinauer was hit by a pitch and Reisenauer drew a walk, with each sequence producing a run as Union Grove jumped in front 4-0. The Broncos added another run in the second when Pina was hit by a pitch, pushing the lead to 5-0.
The decisive stretch came in the third, when Union Grove turned patience at the plate into more separation. Reesman was hit by a pitch, Schmitz walked and Pina walked before Dinauer lined a single down the left-field line and Reisenauer followed with another single down the left-field line. Each brought home a run as the Broncos extended the advantage to 9-0 and put the game firmly in hand.
Northup handled the rest on the mound. The right-hander worked five innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out eight and walking two to earn the win. Union Grove also backed him with clean defensive moments, including a double play. Badger starter Hibbard took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on two hits over two innings. He struck out two and walked seven.
Dinauer, hitting eighth in the order, led Union Grove's offense with three RBIs and finished 2-for-3. Dinauer and Katterhagen collected two hits apiece, while Schmitz drew three walks. The Broncos showed a strong eye throughout the lineup, piling up 10 walks in the game and repeatedly forcing Badger pitchers into difficult counts.
Badger's best production came from leadoff hitter Levitt, who went 2-for-3, while O'Grady drove in the Badgers' only run and finished 1-for-3. But Friday belonged to Union Grove, which set the tone in the first inning, added on in the third and rode Northup's five strong innings to an 11-1 home victory.
