Chargers tied for third place in GMC

Despite hitting a three-game skid, the Hamilton varsity baseball team remained in a three-way tie for third place in the Greater Metro Conference heading into the week.

Hamilton lost on June 19 at Menomonee Falls, 5-1, before losing at South Milwaukee in a non-conference battle June 20, 10-7. Playing at home against Wauwatosa East, the Chargers fell again, 5-1.

The Chargers (11-9 overall, 9-7 in the GMC) were tied with Brookfield East and Franklin.

Against league-leading Menomonee Falls, two errors and slumping bats hurt the Chargers.

"We had two errors, and the Falls didn't have any," coach Mike Schramek said. "Add the combination of our inability to hit the ball (five hits), and it proved to be the difference in the game."

Tyler Kozlowski pitched six innings for the Chargers. He gave up two earned runs.

"Ty pitched well enough to get the win; he really had the Falls' hitters off balance, and all of his pitches were around the plate," Schramek said.

At South Milwaukee, an error in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and the bases loaded gave the Rockets the edge.

"After South Milwaukee tied the game 6-6 on an error, they followed up with a three-run triple," Schramek said.

Trailing 10-6, Hamilton got one run back in the seventh courtesy of a single from Tim Biron, a stolen base and an RBI base hit from Kyle Schiedemeyer.

"It is our goal to have big innings (three runs or more) and prevent the opponent from having a big inning," Schramek said. "We gave up two big innings and did not counter with a big inning of our own. I give South Milwaukee credit for taking advantage of our one big mistake."

The big inning hurt Hamilton again in the recent defeat against the Red Raiders.

"Just like Wednesday night, we gave up a big inning and were not able to counter with a big inning of our own," Schramek said.

Mitch Mason pitched four solid innings, giving up two hits while striking out four on no earned runs. In the fifth, Schramek said Mason ran out of gas, allowing two walks, a hit batter and a bases-loaded triple.

Looking back at the last week, Schramek put the majority of the blame on the sedated offense.

"Our pitching has been outstanding and, for the most part, we are playing solid defense," Schramek said. "This offense will come around, and when it does, we have the ability to really make some noise coming down the home stretch of the season."

Standings