Spirits fall short despite 15-hit attack in loss to Merton | By Craig Larsen

July 18, 2025 – Merton, Wi – After a fiery offensive start at Fireman’s Park Sunday, the West Bend Spirits couldn’t quite finish the job, falling 11-9 to the Merton Amvets despite outhitting their hosts 15-10 in a wild nine-inning slugfest.

The loss stung particularly hard for the Spirits, who built what appeared to be a commanding 8-0 lead through five innings before watching it evaporate in dramatic fashion as Merton scored 11 unanswered runs over the final four frames.

“We took our foot off the gas a little too early,” said Spirits acting manager Tyler Morrison after the defeat. “Fifteen hits should win you a ballgame, but we just couldn’t get outs when we needed it.”

Blake Guthrie led West Bend’s offensive assault, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs to pace the 15-hit attack. Easton Oliver matched Guthrie’s three-hit performance, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Adam Lucas (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) and Luke Heinkel (2-for-4, 1 RBI) also contributed multiple hits.

The Spirits struck first in the second inning when Guthrie delivered a run-scoring single after Camden Hoier reached on an error and Lucas singled. Oliver added another RBI single to make it 2-0 before the inning ended on a bad baserunning mistake.

The real fireworks came in the fifth inning when West Bend erupted for six runs to seemingly put the game away. Brandon Niedfeldt led off with a solo homer to right field, his second hit of the game. After Colyn Lessila reached on an error, the Spirits put together a floodgate-type rally. Quinn Zills singled and both runners executed perfect stolen bases, then Heinkel walked to load the bases. Hoier delivered a clutch two-run single, Lucas followed with another RBI single, and Guthrie capped the uprising with a two-run single of his own. An error on a fly ball by Ross Olsen plated the eighth run.

“We were swinging the bats really well through five innings,” Morrison said. “Brandon’s homer got us going, and then we just started finding holes everywhere. That’s the kind of offensive explosion we know we’re capable of.”

But Merton had other plans, mounting another statement comeback win against these same Spirits. The Amvets have made a habit of dramatic rallies against West Bend, having come back from 11 runs down in 2023 and six runs down in 2024. This time, they got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with two runs, then chipped away with three more in the sixth highlighted by Jack Anderson’s booming three-run homer.

Anderson and Jacob Johnson were the catalysts for Merton’s offense, each collecting three hits and driving in three runs. Tanner LaMack paced the hit parade with three knocks in five at-bats, while Luke Schraufnagel added two hits despite also taking the loss on the mound.

The comeback was completed in dramatic fashion during a wild seventh inning. Brady LaMack started the rally with a single, then Schraufnagel doubled to put runners on second and third. Johnson’s single tied the game 8-8, Anderson doubled to put runners on second and third, and LaMack delivered the knockout blow with a two-run single that gave Merton a 10-8 lead.

The Amvets added an insurance run in the eighth on Brady LaMack’s sacrifice fly, while the Spirits could only manage one run in the ninth despite getting the tying run to second base on consecutive singles by Niedfeldt and Blake Church.

“Merton seems to have our number,” Morrison said. “That’s baseball. You’ve got to play all nine innings in this league if you want to win.”

Kyle Becker got the start for West Bend and pitched admirably through five innings, surrendering just two hits and two runs while striking out eight, though he walked seven batters. Alec Tomkiewicz took the loss in relief, allowing nine runs on eight hits over three innings as Merton mounted their comeback.

“Kyle gave us a chance to win,” Morrison noted. “He battled through what I thought was a tough strike zone and kept us in front. We just couldn’t get it done when they started putting pressure on us.”

Brady LaMack earned the victory for Merton, tossing four strong innings of relief while allowing just four hits and one run with three strikeouts. Schraufnagel started for the Amvets and surrendered 11 hits and eight runs over five innings.

The Amvets showed remarkable patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks while turning key double plays defensively.

For a Spirits team that finished with 42 at-bats and left seven runners on base, the loss serves as a painful reminder that no lead is safe.

“I don’t know what you can learn from an outcome like this, but we’ll turn the page,” Morrison said. “We’ve got Monches coming to town Friday for Regner Fest, and we’ll need to be ready to bounce back because Monches is one of the very best in the state. Then we need to get ready because Sunday is our make-or-break doubleheader against the Falls for the division championship.”

The Spirits control their own destiny for the Suburban Division title and the coveted double bye in the playoffs.

Box Score

West Bend Spirits 9, Merton Amvets 11

Game Info:

• Date: Sunday, July 13, 2025

• Location: Fireman’s Park, Merton, WI

• Weather: Sunny – 81 degrees

• Records: West Bend Spirits (11-5), Merton Amvets (4-8)

Line Score

WP: Brady LaMack (2-0) LP: Alec Tomkiewicz (0-1)

WEST BEND SPIRITS

• 2B: Blake Church

• HR: Brandon Niedfeldt

• SB: Colyn Lessila, Quinn Zills 2

• HBP: Kyle Becker

• Pitches-Strikes: Kyle Becker 106-60, Alec Tomkiewicz 64-37

• Batters Faced: Kyle Becker 25, Alec Tomkiewicz 20

Merton Amvets

• 2B: Luke Schraufnagel, Jack Anderson, Alex Tanke

• HR: Jack Anderson

• HBP: Jacob Johnson

• SF: Brady LaMack

• E: Tanner LaMack 2, Josh Rudy, Alex Tanke

• Pitches-Strikes: Luke Schraufnagel 92-64, Brady LaMack 64-41

• Batters Faced: Luke Schraufnagel 28, Brady LaMack 17