Bulldogs maul Spirits, 15-5, behind Sniatynski’s Grand Slam | By Craig Larsen

June 9, 2025 – Brookfield, Wi  – Gray clouds hung heavy over McCoy Field as the West Bend Spirits watched their promising season start take a sobering hit Sunday afternoon, falling 15-5 in 7 innings by way of the slaughter rule to the undefeated Brookfield Bulldogs in what became a soggy affair as light rain began to fall during the final innings.

From the opening frame, it was evident this wouldn’t be the Spirits’ day. A four pitch leadoff walk to Dan Barwick in the bottom of the first set an ominous tone, and what followed was a masterclass in offensive execution by the home team that left West Bend searching for answers.

“We knew we needed to catch some breaks on the mound today,” said Spirits manager Willie Mueller after watching his exhausted pitching staff surrender 11 hits and issue seven walks. “When you can’t throw strikes and keep runners off base, you’re asking for trouble against a lineup like theirs.”

The trouble came in relentless waves. The second inning proved catastrophic for West Bend, as Brookfield erupted for six runs on four hits in a sequence that effectively decided the contest.

Jack Thelen’s RBI single opened the floodgates — a bitter irony for the Spirits, as the West Bend native and former West Bend West Spartan star was a member of the Spirits’ 2018 championship team that defeated these same Bulldogs.

Thelen’s clutch hit was followed by Parker Sniatynski’s run-scoring double and Thomas Otto’s controversial two-bagger down the left field line that was ruled fair, clearing the bases with three runners aboard and staking the Bulldogs to a commanding 7-0 advantage.

Down by seven heading into the third, the Spirits finally showed signs of life. Drake Grod reached on an error, and Cameron Hoier followed with a sharp line drive to right field that put runners on first and second with nobody out. Quinn Zills attempted a bunt, but Thelen made a spectacular defensive play, delivering a perfect barehanded, off-balance throw to nail Zills at first base ensuring any momentum shift proved temporary.

Next Spirits batter Blake Church’s sharp grounder to third scored Grod, giving the Spirits dugout something to cheer about for the first time all afternoon.

The top of the fourth inning brought renewed hope for West Bend and their traveling faithful. Four consecutive singles off Brookfield starter James Severson — by Adam Lucas, Luke Heinkel, Ross Olsen, and Nathan Crick (RBI) — suddenly had the visitors believing in a comeback. After sacrifice flies by Drake Grod and Quinn Zills sandwiched around another RBI single by Cameron Hoier, the deficit had shrunk to 7-5, and the small contingent of Spirits faithful began to sense a rally brewing.

Severson, however, regained his composure and struck out Blake Church to end the threat, a moment that would prove pivotal.

“Give credit to Brookfield — they took advantage of our mistakes,” Mueller said. “Once we got those runs on the board, we needed a shutdown defensive inning to keep building momentum, but they answered right back.”

As Mueller noted, the Bulldogs weren’t finished. After the Spirits had clawed back to within two runs, Brookfield delivered the knockout punch in the fifth inning that silenced any thoughts of a West Bend comeback.

With the bases loaded, Brady Burrill drew a hit-by-pitch to drive in a run. Then came the moment that will define this game for Spirits fans — and the swing that effectively ended any hope of a miraculous rally.

Sniatynski, already 2-for-3 on the day, stepped into the batter’s box and launched a towering grand slam over the center field fence. The ball seemed to hang in the overcast sky before disappearing into McCoy Field wilderness beyond the fence, a no-doubt blast that extended Brookfield’s lead to 12-5.

“That grand slam really put it away,” Mueller said of the back-breaking blow. “We had fought back to make it a game, but when you’re forced to pitch to a hitter like Parker with the bases loaded, he’s going to make you pay. There’s a reason he played professionally and was one of the best players in Saint Louis University history — quite frankly, probably one of the finest to ever play in the Land O’ Lakes League.”

The significance of Sniatynski’s dominance runs deeper than mere statistics. The Brookfield Bulldogs and West Bend Spirits represent one of the longest and most storied rivalries in the last 25 years, with nine combined championships between them in that span — seven coming in just the last 15 years. The legendary names that defined this rivalry over the past decade — Booth, Franzen, Basthemer, Mierow, Lueck, Rohlinger, Parrent, Bynum, Bullock, and Justman — have all moved on. Only one standout remains from that golden era of this storied rivalry: Parker Sniatynski. His towering grand slam wasn’t just a game-deciding blow; it was a reminder that even as the cast of characters changes, some rivalries endure through the excellence of a single player who bridges past and present.

On the mound, the contrast between the two starters was telling. While Spirits newcomer Jayden Hoffmann, making his debut in a West Bend uniform, struggled with his command throughout four innings of work, walking seven batters, Brookfield’s James Severson was hardly his dominant self. The right-hander surrendered nine hits over six innings but consistently pitched out of trouble, preventing the Spirits from stringing together the decisive rally they desperately needed.

“Hoffmann showed flashes of what he can do,” Mueller said of his new starter. “He was probably a little too amped up early on. The walks hurt him, but you could see the arm talent is there. He just needs to find the strike zone consistently.”

Despite the lopsided final score, the Spirits showed flashes of the offensive potential that was missing in Friday night’s loss to Hartland. Luke Heinkel collected three hits while Adam Lucas and Cameron Hoier each had two-hit games. Nathan Crick, Drake Grod, and Blake Church each drove in runs, proving the offense has the capability to produce.

“We’ve got guys who can hit if they have the right approach,” Mueller noted, his team’s 10 hits serving as evidence of their offensive potential. “We just need to put it together for nine innings instead of in spurts. Sometimes it’s okay to just get a base hit. You can’t hit an eight-run home run.”

Defensively, West Bend continued their errorless play, but clean gloves couldn’t overcome the pitching struggles that have surfaced during their recent two-game skid.

For Brookfield, the victory represented a complete team effort. Jordan Skolmar, Jack Thelen, and Brady Burrill each collected multiple hits, while the club drew nine walks as a team — a testament to their patient, been here before type approach at the plate.

As light rain began to fall harder in the seventh inning, adding a melancholy backdrop to the Spirits’ struggles, Thelen continued his standout performance pitching the final inning against his former team. After a scoreless inning on the mound, Thelen came to bat and launched a solo home run. The sight of the former hometown hero wearing different colors as he rounded the bases served as a poignant reminder of how quickly times have changed in local Town Ball baseball and in this storied rivalry.

TJ Roberts and Dan Barwick each drew two walks, consistently applying pressure on Spirits pitching and setting the table for Brookfield’s dangerous middle-of-the-order hitters.

As the Spirits (4-2) prepare for their next challenge — a Friday night road trip to face the winless Milwaukee Beavers of Lannon — Mueller remains optimistic despite the disappointing setback.

“A lot can change in a week, especially in baseball,” Mueller said, watching his players pack their equipment as the rain intensified. “We’ll have to learn from this and come back ready to compete. That’s what this game teaches you. As Doug Gonring says, ‘Baseball is a game of failure’ — it’s all about how you handle adversity and attempt to bounce back stronger.”

“Oh, and be thankful the rest of the other 18 teams in this league don’t have Parker Sniatynski in their lineup,” Mueller joked before hanging up.

The Bulldogs (5-0) continue their perfect start to the season and look every bit the part of a championship contender, combining timely hitting with opportunistic baseball. Through five games, Brookfield has outscored opponents by a staggering 73-14 margin, showcasing both offensive firepower and solid pitching depth.

As the steady rain transformed McCoy Field’s infield into a muddy quagmire shortly after the game’s conclusion, the afternoon’s narrative was written in the stark contrast between two teams seemingly headed in different directions. The Bulldogs had weathered both the Spirits’ mid-game offensive surge and Mother Nature’s intervention to remain unbeaten, while West Bend was left to contemplate what might have been on a gray Sunday that seemed to mirror their collective mood.

Next Game: West Bend Spirits (4-2) at Milwaukee Beavers of Lannon (0-4), Friday, June 13, 7 p.m. at Joecks Memorial Field in Lannon

Box Score

Brookfield Bulldogs 15, West Bend Spirits 5

Game Info:

• Date: Friday, June 6, 2025

• Location: McCoy Field – Brookfield, Wisconsin

• Weather: Overcast/Light Rain – 75 degrees

• Records: West Bend Spirits (4-2), Brookfield Bulldogs (5-0)

Line Score

WP: James Severson (3-0) LP: Jayden Hoffmann (0-1)

WEST BEND SPIRITS

• SF: Drake Grod, Quinn Zills

• CS: Drake Grod

• HBP: Jayden Hoffmann, Johnny Nieskes

• Pitches-Strikes: Jayden Hoffmann 93-49, Johnny Nieskes 37-21, Alec Tomkiewicz 23-19

• Batters Faced: Jayden Hoffmann 24, Johnny Nieskes 8, Alec Tomkiewicz 9

BROOKFIELD BULLDOGS

• 2B: Thomas Otto, Parker Sniatynski 2

• HR: Jack Thelen, Parker Sniatynski

• HBP: Brady Burrill, Jack Thelen

• SB: Brady Burrill, TJ Roberts

• E: TJ Roberts 2, Joey Severson 2, Parker Sniatynski

• Pitches-Strikes: James Severson 121-84, Jack Thelen 13-5

• Batters Faced: James Severson 28, Jack Thelen 5