Courtesy of Myron Fluegge

COURTLAND – After two weekend wins, the Courtland Cubs are currently in first place in the Tomahawk East League with a 4-0 record. On Memorial Day the Cubs hosted the Springfield Tigers in their home opener to win 7-6. The game was paused after the 4th inning as the color guard presented the flag in honor of those individuals who have served our country. Presenting the flag to a large crowd were retired Master Sergeant David Lloyd and Army Sergeant Gene Walters from the Cambria Post 329 American Legion. Everyone stood in silence as the song, “God Bless the USA” was played over the loud speaker, and then applauded the occasion.

Courtland opened up the scoring with four runs in the second inning. Cade Bushard drove in the first run with an RBI single. After another run scored on an error, Mason Cox singled to drive in two more runs. In the 4th inning Cox launched a two-run homerun over the right center field fence to put the Cubs up 6-0.

Teddy Giefer started pitching for Courtland, going six innings, giving up no runs, three hits, while striking out six, walking one, and hitting one batter. Cole Backer and Chase Meyer pitched the final three innings for the Cubs.

Springfield got on the scoreboard in the 7th inning by scoring two unearned runs on a throwing error, and a base hit. Decker Scheffler led off the eighth inning with a home run to make the score 6-3. In the ninth the Tigers Jordan Milbrath hit a double to deep center field to score the first run of the inning followed with a walk to Scheffler. With runners on second and third, Ryan Sturm hit a sacrifice fly for the second run of the inning. Springfield then attempted a suicide squeeze bunt that was missed, but the ball was dropped in a run-down to make the score 6-6, before the final two outs.

Courtland wasted little time in completing the win. Jackson Bode led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, Mason Cox was given an intentional walk, and Nolan Drill got a free pass to load the bases. Jaden Drill then delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly to left field to make the final score 7-6, as Bode scored. Chase Meyer picked up the win for the Cubs in relief. Justin Haugo, Jordan Milbrath, and Tori Helget pitched for the Tigers.

In the game played last Friday evening in Hanska, the Cubs defeated the Lakers by a score of 3-1. Jackson Bode pitched the entire game for Courtland giving up just one run, a homerun to Hanska’s Chris Knowles in the third inning, three hits, struck out 11, and walked three.

Meanwhile the Cubs scored two runs in the first inning on a two-run double by Teddy Giefer. Giefer recorded his third RBI of the game with another double in the eighth inning to make the final score read 3-1. Nolan Drill had three of the Cubs eight hits, including two doubles, and scored two times. Aaron Portner pitched seven innings for the Lakers and Sam Knowles pitched two.

The Courtland Cubs are 1/2 game ahead of the Leavenworth Orioles (3-0) in the TEL standings. Courtland plays at Leavenworth on Wednesday, May 28, travels to Hutchinson on May 30, and then hosts the New Ulm Brewers on June 4. All three games begin at 7:30 p.m.