PLUM CITY – A stellar seven-inning outing from James Georgakas and as strong of a small ball hitting performance as it gets helped the Ellsworth Hubbers cruise to a 10-3 win over the Plum City Blues Sunday, July 23.

Plum City’s Summerfest brought with it a massive crowd for both sides, and the Hubbers were the ones to take advantage of the energy.

The game started off with three scoreless innings pitched by Georgakas and Blues manager and long-time pitcher Tony Garner.

The fourth inning kicked off with a Chuck Hewitt walk, followed by Jeremiah Paulson reaching on an infield ground ball. Jaden Schwantz ripped a double, bringing in Hewitt.

Chad Melstrom singled in Paulson to bring the score to 2-0, and the inning was capped when third baseman Tommy Hehn blooped a ball into left field, and that popped just out of the fielder’s glove after a slide to bring the score to 4-0.

The squads got right back to their pitching ways, until the Blues broke out in the bottom of the seventh inning. A leadoff walk and a dropped throw at first base set up third baseman Logan Carroll to drive in a pair of runs.

Georgakas’ day ended after the seventh inning, giving up just two unearned runs in seven innings pitched. Georgakas was replaced by Urban Broadway, who dealt two innings of one-run ball to close it out.
Georgakas attributed part of his performance to the big fourth inning at the plate. While Georgakas had three clean innings before the big inning, he said the runs provided “relief.”

“Just mixing pitches up, getting into rhythm with first pitch fastballs,” Georgakas said. “It’s nice pitching behind a good lead, makes it a lot easier to just throw strikes and not have to try to get all the outs by yourself.”

The Hubber bats got going once more in the ninth inning, as Ben Fischer, Drake Flom and Hewitt each singled to load the bases with nobody out. Garner exited the game, being replaced by Mike Bauer.

Two wild pitches from Bauer scored both Flom and Hewitt. Hehn walked in a run, causing the Blues to switch pitchers once more. With Jarrod Pelzel on the mound, the Hubbers only scored one more, as Anthony Madsen crossed the plate on a wild pitch to take the score to 10-2.

The Blues scratched one more run across, on a wild pitch in the ninth, but Broadway closed the game out shortly after.

Paulson said the Hubbers have been shut down by Garner many times over the years, and this performance showed the power of a whole lineup contributing.

“Offensively, one-to-nine we all kind of went up there and battled,” Paulson said. “When you’ve got guys on base, and you’re putting pressure on pitchers, it just takes away a little bit of the focus.”

As for the pitching and defense, Paulson said they did everything necessary to earn the win, especially crediting Georgakas on the mound and Fischer for his strong play in center field.

Only one weekend of baseball remains before postseason play begins, and Garner said it is going to take better play in all aspects in order for the Blues to make it.

“Hit the ball a little better, make plays, pitch better,” Garner said. “Hopefully we can do that next week, squeak out a win or two, and get in that playoff.”

Both Paulson and Garner were thankful for the environment the crowd brought. With the ballpark filled, music playing and events going on, the two said the support was felt.

“It’s a little different when you’re playing and polka music is going on,” Paulson said. “It’s always nice to play well in front of a crowd. It’s nice to see people come out and support small town baseball. That’s all you can ask.”