NEWS

Tough Loss Ends Slinger Season

August 21--Despite a promising start, the Stingers dropped their final game of the 2009 season to Rubicon by a score of 9-7. The game appeared to be a low scoring affair until some 9th inning fireworks. Rubicon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third and tacked on a third run in the fourth. Slinger answered back with two runs in the fourth and another pair in the fifth to lead 4-3. Geldnich pitched an excellent game, giving up only three runs over his six innings of work.

The problem came in the 9th inning. Three straight misplayed bunts resulted in the bases loaded with no outs for Rubicon. The Red Sox went on to score five runs in the inning, which put the game seemingly out of reach. Slinger mounted a 9th inning rally in their half of the frame, but ended up stranding the tying run on second base as Rubicon went on to win 9-7.

Stingers Vie for Playoff Spot

August 15--After a disappointing start to the Tri-County Night League season, Slinger posted a 5-0 second half of the season to vault them into a tie for the final playoff spot. They will take on Rubicon/Hartford in Brownsville on Wednesday night to determine who gets the sixth and final spot in the Tri-County playoffs. A victory on Wednesday would salvage a stellar comeback for the Tri-County team, who started the season 0-5 only to win their final five games of the season to finish at .500.

Come see the Stingers fight for that final spot this Wednesday, August 19th at 7:30 in Brownsville.

Extra Inning Loss to Kewaskum

August 2--A Kyle Arendt RBI double in the top of the 10th was not enough for the Stingers to overcome Kewaskum, who won 4-3 in the bottom of the 11th with a walk off RBI double. Slinger played well and hung with the A's 2-2 through 9 innings before striking in the top of the 10th. Unfortunately, Kewaskum answered back and then took the game in the next frame after Slinger could not muster another run. Pitcher Brad Geldnich went the distance, but got the loss.

Slinger's loss was a far cry from the 18-5 spanking they suffered earlier in the season at the hands of the A's, but it was a tough one to take. Arendt had a three-hit game, going 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI double. Tom Becker also continued his good hitting, going 2-3 with a hit by pitch and walk. The Stinger's Rock season wraps up next week at Oakfield.

In other news, it seems the Stingers will be in the running for a Tri-County Night League playoff spot. Word of this will come early next week, so stay tuned to the Tri-County Web Site HERE for more info.

Walkoff Punctuates Winning Weekend

July 30--Slinger celebrated its Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday with a 6-5 victory over Germantown. This snapped a six game Rock River losing streak that started way back in June. At the same time, Slinger's 14-5 Saturday win over Lannon capped a tremendous second half of the season for the Tri-County league, where the Stingers won their fifth straight game, finishing the season 5-5.

The Stingers will travel to Kewaskum on Sunday to play their penultimate game against a Kewaskum team who has clinched a playoff spot already. This would still be a meaningful victory after an 18-5 routing at the hands of Kewaskum earlier this summer.

Slinger Tailspin Continues

July 20--The latest Slinger loss was an especially painful one against Mayville at home. The 8-6 loss represents the sixth straight Rock River loss for Slinger and a loss that almost surely douses their playoff chances for the year. Starter Simon Griesbach gave up six of the eight Mayville runs in his three innings of work, and this was a deep hole to climb out of. The Stingers were able to plate a few runs in their efforts, but Mayville kept just ahead and Slinger went quietly in the ninth.

Slinger did get excellent support in relief by pitcher Brad Geldnich, who allowed only two runs in his six innings of work while striking out five and walking only one. At the plate, Kevin Tennies and Mark Lighthizer led the Stingers with two hits apiece. Tennies hit a double and drove in a run. Lighthizer was hit by a pitch and scored a run as well.

Next week the Stingers play Lannon at home in Tri-County action and on Sunday host the Germantown Giants for fan appreciation day. This will be their last home series of the 2009 season, so come on out and support the home team.

Stinger Bats Lead Way to Victory

July 17--Oconomowoc bats awakened for a two-out ninth inning rally that plated five runs, but this was not enough to beat Slinger as the Stingers won 10-8. In the sixth, Slinger eyed up a ten run rule victory but found itself fighting for its life as the winning run came to the plate with a 3-4 day including two home runs, but reliever Devin Meyer got the final out to record his first save of the season.

Starter Justin Schwechel did well, allowing only two walks while striking out ten and earning the win. Meyer earned the save for his batter's worth of work, and also had a dynomite day at the plate. He was 3-5 with a double, three runs scored and four RBI. Luke Tennies quietly had an excellent game, going 4-5 and scoring two runs and Kyle Arendt rounded out the highlights with a 3-3 day, two walks, a hit by pitch, a stolen base and a run scored. The Stingers hope to continue their performances with a little revenge on Sunday as they host the Mayville team that one-hit them earlier in the year.

Brownsville Eeks Out Win

July 17--Slinger failed in its effort to turn around a second half slide on Wedensday as they lost their fifth straight game to Brownsville by a score of 6-8. Starter Brad Geldnich threw a good game, but Slinger fielders made several crucial errors and Brownsville took full advantage. Brownsville jumped to a quick 3-0 win, but Slinger answered back, tying the game at threes on a three-run homer by outfielder Kevin Tennies. Both teams traded the lead, but Slinger defense gave Brownsville too many outs. A ninth-inning rally stopped short and left the Stingers with a tough 6-8 loss. Both Kyle Arendt and Tom Becker had two-hit performances in Slinger's effort.

Stingers Win, Lose over Weekend

July 12--A fourth straight Rock River loss ended the weekend on Sunday resulting in Slinger dropping a spot in the standings. While fielding only nine players, the Stingers seemed as if they would roll over Lebanon on Saturday, but Lebanon posted seven runs against Slinger pitching before they were stopped. The Stingers went on to win 11-7: their third win in a row for Tri-County.

Meanwhile, Slinger's losing streak in Rock River play continued as they dropped Sunday's game 0-9 to Hartford. Starter Simon Griesbach was tagged for all nine runs before reliever Mark Baughman came in and stopped the bleeding. Slinger batters were only able to muster six hits in the contest, and had several scoring opportunities. They were just unable to push any runs across.

This coming week, The Stingers will play back to back night games against Brownsville on Wednesday and Oconomowoc on Thursday. Thursday's game will be held at Watertown's Washington Park. Sunday afternoon, the Stingers will host Rock River newcomers Mayville as they try to end their second half tailspin.

All Star Team Announced

July 8--The Rock River All Star teams have been announced and Slinger will be well-represented in their ranks. Shortstop Tom Tennies was selected in the DH/Utility category and second baseman Adam Lofy made the team in his capacity as second baseman. The 2009 All Star Game will be held this Friday, July 10th in Lebanon. You can see links to the entire teams from both divisions at the Rock River web site, HERE.

Slinger Shorted in Husty Loss

July 8--Runs were the name of the game on Wednesday night as the Stingers lost to Hustisford by the score of 11-9. Neither starter had a particularly good appearance with starting pitchers throwing a combined 8 innings and giving up a total of 12 runs. While reliever Mark Baughman was able to ease the pain, pitching the final five innings, it couldn't erase the 5-run third inning that put Hustisford in the driver seat. While the Stingers were able to pull within two runs of the lead, they failed to take over, stranding runners on first and second in the ninth inning.

Mark Lighthizer led all hitters going 3-4 with a walk, a double, a run batted in and a run scored. Brad Geldnich also had three hits, going 3-5 with a walk a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Tom Becker earned two walks in addition to his 2-4 day at the plate and he scored three runs himself while driving in another. Adam Lofy and Mark Baughman also truned in two-hit days, each scoring a run and driving in one as well. Slinger hopes to roll the excellent offense into the weekend, when they host Lebanon at home for a Tri-County matchup and then to Hartford to play the struggling Orioles.

Losses to Horicon, Rubicon Cap Disappointing Weekend

July 1--Slinger's loss on Sunday capped a disappointing two-loss Rock River weekend and a difficult month of June in which the Stingers went 2-4 in the Rock, dropping from the upper reaches of the standings to the middle of the pack.

Saturday's game at Rubicon quickly saw the Red Sox jump on starter Brad Geldnich, who was tagged for six runs in the first two innings. The Stingers were able to score runs, but not enough to outpace Rubicon, who won 13-6. Tom Becker led hitters with a 2-5 game, hitting a double, scoring two runs and driving in two more. Adam Lofy also pounded two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Finally, Tom Tennies set a season high with four walks.

Sunday should have been Slinger's chance to get back on track. Horicon entered the game with a 1-9 record in the Rock River, but the Stingers lost by a score of 6-2. Slinger drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning, but gave up two runs in both the third and fifth innings followed by a run in the eighth and the ninth. The Stingers also scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to bookend a disappointing game that saw four Slinger errors and 13 runners left on base. Starter Simon Griesbach gave up only six hits, but five runs over the eight innings a losing effort. The bright spot on Sunday was slugger Brad Geldnich's day at the plate. He went 3-5 with a run scored and reached on an error.

Slinger will have the next week off and resume Rock River baseball on Wednesday, July 8th. They travel to Hustisford to face the Astros for a night game.

Slinger Bats Blast West Bend

June 23--The Stingers unleashed the bats under the lights Tuesday as they trounced the West Bend Benders 12-7 at Regner Park. The game went back and forth, but eventually Slinger's offense was too much for West Bend's pitching staff. Slinger jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Benders answered back with four runs in the bottom of the frame. They followed with another run in the second, but Slinger tied the game 5-5 in the third inning and took the lead briefly in the fifth after adding two more runs. Although West Bend scored two to knot the score at sevens, it was all Slinger from then out. They scored three runs in the seventh and one each in the eighth and ninth to win it 12-5.

Stinger starter Simon Griesbach had a rough go, giving up all seven runs over five innings. Reliever Justin Schwechel earned his first win, going four innings and striking out five while only walking three and giving up no earned runs. Outfielder Kyle Arendt led the charge at the plate, reaching on all seven plate appearances. He was 5-5 with a walk, hit by pitch, two stolen bases and two runs scored. First baseman Devin Meyer also hit well, going 3-4 with a sac fly, stolen base, run batted in and three runs scored. Tom Tennies drove in three runs and scored two himself as he went 2-4 with a double, walk, sac fly and a stolen base. Both Justin Schwechel and Luke Tennies also turned in two hit nights, with Schwechel stealing a base, laying down a sacrafice bunt, driving in one and scoring a run himself. Luke Tennies was hit by a pitch as well, scored twice himself and collected an RBI. The Stingers look to roll these impressive offensive numbers into the weekend, when they play Rubicon and Horicon in a double Rock River weekend.

Slinger Stuns Oakfield in 1-0 Shutout

June 21--Slinger's good weekend continued on Sunday as they shut out the Oakfield Oaks 1-0 at home. Both pitchers worked fast, finishing the game in a paltry hour and a half. Slinger pitcher Brad Geldnich sparkled in his appearance, going the distance and giving up only six hits while striking out three. Oakfield threatened in a few innings, getting runners to third with one out, but good pitching and strong defensive plays kept Oakfield from crossing the plate. The only run of the game was scored by designated hitter Mark Baughman, who reached on an error, was bunted to third base by first baseman Mark Lighthizer and scored on a Luke Tennies single.

This victory puts the Stingers back in the mix at the top of the Rock River North and drops Oakfield to within a half game of Slinger. This victory could potentially bring the Stingers to within a game of first place. Slinger has a busy week coming up as they travel to West Bend to play a night game against the Benders on Tuesday and a double Rock River weekend, traveling to Rubicon on Saturday and hosting Horicon on Sunday.

Stingers Notch First Tri-County Victory

June 20--The Slinger Stingers climbed out of the Tri-County Night League basement Saturday, as they rolled to a 6-2 victory over Johnson Creek. After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, Slinger bounced back and evened the score in the bottom of the frame. The difference in the game came from a 5 run third inning during which Slinger took advantage of two Pioneer errors. While Johnson Creek threatened often and added another run in the seventh, it would not be enough to overcome pitcher Mark Baughman, who had a great start, going 8 innings with 5 strikeouts. The Pioneers went quietly in the ninth thanks to pitcher Justin Schwechel, who struck out two of the three batters he faced.

The Slinger bats were sharp Saturday. Both second baseman Chad Peterson and shortstop Adam Lofy turned in three-hit appearances at the plate and turned a nice double play in the field as well. Lofy was 3-5 with a double and a run scored, and Peterson went 3-4 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run. Kevin Tennies turned in a two-hit day and scored a run in his afternoon. The Stingers look to roll their hitting and good defense into Sunday's Rock River game versus Oakfield, who sits a half game out of the top spot in the Northern Division.

Kewaskum Blows Out Slinger

June 14--It was a gorgeous day for baseball, and things looked to be going well in the first half of the game, but Slinger's early 2-0 lead quickly gave way as the Stingers were defeated 18-5 at the hands of Kewaskum on Sunday. The A's had four big innings, putting up three runs in the fifth and five in the sixth off of starter Brad Geldnich and then then four in the eighth and five in the ninth off of reliever Simon Griesbach. The game was a major hit against Slinger, dropping them below Kewaskum into the middle of the pack in the Northern Division of the Rock River League.

Notable plate appearances on Sunday were had by Adam Lofy, who had a 2-5 day with a double, run scored and an RBI. Tom Tennies also hit well, going 2-5 with a run scored. Catcher Tom Becker went a respectable 2-5 with a run scored and an RBI as well.

The Stingers look to turn around their skid next weekend as they host Johnson Creek on Saturday and Oakfield on Sunday.

Makeup Game on June 20

June 13--Slinger will make up its early season rainout against Johnson Creek on Saturday, June 20th in Slinger.

Slinger Canned By Clyman

June 13--The Tri-County woes continued for the Stingers on Saturday, as they were shut out 4-0 by Clyman. Although they had plenty of baserunners, the Stingers were unable to string enough hits together to push a run across the plate. The Canners scored a run in the second inning and followed by two more in the third. They tacked on their fourth run in the bottom of the eighth inning off of reliever Clayton Griesbach.

Starter Mark Baughman had a strong performance, pitching 6 innings and only allowing three runs. He struck out four while walking only two. At the plate, both Adam Lofy and Simon Griesbach turned in two-hit appearances. The Stingers will host Rock rivals Kewaskum tomorrow afternoon in a game that promises to be exciting.

Slinger Crushes Germantown

June 7--After a rough game in which they gave up 14 runs over the first 7 innings against Neosho, the Stingers bounced back and clobbered the Germantown Giants 15-3 on Sunday. The game started off slow, with the score knotted at threes after 5 innings, but the Stingers broke the game wide open in the sixth, as they put up 7 runs and then tacked on another 3 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th. Slinger hurler Brad Geldnich shut the Giants down and reliever Mark Baughman followed suit, keeping the Giants scoreless after the 5th inning.

Walks seemed to hurt the Germantown rotation, as the combined force allowed 17 while only striking out three Slinger Batters. Geldnich led all hitters with a 4-5 day, walking, scoring a run and batting in three. Adam Lofy made the most of his only official plate appearance, going 1-1. He also walked three times, stole two bases and scored 4 runs. Kyle Arendt also did well at the plate, going 3-6 with a stolen base, hit by pitch and two runs batted in. Luke, Tom and Kevin Tennies and Mark Baughman also knocked in runs in Slinger's win.

Slingers Blown Out in Mayville

May 31--A game that was scoreless through the first two innings quickly turned against the Stingers as they fell 0-10 at Mayville Sunday afternoon. In a speedy game that took just a little under two hours, the Stingers only mustered one hit against Mayville's starting pitcher. Starter Simon Griesbach was chased from the game after giving up 9 runs and was relieved by Brad Geldnich. Brad pitched well, holding the Mallards to a single run, but the damage was done. The Stingers only hit was delivered by Tom Becker in the first inning. The Stingers look to improve their record next week as they head to Germantown to take on the Giants.

Slinger Drops Third Tri-County Game in Kewaskum

May 30--The Stingers pulled infielder Chris Guse and outfielder Matt Tennies out of retirement for Saturday's game, but it was not enough. Slinger lost 8-12 on Saturday in a game in which they took the lead in the 6th inning but were unable to hold on. Kewaskum jumped out to a fast 4-0 lead in the first. Slinger added two runs in the 2nd, but Kewaskum answered back with two runs of their own in the 3rd. The Stingers also scored a run in the 5th and then had a 5-run 6th which gave them the lead at 8-6. In the bottom of the inning, however, Kewaskum tied it up. Both teams held each other scoreless until the bottom of the 8th, when the A's put up four runs to cap their 12-8 victory.

Starter Mark Baughman threw 5 innings but did not get the decision. Reliever Justin Schwechel was saddled with the loss, throwing 3 innings of work. At the plate, Mark Baughman led the way going 2-5 with a double and an RBI. Tom Tennies also turned in a 2-5 day and had an RBI himself. In his first appearance since retirement, Matt Tennies had a great day at the plate, going 1-3 with two walks and two runs batted in. The Stingers hope to continue their successful Rock River season as they head to Mayville to play the Mallards Sunday afternoon.

Stingers Pull Off Thrilling 9th Inning Rally

May 24--The Stingers continued showing their skills on the diamond as they beat Brownsville in a walk-off 9th inning rally. The game went back and forth with both teams missing scoring opportunities, but pitcher Brad Geldnich's 9th inning walkoff single sounded the death knell for the Highway 49ers. The Stingers fell to a quick 1-0 deficit in the first, but answered in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of RBI singles by Adam Lofy and Kevin Tennies. Unfortunately, the 49ers jumped back in the lead with two runs in the second. They added runs in the 5th and 6th as well, but it was all Slinger from that time on. Kyle Arendt scored on Adam Lofy's second RBI single in the 7th and was knocked in again on a Tom Becker single in the 8th.

The Stingers trailed by one run going into the bottom of the 9th, but Adam Lofy reached on a strikeout with a wild pitch. The next pitch, Kevin Tennies reached on a sacrifice bunt botched by the catcher to put runners on second and third. Brownsville intentionally walked Mark Baughman to bring up Geldnich, who singled in the tying and winning runs.

Geldnich did well at the plate, going 3-5 with 2RBI. Tom Tennies had a great day at the plate, leading all hitters with a 3-3 day, walking twice, hitting a double and scoring a run. Tom Becker also hit well, going 3-5 and both scoring a run and batting one in. Lofy went 2-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Kyle Arendt and Kevin Tennies also turned in decent appearances at the plate, both reaching base 3 times. Starter Brad Geldnich pitched well, keeping the Stingers in the game. He allowed 5 runs and walked three while striking out two. Reliever Mark Baughman earned the win in his two innings of work. He held the 49ers to a single hit and only walked two in his effort.

The Stingers look to continue their 4-game Rock River winning streak next week as they head to Mayville on Sunday. For those hoping to see the Kewaskum vs. Slinger Tri-County matchup next Saturday, note the 11:30 start time. We hope to see you there.

Stingers Shut Out Hartford

May 23--A large crowd was on hand to see the Stingers earn a 6-0 victory at home on Saturday. The team jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning on a run-scoring single by outfielder Luke Tennies. They tacked three more runs on in the bottom of the fourth and didn't look back from there. While they had runners on base on several occasions, 6 runs were more than enough to finish off the Hawks, who only managed 5 hits off of Slinger starter Simon Griesbach.

Luke Tennies led the way at the plate, going 2-3 with a run scored, a stolen base and 2 RBI. Mark Baughman also turned in a good day, going 2-4 with a run scored. Kevin Tennies also hit well, going 1-3 and reaching base on a hit by pitch as well as knocking in 2 runs. Everyone had good plate appearances, as Kyle Arendt, Tom Tennies, Kevin Tennies and Luke Tennies each had at least one RBI. Griesbach turned in a quality start, going the whole game with 8 K and only one walk, while giving up five hits. The Stingers continue their Rock River weekend as they host Brownsville tomorrow afternoon.

Slinger Wins Nail-Biter Against Hustisford

May 17--The Slinger bats came alive in a late inning rally on Sunday as they defeated Hustisford by a score of 7-6. They entered their half of the 7th inning trailing 5-2 and left with a 7-5 lead. The key play of the inning was a two-run double by left fielder Kevin Tennies with the bases loaded. Hustisford was able to tack on a run in the 8th and had a 2-out 9th inning rally. Hustisford ended the game on a play at the plate: first baseman Mark Lighthizer made a heads-up throw to the plate and catcher Tom Becker slapped the tag on for the final out.

Kevin Tennies led all hitters, going 2-3 with a walk, a double, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Adam Lofy also hit well, going 2-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Brad Frank followed suit, going 2-5 with two solid singles, a stolen base and a run scored. Finally, Kyle Arendt went 2-5. Pitcher Brad Geldnich threw well, going 6 innings with a strikeout and four walks while allowing only 2 earned runs, but he did not earn the decision. Simon Griesbach came on in relief and got the win, throwing three innings and allowing two earned runs with one strikeout. Slinger has a double Rock River weekend next week, hosting Hartford and Brownsville at home on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Stingers Score 8, Can't Hold Off Irish

May 16--The Stingers scored 8 runs on Saturday, but they were unable to hold off the Monches Irish bats as they went down in defeat 8-14. They kicked off the game with a 2-RBI double by center fielder Kevin Tennies, but quickly lost the lead and never got it back. The Stingers tacked 3 runs on in the fifth inning, another two in the 8th and a final run in the 9th.

Pitcher Mark Baughman threw 5 strong innings and was relieved by pitcher Justin Schwechel, who also went 2-5 at the plate. Second baseman Adam Lofy had a great day at the plate, going 2-3 with a walk, 2 runs scored and an RBI. The Stingers will host Hustisford in Rock River action on Sunday.

Slinger Defeats Horicon in Mothers' Day Matchup

May 10--Despite the overcast skies and slightly soggy conditions, the Stingers won a decisive victory over the Horicon Honkers 3-1 at Discher Park in Horicon. The victory moves Slinger to 1-1 on the season and drops the Honkers to 0-1. The teams were knotted at zeroes until the bottom of the 4th, when an RBI single scored the first and only Horicon run. Horicon held a no-hitter into the 6th when Slinger answered back with an RBI single by catcher Tom Becker. The Stingers added another on an error in the top of the 7th and a third on an RBI single by Adam Lofy in the 8th. Although Horicon threatened in the 6th with runners on second and third with none out, the Stingers came up with some defensive gems to get out of the jam.

The highlights were few and far between as the Stingers were held to just two hits, but excellent defensive plays were made all over the field to hold the Honkers to a single run. Outfielder Kyle Arendt was 1-3 with a single, but reached three times and stole second. Catcher Tom Becker had an RBI single and scored a run himself, and Adam Lofy did well, going 1-3 and reaching three times with an RBI and a run scored. Pitcher Simon Griesbach managed to throw a complete game giving up 10 hits, but striking out 6 and only walking one. Next week, Slinger hosts the Hustisford Astros in Rock River action.

Watertown Drenches Slinger Comeback

May 1--The Stingers lost their first Tri-County Night League matchup against Watertown by an 8-7 tally Friday night. Starter Simon Griesbach came out slowly, walking the first two Watertown hitters, who would eventually come around to score in the 3-run first inning. Slinger answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame and slugger Brad Frank hit his first home run of the year to tack on another run in the bottom of the 5th. The Cardinals tallied a run in the 4th and 5th innings and added another two in the 7th and one in the 8th inning. The Stingers had a dramatic 9th inning rally, scoring four runs, three of which on a double by left fielder Kevin Tennies, but came up short.

Brad Frank led the way hitting, going 1-2 with three walks, a home run and two runs scored. Other leading hitters were Kyle Arendt, who went 2-5 with a stolen base and run scored, Mark Baughman, who went 2-5 with 3 RBIs and Grant Brugger, who reached base 3 times, going 2-4. The Stingers will start the Rock River season on Sunday, facing their classic rivals, the Rubicon Red Sox at home. Come on out an support your team in what promises to be a great game.

Rain Spoils Saturday Game

April 25--Rain forced cancellation of the Slinger's third-place showdown against the Cedarburg Mercs this Saturday. Heavy rain fell the entire morning and was expected to continue throughout the rest of the day.

The Stingers look to begin regular season action next Friday as they travel to Washington Park to take on the Watertown Cardinals at 7:30 pm. Rock River League play begins next Sunday at home when the Stingers' classic rivalry with the Rubicon Red Sox continues.

Slinger Splits In First Weekend

April 19--The Slinger Stingers have a lot to look forward to in the coming season after splitting their first two Hustisford Tournament games. After beating the West Bend Benders convincingly 10-1 in the first game, the Stingers fell to West Bend 7-Up 2-7 in a time- and rain-shortened game. In the first game, the Stingers exploded in an 8-run 3rd inning, sending every batter to the plate in that frame. For good measure, they tacked on runs in the 4th and 5th to seal the deal.

In game two, the Stingers fell behind early, as 7-Up drove in 4 runs in the second. The Stingers came back, scoring a run in the 4th and another in the 5th, but West bend scored three more runs of their own to take the victory 7-2 after 6 innings. The tournament will continue next weekend, with the Stingers taking on the loser of Hustisford/Cedarburg at 3:00 Saturday afternoon.

Hustisford Tournament Announced

April 7--The first round matchups for the Hustisford preseason tournament have been announced. These pairings are available HERE. The Stingers (17-14 in 2008) will take on the West Bend Benders in first round action Saturday April 18th at 11:00am. In the event of a win, the Stingers will play the winner of the West Bend 7-Up/Horicon game at 3:00 on Sunday the 19th. The loser of Saturday's game will face the loser of the West Bend 7-Up/Horicon matchup at 11:00am on Sunday. Stay posted at slingerstingers.com for the latest news regarding the upcoming season and the results of these and all upcoming games. Announcements will be made when times for the April 25th games are available.

Tennies Takes Over, New Schedules Announced

March 15--Just two years after winning the Rock River league batting title, manager Chris Guse has decided to step down, leaving the club under the management of Kevin Tennies. While Kevin assumed many managerial responsibilities of the Tri-County Night League squad last year, this will be his first complete season of leading the club.

The Stingers will be looking forward to another successful season following their 12-6 2008 season in which they made the Rock River League playoffs for the second time in two years. They will be returning many key players and look to improve on the defensive aspect of the game. The face of the North Division of the Rock will be slightly changed, with the entry of the Mayville Mallards, who will replace the Waupun Bulldogs, who forfeit their entire season last year. The Southern Division will also be changed, as the Lebanon Whitetails and Farmington Braves will join the league following the exit of Madison Shoe Box and Pardeeville.

In Tri-County night league news, the league lost the Pardeeville Braves, Brookfield Bulldogs, and Sullivan Roosters. Additionally, Rubicon and Hartford will be fielding a combined team called the Red Sox. They will play their games at St. John's Park in Rubicon.

Season Ends With Loss to A's

August 17--The season ended on a quiet note Sunday as the Stingers lost their final playoff game to the Kewaskum A's 10-5. The game was neck-and-neck through the first 6 innings, but two-run homers in the 7th and 8th innings and a solo shot in the 9th put the game out of reach for the Stingers.

The A's came off of a tough 7-5 loss to Oakfield on Saturday, so the game was a must-win for both teams. Kewaskum got on the board first with a run in the 1st inning. The Stingers took the lead in the 2nd, plating three runs. Slinger added a run in the 4th and another in the 7th, but the A's scored two runs in each of the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th innings. This was too much to overcome as the Stingers fell by a score of 10-5.

Pitcher Brad Geldnich threw 7 strong innings, but suffered the loss. Reliever Simon Griesbach had a rough appearance, giving up a two-run blast in the 8th inning and a solo shot in the 9th. At the plate, Tom Tennies had a career game, going 3-3 and reaching on a hit by pitch. He hit a solo homer and batted in three runs while scoring twice himself. Mark Lighthizer had a good game, going 1-2 with two crucial sacrifice bunts. Kevin Tennies also did well at the plate, going 1-2 with two runs scored, a stolen base, a walk, and was hit with a pitch.

The Slinger Stingers would like to thank each and every fan for their dedication and help in yet another successful season.

Brownsville Wins in 1st Round

August 16--The first round of the playoffs did not go as planned for the Slinger Stingers, as they attempted to defend their Rock River North Championship. They lost 2-4 to the Brownsville Highway 49ers and find themselves with their backs against the ropes heading into Sunday's game against Kewaskum.

Jason Wiedmeyer started off the game well, pitching out of jams and holding the 49ers scoreless through the first 4 innings. The Stingers jumped on the board in the top of the 5th inning on a 2-run single by third baseman Brad Geldnich. He finished the game 1-3 and drew a walk. Unfortunately, the 49ers were able to get back into the game on a 2 RBI double in the bottom of the inning. Slinger threatened many times in the game, but couldn't find a way to plate more runs, stranding 8 runners. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the 49ers scored the final two runs of the game on an RBI single followed by a fielder's choice. Wiedmeyer threw well, going the distance and allowing only 8 hits and a walk while striking out 4.

Mark Baughman led the way at the plate, going 2-3 with a run scored. Shortstop Tom Tennies also did well, going 2-4 and notching his first double of the year.

Brownsville heads to Oakland to take on the Oaks while Slinger looks to stay alive this weekend. They host the second place Kewaskum A's at 1:30 on Sunday, August 17th at Slinger High School.

Stingers Ready to Begin Playoffs

August 15--On the eve of their first playoff game, the Slingers Stingers look forward to games against two of their most formidable opponents. On Saturday, the Stingers travel to Brownsville to take on the first-seeded Highway 49ers and on Sunday afternoon, they host the Kewaskum A's.

Brownsville secured first place last week with a forfeited victory over Waupun, but has not played a game since August 7th, when they lost their Plymouth Tourney game to the Kewaskum A's. Their last Rock River game was a 15-1 rout of the Horicon Honkers. Kewaskum dropped their final Rock River game of the season 4-2 to Rubicon last week, and the Stingers have a 1-1 record against the A's this season. After losing its last four games, the team looks to get back on track this weekend with wins over two tough clubs.

Oakfield Wins Slugfest in Slinger

August 10--Slinger's woes continued as the Stingers lost their fourth straight game and only their third home game all year by a score of 9-14. The team had no trouble hitting the ball around, scoring runs in 6 of the 9 innings they played, but the Oaks' bats simply pounded the Stingers out of the game. Oakfield jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first, but the Stingers managed a run in the bottom of the inning to bring the score to 1-4. Oakfield tagged starter Jason Wiedmeyer for another 4 in the third inning and never looked back. Wiedmeyer gave way to reliever Simon Griesbach, who pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up another 5 runs. Clayton Griesbach came on in relief of Simon, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings and giving up only one run.

On the other side of the ball, the Stingers hit well. Brad Geldnich led the offense, going 3-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. Right fielder Kyle Arendt also hit the ball well, going 3-6 with a triple and a run scored. First baseman Mark Lighthizer collected two hits and an RBI, going 2-5 on the day, and Tom Becker hit his team leading 3rd home run to cap a 2-6 day. Becker scored twice and batted in three runs as well. Tom Tennies had a great eye at the plate, reaching base three times on walks and scoring twice.

The loss drops the Stingers to 4th place, ending the season with a 12-6 Rock River League record and the fourth seed in the Rock River Northern Division playoffs. The Stingers will likely travel to Brownsville next Saturday to take on the Highway 49ers. More information about the matchup and directions to the field will be posted as soon as possible.

Stingers Lose to Hustisford

August 3--The Stingers capped the worst weekend of the 2008 season with a 7-9 loss to the Hustisford Astros. While the bats were alive, Slinger stranded runners in many key situations including back to back innings with the bases loaded and less than 2 out. Starter Jason Wiedmeyer pitched well, but the Hustisford bats were just too much. He still managed 6 strikeouts while walking no batters in his 6 innings. Relievers Brad Geldnich, Clayton Griesbach and Mark Baughman pitched the remaining innings.

Slinger held a 2-0 lead for a short time, but Hustisford pulled ahead with a 3-run inning and never looked back. The Stingers mounted a 5-run comeback in the 8th inning to pull within 1 at 7-8, but this was not enough and the Stingers went quietly in the 9th.

Offensive standouts included Mark Baughman, who went 2-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Tom Becker also had an excellent game, going 4-5, with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. Both Adam Lofy and Kevin Tennies also did well, each getting a pair of hits.

Slinger Loses Second Straight Game

August 2--The Tri-County Night League season ended on a sour note saturday afternoon as the Slinger Stingers lost their second straight Night League game by a score of 1-11 in 8 innings. Newcomer Ricky Hanke threw well, as did reliever Mark Baughman, but there were too many walks and the team did not make many defensive plays. Offensively, Slinger struggled as well, with an RBI single by outfielder Clayton Griesbach plating the Stingers' only run. In the bottom of the 8th inning, the game fell wide open and Neosho secured the run-rule victory at a score of 1-11.

The Highway 67 series continues on Sunday as the Stingers travel to Hustisford to take on the Astros in an exciting Rock River league matchup.

Tough Loss to Mayville

July 31--A 9th inning rife with errors, both mental and physical, left the Stingers on the outside looking in regarding the Tri-County Night League playoff race. The 4-8 loss drops Slinger to 5-4 in the league and puts them into 7th place, a half game out of the last playoff spot.

Pitcher Simon Griesbach struggled to settle in, giving up 3 runs in the first inning, but scattering only one more run over the next 7 innings. Reliever Clayton Griesbach threw a good ninth inning, striking out two, but suffered due to several errors on the field which cost the team another 4 runs.

A 9th inning comeback plated two runs, but fizzled out too early. Mark Baughman led the way offensively, going 2-4 with a double and a walk, but the runs came too few and too late for the Stingers, who look to take on the 5-4 Neosho Rockets on Saturday afternoon in their final Tri-County matchup of the season.

From Loss to Win

July 31--Slinger's tough 6-7 loss at the hands of the Hartford Hawks on Saturday has been reversed. Apparently, the Hawks had an ineligible player. In keeping with the rules of the Rock River league, the Stingers are awarded a forfeit for this incident. The win improves the Stingers' record to 12-4 in the league and leaves them just a game out of a three-way tie for first place with Kewaskum and Brownsville.

Information About the Upcoming Hustisford Game

July 28--For those of you interested in attending the upcoming Rock River game between Slinger and Hustisford, please note that the Dodge County Fireman's Tournament will be held from July 29th through August 3rd. There will be a parade at 10 a.m. through Hustisford and the usual parking lot may be closed off. If this is the case, you may need to park in the bottom parking area, located near the Hustisford dugout.

Unlike the Google directions found on the Hustisford directions page, most people will avoid the traffic by taking Highway 60 to Highway 67 north, then taking a left turn on County Highway R and following it into town. Food, soda and beer should still be available, but not necessarily from the usual concession stand, so come on out to support the Stingers as they defend their spot in the Rock River playoffs.

Slinger Overcomes Rubicon Rally to Win 8-5

July 27--Slinger got back on track after their disappointing loss to Hartford with an 8-5 win over Rubicon on Sunday. Rubicon got on the board first, scoring two runs off of starter Jason Wiedmeyer in the first frame. They enjoyed this lead until Slinger's Tom Becker stepped up, hitting a two-run blast to left field. The two teams battled it out until Slinger took a commanding 6-run lead in the 7th inning. The Red Sox put three more runs on the board in a 9th inning rally, but pitcher Brad Geldnich came in and slammed the door, recording a save and securing the victory for Slinger.

As mentioned earlier, the Stingers had an excellent game offensively, with 6 of the 9 starters having at least 2 hits. Chris Guse led the pack going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Second baseman Adam Lofy went 3 for 5 with two runs scored, as did catcher Tom Becker with a home run, 2 RBI and a run scored. Other notable hitters were Kyle Arendt, Kevin Tennies and Tom Tennies, who all went 2-4. Jason Wiedmeyer won his 5th game of the season, pitching 8 2/3 innings, and giving up only 4 runs. Brad Geldnich relieved, recording the final out and getting his first save.

Slinger Drops Game to Hartford

July 26--In one of the most disappointing games of the season, the Slinger Stingers (10-5 RRL) lost to the Hartford Hawks (2-11 RRL). After leading 4-0 in the first two innings, the Stingers allowed Hartford to score 6 times while only scoring a run of their own. Slinger's Brad Geldnich kept the Stingers in the game after an early departure of starter Simon Griesbach, but errors around the field hurt the Stingers too much. The Stingers looked as if they might mount a comeback in the 9th inning when they loaded the bases, but the rally was stopped short and the Stingers suffered just their 5th Rock River loss of the season.

Slinger will host rivals Rubicon at 1:30 this Sunday for a highly-anticipated Rock River matchup.

Slinger Battles Horicon to Win 10th Rock Game

July 23--Slinger headed to Horicon for a make up game Tuesday night. An excellent pitching performance by Slinger hurler Simon Griesbach lead Slinger to a 5-1 victory. Griesbach's first Rock River League start helped the Stingers improve to 10-4 in the league.

Slinger got on the board in the 3rd inning with two runs: one scored on an RBI single by Tom Becker and the other scored on an error by the Honker's third baseman. Griesbach threw well all night, striking out 10 and walking only one batter. Horicon's only run scored on an error in the 5th inning. Slinger tacked on three more insurance runs in the 7th on a few Honker errors and a sac fly.

Slinger took advantage of every opportunity to score their 5 runs. Becker and Brad Geldnich lead the charge, both going 2 for 3 while outfielder Kyle Arendt went 2 for 4 with 2 stolen bases.

Slinger heads to Hartford on Saturday and hosts rivals Rubicon on Sunday. Probable starters are Griesbach on Saturday and Jason Wiedmeyer on Sunday.

Slinger Takes Down Number 1 Kewaskum

July 20--The Stingers busted through the gates after All Star weekend, earning a 4-0 victory over the first-place Kewaskum A's. This win moves the Stingers to within 2.5 games of the Northern Division lead with just under a month left in the regular season. Pitcher Jason Wiedmeyer got the win, going all nine innings and pitching a gem. Rock River League action continues this Tuesday evening, when the third-place Stingers travel to Horicon to take on the Honkers.

Make-Up for Mayville Game Determined

July 14--The make-up date for Slinger's June 27th rainout in Mayville has been set. The Stingers will travel to Mayville to face the Mallards on Thursday, July 31st at 7:30.

Slinger Shuts Out Five-O's

July 9--The Slingers improved to 5-3 in Tri-County Night League after shutting out Oconomowoc 7-0 in Johnson Creek Wednesday night. Outstanding defensive plays kept Five-O's baserunners off of the sacks all night, and Slinger's offensive machine took over early. Catcher Ryan Toshner had a great game, going 3-5 with a home run and 4 runs batted in. Mark Baughman capped some solid defensive plays in the field with a 3-5 day at the plate and batting in 2 runs. Shortstop Matt Tennies also had a good game, going 1-3 with 2 walks, a stolen base and 4 runs scored.

Slinger also had an excellent defensive game, making plays all around the diamond. Behind this defense, pitcher Simon Griesbach won his third straight decision, going the distance and giving up only 3 hits and 2 walks while strking out 6.

The Stingers will be off for the All Star weekend, but play will continue when Slinger (7-4 RRL) hosts the first place Kewaskum A's (11-0 RRL) on Sunday, July 20th. Be sure to catch this exciting Rock River game.

Slinger Loses Important Game 4-12 to Brownsville

July 6--The Stingers fell to 3 games back on the Rock River North-Leading Kewaskum A's after their 4-12 loss to Brownsville. The Highway 49ers jumped to a quick 3-0 lead on starter Brad Geldnich, but the Stingers came back in the bottom of the 3rd to tie the score. Things took a turn for the worse when the 49ers had a 6-run, 6-hit top of the 4th inning. Slinger tacked on another run in the bottom of the 4th, but the offense was stymied by Brownsville pitching.

The Stingers look to get back on track in Johnson Creek as they play Oconomowoc (3-3 TCNL) in Tri-County Action on Wednesday night.

Waupun Out

July 6--Rock River League officials announced that Waupun has been ejected from the league. As a result, the Stingers will not play their scheduled game against Waupun on Sunday, July 6th.

Bats Fuel Stingers to Tri-County Victory at Home

July 5--The Stingers kept the weekend going on the right track Saturday by defeating the Pardeeville Braves at home by a score of 11-4. Kevin Tennies had an outstanding game, going 4-4 with a walk. Pitcher Simon Griesbach earned the victory for the Stingers, raising his record to 2-1. Aaron Gadke toed the rubber in the 8th and 9th inning, holding the Braves scoreless and striking out one.

Be sure to stop by the game on Sunday, when Slinger (7-3 RRL) takes on Rock Rival Brownsville (9-1 RRL) with a chance to climb one game closer to the lead in the Rock River Northern Division standings.

All Star Team Announced, 3 Slinger Representatives

July 5--The balloting for the Rock River All Star game is in, and Slinger will be sending 3 representatives: Pitchers Brad Geldnich and Jason Wiedmeyer and Catcher Tom Becker. Wiedmeyer has a 3-2 record with a 2.19 ERA, 40 strikeouts and only 10 walks over 37 innings. Geldnich is 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA, 22 strikeouts and only 7 walks on the season. Becker has been solid behind the plate, and also is batting .313 and leading the team in doubles, triples, RBIs and walks. Please come on out and support your Stinger representatives at the All Star Game Saturday, July 12 at Rubicon Ball Park.

Slinger Provides the Fireworks in 4th of July Contest

July 4--Slinger rebounded from a tough loss to Germantown last week with a 10-1 victory over the shorthanded Rubicon Red Sox. Slinger fell behind early on a Shane O'Hagen solo home run in the third inning off of starter Jason Wiedmeyer. The Stingers bounced back to tie the game in the 5th on a Brad Frank RBI single. Slinger put 2 more on the board in the 7th with an RBI triple by Tom Becker and another RBI single by Frank.

Dusty Lackas, Rubicon's left fielder, suffered a serious shoulder injury on Becker's triple and with no other bench players available, Rubicon played the rest of the game with 8 players. Slinger would tack on 7 more runs in the 8th to take a 10-1 victory.

Wiedmeyer pitched well, striking out 11 while allowing 6 hits over 8 innings. Mark Baughman pitched the 9th to cap off the victory. Four Stingers collected two hits: Kyle Arendt, Tom Becker, Brad Frank and Brad Geldnich. Mark Lighthizer collected a stolen base and both Kevin Tennies and Chad Peterson provided pinch RBI hits.

Tough Loss in Germantown

June 29--Despite multi-hit games by Kyle Arendt, Matt Tennies and Brad Frank, the Stingers lost their matchup against the Germantown Giants. The Stingers took a 5-2 lead into the 8th inning, but were unable to collect another victory in Germantown on Sunday. Slinger will continue Rock River action on the Fourth of July, traveling to Rubicon to take on the Red Sox.

Tri-County Rainout in Mayville

June 27--The Stingers' June 27th night game in Mayville has been canceled. Check back to slingerstingers.com for the make-up dates. Slinger's next game will be a Rock River matchup against Germantown. If you are planning to go to the game, check the web site for directions in order to avoid the construction snafus.

Rain Halts Game in Slinger

June 22--After an hour-long rain delay, the Stingers jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first inning against the Honkers of Horicon. Rain eventually spoiled the contest in the bottom of the second. The game will be made up in Horicon on Tuesday, July 22nd at 7:30.

Slinger Pounds Oakfield 8-1

June 21--Slinger visited Oakfield Saturday for a key Rock River North matchup against the fighting Oaks. Both teams came into the game with two losses. Jason Wiedmeyer took the hill for Slinger while Oakfield trotted out veteran Chris Morgan. Oakfield jumped out to a 1-run lead, which they maintained the fist three innings before Slinger put up four in the top of the 4th.

The inning started with a walk to Mark Baughman then a single by Tom Becker, putting runners at the corners with no one out. Brad Frank stepped in and collected an RBI single knotting the score at 1. That is when Adam Lofy stepped in and hit a towering 3-run blast to center field giving Slinger a three run lead. From that point, the Stingers didn't look back.

Slinger collected two more runs in the 5th on a 2-run shot by Lofy and one more each in the 6th and 9th. Wiedmeyer pitched well against Oakfield giving up only 1 run on 5 hits over seven innings. Baughman also pitched two innings of scoreless ball. Lofy ended the day 3-4 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. Geldnich also broke out of his early season slump, going 2-5. Slinger hosts the Horicon Honkers Sunday afternoon.

June 8th Rubicon Make-Up Date

June 16--The Stingers' June 8th game against Rubicon will be made up on July 4th at 1:30 in Rubicon. Come see a great game between two Rock River North rivals on Independence Day.

Slinger Prevails Against Hustisford

June 15--A large Father's Day crowd watched the Slinger Stingers defeat the Astros of Hustisford 7-2 on Sunday. The Stingers played well defensively behind winning pitcher Brad Geldnich. The bats were led by Adam Lofy, who was 3 for 3 with a double and a 2-run single that capped a four run Slinger 7th inning. Kyle Arendt also had a good game, going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.

Slinger Stops Clyman Comeback to Win 8-6

June 14--The skies cleared, giving the Stingers an opportunity to play some baseball this weekend. The Stingers had clutch run-scoring doubles by Clayton Griesbach and Matt Tennies to jump out to an 8-2 lead. In the 7th inning, however, the Stingers gave up four runs, giving the Canners hope of a comeback. Pitcher Mark Baughman came into the game and shut the Canners down, earning the save and giving the Stingers a Tri-County Night League victory by a score of 8-6.

Washed Out

June 8--Rain spoiled the Stingers' Rock River contest in Rubicon. As of yet, no make-up game has been scheduled, but the Stingers will resume play on Saturday afternoon, as they face the Clyman Canners (0-2 in Tri-County) at home.

Foggy Loss in West Bend

June 4--The Stingers suffered their third Tri-County defeat in a fog-shortened 5 2/3 inning contest against West Bend 7-Up Wednesday night. Despite Mark Baughman's RBI double in the third inning, the Stingers were unable to stave off West Bend's bats. Simon Griesbach was saddled with the loss for the Stingers who drop to 2-3 in Tri-County Night League and 6-6 overall.

Stingers Defeat Hartford at Home

June 1--Slinger's Brad Geldnich threw a complete game victory Sunday, as the Stingers held off the Hartford Hawks, winning 7-5. Offensive highlights included a solo home run by Slinger's Tom Becker as well as a double by outfielder Kyle Arendt.

Rough Loss to Kewaskum

May 31--Although they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, the Stingers were unable to hold on to defeat Kewaskum in the first of a two game Rock River weekend. Wiedmeyer got the loss for the Stingers.

First Rock River Victory

May 4--After a soggy week, the Slinger Stingers earned their first Rock River League victory of the season, defeating the Horicon Honkers 10-2. Pitcher Brad Geldnich got the win, going 7 strong innings, giving up 8 hits and only 2 earned runs. Mark Baughman came in and got the remaining 6 outs to secure a Slinger victory. Slinger was led offensively by Mark Lighthizer, who went 3-4 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI. Tom Tennies also had a big game, going 3-5 with 4 RBI.

Next Saturday, Slinger will host Watertown for a TriCo matchup. They will face Rock River League newcomer Germantown on Sunday.

Slinger beats Clyman 4-1

April 20--The Stingers bounced back from their earlier loss to Brookfield on Sunday by beating the Canners of Clyman 4-1. Next Saturday, April 26th, the Stingers travel to Madison to take on the Black Sox

Slinger loses to Brookfield 13-3 in 6

April 18--After winning the 2007 Brownsville tournament, the Slinger Stingers, led by manager Chris Guse, dropped their first game of the tournament to Brookfield, losing by a score of 13-3 after six innings of play. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth due to rain. Slinger (0-1 overall) looks to improve on Sunday as they take on the Clyman Canners.