Two gold glove nominees have begun to add some golden wealth into their bats during the playoffs.
Casey Thomas and Matt Veto were two key components that pushed Heckenkamp into the VLB World Series with 14-3 and 17-4 wins over Engstrom.
Thomas, standing in as captain for Heckenkamp in the playoffs, put Veto in the number 4 hole on Saturday. It was the first time in 5 years that Veto didn’t lead off the game. It paid dividends.
Veto went 6 for 9 hitting for 3 doubles and a career high 7 RBI. Craig Fyfe also had a hand in Saturday’s win as he shows signs of breaking out. Fyfe went 5 for 9 and knocked in two.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came from the bat not from the goofiness that surrounds Greg ‘Assman’ Asleson. Asleson had 4 RBI on 4 hits in Saturday’s win. Asleson also added a triple.
Lance McCafferty stood in for Engstrom during the weekend. He found himself in an 11-1 hole in the second inning that his team would not be able to climb out of.
“Things may have been different if [Brett] Carlson were here,” McCafferty said. “I’m not sure how it would have been different, but it usually is when Carlson is here.”
On Sunday it would be Thomas and McCafferty again representing Heckenkamp and Engstrom respectively.
McCafferty had impressive days at the plate from himself and Fyfe as they combined for a 9 for 13 day accounting for all of their teams’ RBI. Another impressive day came from Bill Kilgard, father of Jeff Kilgard. Bill Kilgard went 3 for 6 including a double.
For Thomas, Jeff Kilgard provided the bulk of the offense knocking in 6 RBI on 5 hits. Kilgard’s mom would provide the bulk of the coaching for both teams. Disgusted with the swing of Greg Asleson at one point, Ma Kilgard took the bat from Asleson and scorched a ground ball to short. Overall the family affair combined for 8 hits, 6 RBI, and 24 heckles from the sidelines.
Every player on Thomas’ squad had at least 4 hits and 2 RBI. The tandem of Veto and Thomas would again prevail. In the seventh, Thomas smacked his first career home-run over the left field wall bringing in three runs. He would finish his career day going 6 for 11 with 4 RBI, a double, and a home-run. His average is now tops in the playoffs.
Veto led the game with 8 hits on 11 at bats doubling once. Asleson added 5 more hits and Josh Paul had 4.
The 9-run Thomas rally in the seventh inning proved too much for McCafferty and Engstrom’s season came to a close.
Veto and Heckenkamp will battle in the first ever Veto League Baseball World Series starting on Tuesday, August 12 at 5:00 pm at Saukie Field in Rock Island. Heckenkamp’s alternative representative has not yet been named.
Casey Thomas and Matt Veto were two key components that pushed Heckenkamp into the VLB World Series with 14-3 and 17-4 wins over Engstrom.
Thomas, standing in as captain for Heckenkamp in the playoffs, put Veto in the number 4 hole on Saturday. It was the first time in 5 years that Veto didn’t lead off the game. It paid dividends.
Veto went 6 for 9 hitting for 3 doubles and a career high 7 RBI. Craig Fyfe also had a hand in Saturday’s win as he shows signs of breaking out. Fyfe went 5 for 9 and knocked in two.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came from the bat not from the goofiness that surrounds Greg ‘Assman’ Asleson. Asleson had 4 RBI on 4 hits in Saturday’s win. Asleson also added a triple.
Lance McCafferty stood in for Engstrom during the weekend. He found himself in an 11-1 hole in the second inning that his team would not be able to climb out of.
“Things may have been different if [Brett] Carlson were here,” McCafferty said. “I’m not sure how it would have been different, but it usually is when Carlson is here.”
On Sunday it would be Thomas and McCafferty again representing Heckenkamp and Engstrom respectively.
McCafferty had impressive days at the plate from himself and Fyfe as they combined for a 9 for 13 day accounting for all of their teams’ RBI. Another impressive day came from Bill Kilgard, father of Jeff Kilgard. Bill Kilgard went 3 for 6 including a double.
For Thomas, Jeff Kilgard provided the bulk of the offense knocking in 6 RBI on 5 hits. Kilgard’s mom would provide the bulk of the coaching for both teams. Disgusted with the swing of Greg Asleson at one point, Ma Kilgard took the bat from Asleson and scorched a ground ball to short. Overall the family affair combined for 8 hits, 6 RBI, and 24 heckles from the sidelines.
Every player on Thomas’ squad had at least 4 hits and 2 RBI. The tandem of Veto and Thomas would again prevail. In the seventh, Thomas smacked his first career home-run over the left field wall bringing in three runs. He would finish his career day going 6 for 11 with 4 RBI, a double, and a home-run. His average is now tops in the playoffs.
Veto led the game with 8 hits on 11 at bats doubling once. Asleson added 5 more hits and Josh Paul had 4.
The 9-run Thomas rally in the seventh inning proved too much for McCafferty and Engstrom’s season came to a close.
Veto and Heckenkamp will battle in the first ever Veto League Baseball World Series starting on Tuesday, August 12 at 5:00 pm at Saukie Field in Rock Island. Heckenkamp’s alternative representative has not yet been named.
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