Spirits rally for dramatic 6-5 comeback win in season opener | By Craig Larsen

May 18, 2025 – West Bend, Wi — The West Bend Spirits (1-0) opened their Land O’ Lakes season in dramatic fashion Sunday, overcoming a four-run deficit to defeat the Palmyra-Eagle Pythons (0-2) 6-5 at Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field.

Trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Spirits’ offense finally awakened, beginning a comeback that would culminate in a decisive five-run seventh inning that turned the game on its head.

Palmyra-Eagle struck first in the second inning when Trenton Schilling connected on the twelfth pitch of his at-bat against Spirits starter Gavin Hinckley, launching a towering home run to right field that gave the Pythons their initial lead.

The visitors built their advantage to 4-0 before West Bend mounted their comeback. The Spirits’ rally reached its peak in the seventh inning when Brandon Niedfeldt delivered the decisive offensive blow—a clutch two-out double that drove in two runs to secure the lead at 6-4.

In the top of the eighth inning, Niedfeldt delivered the decisive defensive blow—after a 2 out single to left by Cameron Drury plated Will Nemecek, the Pythons tried to score Jake Lueptow from 2nd base, but Niedfeldt delivered a dart to catcher Caleb Hrovath to tag out Lueptow and end the inning.

Hinckley turned in a strong performance on the mound for West Bend, allowing just three runs on six hits across six innings while recording five strikeouts and issuing three walks.

Adam Lucas closed out the game with a solid inning of relief, yielding one hit and striking out one without allowing a walk.

For Palmyra-Eagle, starter Nate Beaver pitched three scoreless innings, giving up just two hits while striking out two and walking four.

The Spirits’ nine-hit attack was well-distributed throughout the lineup. Niedfeldt led the offensive charge with his crucial two-RBI double, finishing 1-for-3 on the day. The two-time all-league outfielder’s timely hitting proved to be the difference-maker. Caleb Horvath, Colyn Lessila, and Alex Pluta each contributed two hits to the winning cause.

Palmyra-Eagle also recorded nine hits, with Brendon Flinton, Ezra Dufour, and Nate Beaver collecting two hits apiece. Schilling went 1-for-3 with a team-leading two RBIs.

The Spirits will look to build on their season-opening victory when they host the Stone Bank Generals next Sunday at Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.