Olson, Bottomley Come up Big in Stingers' Sweep of Mallards
August 2, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
MADISON, Wis. - Catcher Brian Olson did what any good catcher does - he helped his pitcher win the game. He did it with the bat, he did it with his glove and he did it with toughness that lifted Willmar to a two-game series sweep of the Madison Mallards.
The game began with both offenses assaulting each other's starting pitchers. Olson (Seattle) put the Stingers on the board with his first home run of the season in the top of the 2nd inning. The three-run homer barely got over the fence in left and ignited offense to a five-run frame.
TJ Whidby (Central Arizona) pitched four innings of effective relief to earn his fifth victory of the season. Whidby struck out four and steadied the ship over the middle innings. Bret Dahlson pitched the 7th and 8th innings, allowing just one hit as the Willmar bullpen shut down the Mallards over the last third of the game.
Whidby's win would have been impossible if not for a jaw-dropping play by the Willmar defense in the bottom of the 6th. With runners at first and second and nobody out, Tate Matheny rocketed a base hit into left field and Mallards' manager Donnie Scott sent 6'3 225 pound outfielder Joe McCarthy around third, testing the arm of Colton Bottomley. Bottomley fired home an accurate throw and Olson managed to hold onto the ball despite absorbing the full impact of the hit at the plate. Then, Drew Weeks attempted to advance from second to third, but Olson, the CDI player of the game, gunned him down to record the improbable 7-2-5 double play.
The Willmar offense compiled 14 hits, Danny Brennan reached base five times and Marc Flores recorded a pair of RBI to increase his league-leading total to 56 for 2013. Cody Hughes earned his second straight save in as many chances thanks in part to another great play in the outfield from Bottomley. With runners once again at first and second, Mike Fitzgerald lifted a shallow flyball to left and the Bottomley made a sensational diving catch, then fired to second to complete another unorthodox double play. In total, the Stingers defense turned three double plays that did not begin with a ground ball.
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