The Tomahawk Titans scored early and often led by three home runs on their way to a 17-2 victory over the Iron City Miners on Sunday afternoon in Park Falls.
Tomahawk scored 5 runs in the top of the first inning to set the tone for the game. Jared Jarvensivu started the rally with a one out double to left center. After Jacob Demeyer walked Cody Brietzke’s drilled a three-run homer to left giving Tomahawk a 3-0 lead. Justin Jarvensivu followed with a line drive single to right to keep the inning going. One out later, Jacob Jarvensivu walked and Kory Brietzke was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Logan Hile delivered a single to left field driving in Jacob and Justin and building the lead to 5-0 .
Meanwhile, Cody Brietzke was mowing through Iron City batters, striking out 6 in the first three innings. Tomahawk got another big rally started in the top of the fourth inning when Jacob Demeyer led off with a single. Consecutive walks loaded the bases and Demeyer came around to score when Caleb Armstrong was hit by a pitch. After a pop out, Kory Brietzke was also hit by a pitch driving in another run and making the score 7-0. Titans’ catcher, Logan Hile, then stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam home run to left center field to increase the score to 11-0.
Taking away any doubt about the outcome of the game, Tomahawk added five more runs in the top of the fifth on the strength of doubles by the Brietzke brothers, a couple of walks, and a grand slam home run to left field by Isaac Weber to make the score 16-0. The Titans tacked on one more run to build the lead to 17-0 before Iron City finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jake Yanko delivered a 2 RBI single to left cutting the lead to 17-2.
Nick Bolte shut it down the rest of the way giving Tomahawk the victory and an opportunity to play in the WBA playoffs.
Cody Brietzke pitched five shutout innings to earn the victory on the mound. Brietzke was dominant as he struck out 10 batters while allowing only two hits and one walk in the win. Nick Bolte pitched the final two innings in relief for Tomahawk giving up two runs on three hits while striking out one batter.
The Titans were led at the plate by Logan Hile who was 2-for-3 with a home run and 6 RBI and Cody Brietzke who was also 2-for-3 with a homer and 3 RBI. I. Weber was 1-for-4, but the one hit was a grand slam home run resulting in 4 RBI.
The game against the Iron City Miners was played as a “play in” game for the WBA playoffs which begin next weekend. With the victory, Tomahawk advances to face the defending state champion, Osseo Merchants, this Saturday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. in Altoona.