The Bucks ended their playoff run with a 3-1 loss to the Hawley Hawks in Detroit Lakes.
"The ball didn’t bounce our way today," said Head Coach Kevin Hiedeman of the Bucks. "Hawley got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning with a big two out hit against starting pitcher Nick Zach giving up 2 runs on 3 hits. Zach was only able to throw one inning today due to arm troubles."
Breckenridge on the other hand had plenty of opportunities to get on the board stranding 11 runners, 8 of them through the first 5 innings but was unable to pick up a hit when they needed it.
Offensively the Bucks were led by Jack Hiedeman who went 2-for-3 with a walk. Isaac Loosemore also had a single. Brayden Wahl and Austin Ramos each had a single and a walk.
"Great players always rise to the occasion in big games. That definitely was the case today for Jack Hiedeman," said Coach Hiedeman. "Not only did he lead us offensively in the tournament going 5 for 8 with 2 walks, he also threw 6 shutout innings today, striking out 4, giving up 4 hits. Jack walked 1 batter and then picked him off first base. Jack hasn’t thrown much for us this year because he’s been taking care of us behind the plate as catcher. But when Nick went down early today after the first inning, we called on Jack and he delivered."
Thomas Shogren pitched the last inning for the Bucks, giving up 1 hit, walking a batter and giving up one run.
Down 3-0 in the top of the 9th, the Bucks loaded the bases when Jeremy Stack hit a deep ball that Hawley caught up against the fence. Breckenridge scored one run off the Stack sacrifice fly. We were in a great position with Isaac Loosemore and Jack Hiedeman (both leading out team hitting .365 on the season) due up, but in another stroke of back luck Loosemore pulled his groin the inning before and was unable to bat. The replacement hitter ended the inning on a strikeout and the Bucks again left the tying run on base and our two top hitters without an opportunity.
"The breaks just didn’t go our way and it resulted in a 3-1 loss," noted Hiedeman. "I want to thank all the players for a great season. It was great baseball and the team was super competitive and we finished the season playing the best baseball of the year in a super competitive league. I’d like to thank our Breckenridge Baseball board for helping fund the team and numerous others for everything it takes to make a successful season, like concessions, the scoreboard and announcing our games. I am already looking forward to the 2025 season."