Spirits fall short in sweltering slobberknocker at house of horrors McCoy Field | By Craig Larsen

June 23, 2025 – Brookfield, WI – Under a blazing Sunday sun that sent thermometers soaring past the century mark, the West Bend Spirits battled valiantly but came up just short in a thrilling 6-4 defeat to the Brookfield Blue Sox at McCoy Field.

The contest was played in conditions that would have made even the hardiest ballplayers wilt. With nary a cloud in the azure sky and a stiff wind blowing directly into the batters’ faces, both clubs struggled to find their offensive rhythm early. The primitive dugout conditions — backs pressed against the scorching asphalt road with no shelter from the sun’s relentless rays — only added to the afternoon’s misery.

“That was about as difficult a day heat wise in my last thirty or so years of baseball,” said West Bend skipper Willie Mueller, covering his head with a dirty wet towel after the contest. “The boys showed real grit out there. We hit the ball hard all day, but it seemed like every time we made good contact, there was a Blue Sox glove waiting for it.”

The Spirits drew first blood in the third frame when Caleb Horvath rapped a clean single to left field, plating Ben Hurt Haller, who had swiped second base moments earlier.

Brookfield answered immediately in their half of the third when Harrison Phillips lined a single to right field, knotting the affair at one apiece and setting the stage for what would become a true pitcher’s duel despite the oppressive conditions.

The Spirits temporarily seized control in the fourth inning with heads-up base running and clutch hitting. Nathan Crick’s fielder’s choice brought home Quinn Zills, staking West Bend to a 2-1 advantage.

“That’s the kind of aggressive baseball we preach,” Mueller noted with a wry smile. “Sometimes you’ve got to manufacture runs however you can get them.”

The Blue Sox, however, weren’t about to fold under the punishing sun. In the sixth inning, they mounted a comeback that showcased both opportunism and timely hitting. A Blue Sox manufactured run of their own opened the floodgates, allowing Jackson Sadowski to score after a perfectly executed tag-up. Then Dane O’Donnell stepped to the plate and delivered the crusher — a whistling double down the left field line just past the outstretched glove that Brandon Niedfeldt dove for, giving Brookfield a 4-2 lead.

Samuel Zarling provided the knockout punch for Brookfield in the seventh. The former West Bend native and Kettle Moraine Lutheran outfielder turned on a pitch and sent it sailing just over the left field fence — a two-run homer that essentially sealed West Bend’s fate at 6-2.

The Spirits showed their mettle in the ninth, scratching across two runs on a pair of wild pitches and refusing to go quietly into that sweltering afternoon. But when Lukas Broske struck out swinging to end the rally, Brookfield had prevailed in what Mueller called “just one of those games.”

Right-hander Jayden Hoffmann took the hill for West Bend and pitched admirably through four innings, allowing just four hits while fanning four Blue Sox batters. Andy Stekiel went seven innings for Brookfield, scattering six hits over seven frames and earning the victory despite the late scare.

“Hoffmann gave us everything he had out there,” Mueller said of his starter. “In this heat, just getting through four strong innings was a tremendous effort. We’re starting to work on a few things, and attempting to get more efficient to help Jayden get deeper into games.”

Despite the loss, the Spirits showed impressive balance at the plate. Nathan Crick, Colyn Lessila, Alex Pluta, Caleb Horvath, Ben Hurt Haller, and Ross Olsen each contributed a base hit to the cause. The defensive play remained equally sharp, with Ross Olsen holding the potent Blue Sox running game in check.

For Brookfield, the dynamic veteran duo of Samuel Zarling and Harrison Phillips proved to be the difference-makers, each collecting two hits while batting in succession. Zarling’s two RBIs led the offensive charge, while Jackson Sadowski’s patience at the plate resulted in three walks, helping the Blue Sox amass six free passes on the afternoon.

As the sun beat down unmercifully on everyone at the park, a classic midsummer ballgame had been played under conditions that tested every player’s mettle.

“Days like this separate the guys who love baseball and the guys who just come because they feel they have to,” Mueller reflected, already looking ahead to what promises to be a pivotal weekend for his club. “I’m proud of how our fellas competed. Sometimes you tip your cap to the other club and turn the page.”

But there’s little time for dwelling on Sunday’s heartbreaker. The Spirits now face a major in season challenge as they prepare to host the 2025 Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic at Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field at Regner Park alongside the Kewaskum A’s Baseball Club. Friday’s opener against the Milwaukee Beavers will serve double duty — not only launching the tournament for the Spirits but also counting as a crucial game in the Suburban Division of the Land O’ Lakes Baseball League.

“This tournament means a lot to a certain writer of this article and Jimmy Ziegler of the Kewaskum A’s and the baseball community,” Mueller explained. “We’ve got three guaranteed games, and that’s three chances to play highly competitive baseball against three extremely talented ballclubs.”

The grueling schedule will test the Spirits’ depth and determination. After Friday’s evening 7 p.m. tilt with Milwaukee, they’ll return to Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field bright and early Saturday morning at 10 a.m. to face the Hartford Hawks of the Rock River Baseball League. They’ll have precious little time to rest before taking on the Appleton Legends of the Northeast Wisconsin Baseball League at 2 p.m.

A sweep of Friday night’s Land O’ Lakes game and Saturday’s twin bill would earn the Spirits a coveted spot in Sunday’s 10 a.m. semifinal, keeping alive their dreams of tournament glory on their home diamond.

“The boys are excited about playing in and hosting a tournament,” Mueller noted with a sarcastic grin. “Everyone loves the idea of spending their entire weekend at the ballpark. Hopefully it is as hot as it was this weekend.”

In an era when baseball remains the undisputed king of summer afternoons, contests like Sunday’s remind us why this grand old game continues to captivate despite the occasional brutal conditions Mother Nature serves up. For the West Bend Spirits, redemption hopefully lies just around the corner.

Upcoming Tournament Schedule

Friday:
7 p.m. – West Bend Spirits vs. Milwaukee Beavers
(Game also counts in Land O’ Lakes Standings)

Saturday:
10 a.m. – West Bend vs. Hartford Hawks
2 p.m. – West Bend vs. Appleton Legends

Sunday:
10 a.m. – Semifinal (if West Bend advances)
2 p.m. – Final (if West Bend advances)

All West Bend games at Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field, Regner Park

Box Score

Brookfield Blue Sox 6, West Bend Spirits 4

Game Info:

• Date: Sunday, June 22, 2025

• Location: McCoy Field – Brookfield, WI

• Weather: HOT and Sunny – 94 degrees

• Records: West Bend Spirits (7-3), Brookfield Bulldogs (2-3)

Line Score

WP: Andy Stekiel (2-0) LP: Andy Stekiel (2-1)

WEST BEND SPIRITS

• SB: Ben Hurt Haller, Colyn Lessila

• E: Nathan Crick

• HBP: Easton Oliver

• Pitches-Strikes: Jayden Hoffmann 81-50, Easton Oliver 59-34, Alec Tomkiewicz 2-2, Adam Lucas 13-9

• Batters Faced: Jayden Hoffmann 18, Easton Oliver 15, Alec Tomkiewicz 1, Adam Lucas 3

BROOKFIELD BLUE SOX

• 2B: Jedvier Garcia, Samuel Zarling, Dane O’Donnell

• HR: Samuel Zarling

• HBP: Harrison Phillips

• CS: Isaac Schmidt 2

• E: Harrison Phillips

• WP: Dylan Dombrowicki 2

• Pitches-Strikes: Andy Stekiel 88-54, Dylan Dombrowicki 53-28

• Batters Faced: Andy Stekiel 27, Dylan Dombrowicki 9