Bluejays baseball team gets first win of season

After some early-season struggles, the Three Lakes-Phelps varsity baseball team chalked up its first victory of the season as it defeated the Loggers of Phillips High School last Thursday by an 8-6 score. This gives the team some much-needed momentum as they play the majority of their remaining games against Northern Lakes Conference rivals. The first of these important contests was played early this week as the Jays faced Florence at Don Burnside Park in Three Lakes.

While the final result was not available as this edition went to press, the team was glad to be in friendly territory as this was the home opener after five games on the road, most in less-than-ideal weather. Poor conditions also caused the cancellation of three of the five games on the schedule last week; the forecast looks much more favorable this Thursday and Friday as the Jays take on the Rebels of Laona-Wabeno, before taking on the cross-town Eagles of Northland Pines High School.

The victory in Phillips saw the offense come alive with eight runs, led by centerfielder Sawyer Szews, who clocked in three base hits, one walk, one run and two stolen bases. Everyone in the lineup reached base in this game, and five different players scored for the Bluejays. In addition to the high output of Szews, starting pitcher Cruz Melton was also effective again at the plate, reaching base four of five times, with two runs scored and one stolen base.
C.J. Forss had a nice night, going 1-2 with two runs, two walks and a stolen base; while catcher Sam Koshuta had a walk, a run and a stolen base for the Bluejays. Phelps High School sophomore Isaiah Perlewitz also showed some speed with two stolen bases, following two walks. He also scored a run in the third inning when the Bluejays sent nine players to the plate while putting up four on the board.

Head coach Brad Bisnette was pleased with the team’s performance and says he looks forward to the conference games ahead.

“This is the fun part of the schedule,” he said, “where the games are usually competitive, and our guys have familiarity with players from the other teams.”

He also said that the team looks forward to the game this Friday at Northland Pines, where the local familiarity goes even deeper as some players know each other from summer leagues in the area.

Bisnette said that he is happy to see the pace of the schedule pick up so that his younger players, such as Wyatt Gentile-Donner, Ryker Hafer, and Charlie Duquaine, can benefit from additional time on the field. He said he looks for experienced seniors in Melton, Szews and Forss to be good role models in guiding them along as the season advances. The coach also places sophomore Koshuta in the leadership category, as he was a regular starter last season as a freshman.

On the mound, the Bluejays will likely continue with Melton as a starter, along with Forss, Koshuta and possibly Szews. Melton threw some heaters in Phillips, as he struck out nine in five innings with just one Logger reaching base on a walk. Forss came in for relief in the sixth inning and then struck out the side in the seventh inning to seal the win for the Bluejays.

The team looked to improve on its 1-4 record coming into the new week, and will play the Rebels at Laona High School this Thursday, April 23, followed by the local contest at Northland Pines on Friday, April 24. Both games have scheduled 5:00 p.m. start times.