By Reagan Hoverman Ellsworth Hubbers player/manager Jere- miah Paulson called the sixth inning on Sun day afternoon one of the three worst innings he’s ever witnessed in his decades of town ball experience.

The Hubbers’ 2022 season came to an end on Sunday, Aug. 14, after that disastrous sixth inning led to six unearned runs and an eventual 10-9 loss that sent Ellsworth home one win short of making it to the Wisconsin Baseball Association (WBA) State Tournament.

The first five innings of that Sunday after noon game in Ellsworth against the #7 seeded Tony Hayshakers were smooth sailing for Paulson’s Hubbers. Starting pitcher Urban Broadway had allowed only one earned run through five frames and the Hubbers' ouense had posted six runs in what appeared to be a blowout in the making.

However, the Hubbers’ 6-1 advantage disappeared in the disastrous sixth inning in which Ellsworth made a handful of errors that contributed to six unearned runs and a lead that had almost instantaneously evaporated in front of a shocked home crowd.

"All of the wheels fell ou in the sixth in ning,” Paulson said. “We had errors, a couple of rundowns that we didn't execute, and it was probably one of the top three worst innings that I’ve ever witnessed.”

Paulson stated that once Ellsworth’s de- fense made a couple of mistakes in the field behind Broadway, the team began pushing to make up for those mistakes which led to even more errors.

"Momentum is a funny thing. Next thing you know, you've given up six runs on only a couple of hits,” Paulson said. “The guys are reeling and we were just trying to get ou of the field to regroup. We didn't do some of the little things.”

Paulson stated that the defensive miscues that essentially extinguished Ellsworth's season on Sunday afternoon were the same miscues that helped the Hubbers defeat the Minocqua Wood Ducks 3-1 on Friday, Aug. 12, in the first game of the Ellsworth Region al bracket.

During that sixth inning on Sunday after noon with a trip to state on the line, Paulson and the Hubbers' coaching stau decided to pull Broadway and bring in Andrew Adermann for a relief appearance with the season hanging in the balance. Paulson spoke about Broadway’s performance and the defense falling apart behind him.

“We had to take him out during that run when they scored six runs," Paulson said. “I’m so proud of how he handled himself. For all of the chaos around him, he just grabbed the ball and kept throwing strikes. He fought to try and make pitches and we just had an inning where we didn’t help him.”

See HUBBERS, Page B-3

Ellsworth Hubber Jacob Quarne awaits a pitch during Ellsworth’s first playoff game of the year against the Minocqua Wood Ducks on Friday, Aug. 12. Photo by Reagan Hoverman

Ellsworth starting pitcher James Georgakas stands on the mound during his final start of the 2022 season, the Friday, Aug. 12 playoff game at home against the Minocqua Wood Ducks. Georgakas pitched a complete game victory. Photo by Reagan Hoverman Hubbers

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While Paulson was impressed with Broadway’s composure on the mound, he was also impressed by Adermann’s relief appearance. He came into the inning, got the team out of a jam and even after an all-time meltdown of an inning, the Hubbers were only down 7-6.

Ellsworth trailed 10-7 heading into the ninth inning. Two runs made it a 10-9 ballgame with one on base and the Hubbers’ best batter, Casey Bass, up to the plate. That’s when Bass ripped a ball down the first-base line right to a Hayshakers player that stepped on first base and ended the game. Paulson spoke about his message to the players after the game.

"The first message was my appreciation for the guys,” Paulson said. “The message was that this is over and the season is over, but there is a lot to learn from this season and this game and turn it into a positive for the future. This was our first time back (in the playous) in seven years and we're one play, one inning, one situation from heading to state. The message was to be excited about the growth we’ve made.”

Paulson told his players that it’s OK to take some time and let it hurt, but then re- group and build ou of it. The Hubbers made serious strides throughout the 2022 season, which included sweeping the Prescott Pirates for the first time in more than half a decade and making the playous for the first time in seven years.

That growth has been through a mixed roster of young talent competing at the high school and collegiate levels and through veteran players such as James Georgakas and the aforementioned Paulson who have been on the team for years.

“Just look at where we’ve come and look at how close we were,” Paulson said. “We need to figure out what we need to do and then build on it. I think next year will look similar. Our top 12-15 regulars (should be back). We might add a piece or two, but for the most part, the bulk of the core group will be back.”

Paulson made sure to thank the fans that regularly attended Hubbers baseball this season and showed appreciation for all of the hard work that his players put in throughout the 2022 campaign.