Costly errors were too much for the Shawano Lobos to overcome in a 10-8 loss to Hofa Park in the championship game of the 23rd annual Lobos tournament Friday in Shawano.
A Shawano error in the seventh inning helped Matt Zittlow score the go-ahead run, 9-8, on a Taylor Noe single. Rob Schuettpelz followed up with a single to score Noe for the game’s final run.
“We were playing good ball until we had a few errors,” Lobos coach Brandon Schutt said.
Shawano fell behind early when pitcher Beau Heinemeyer hit two consecutive batters, Zac Peterson and Adam Frost, in the top of the first. Jon Rupno’s single scored Peterson, and Frost scored on a double steal.
The Lobos responded with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a two-run double by Grant Bystol to score Ryan Coffey and Jake Heinemeyer. Bryce Szymanski added the third run, singling in Bystol for a 3-2 lead.
In the second inning, Shawano tacked on a run with a Jake Heinemeyer sacrifice fly to score Beau Heinemeyer. The Lobos added two more runs in the third courtesy of a hit by pitch and bases-loaded walk, scoring Lucas Postl and Ben Bystol to make it 6-2 Lobos.
Hofa Park scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning, with the final run coming on another error. Noe’s single scored Zittlow, and Noe scored on a single by Schuettpelz, who scored on the fielding error.
The Lobos added their final two runs in the fourth inning. Szymanski’s single scored Bystol, who led the inning off with a double. Jimmy Lacy then singled in Szymanski to give Shawano a three-run lead.
However, Hofa Park responded with three runs in the fifth inning. Zittlow singled and scored on BJ Roffers’ single. Noe then singled in Roffers, followed by a Schuettpelz single to score Roffers to tie the game.
Hofa Park coach Dale Krumrie knew it would be a difficult game.
“They are always a tough ball club, and their pitching is really good, so we knew it would be a challenge going in,” he said. “We knew we had to score a lot of runs to win.”
Szymanski was 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Bystol went 2 for 4 with a double and run driven in.
Jake Heinemeyer took the loss in relief, going two innings. He allowed two hits and two runs.
Noe was 2 for 4 and Schuettpelz 2 for 4 for the Panthers. Frost took the win. He gave up five hits and four runs in four innings. He had two strikeouts, two hit by pitches and a walk.
In the third place game, the Cecil Mudhens beat Pulaski 7-4.
