Hoffman holds Wildcats hitless for final four innings to earn win for Stratford

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

STRATFORD — Stratford scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning to break open a tie game and went on to defeat Northland Lutheran 5-2 in a Marawood Conference South Division baseball contest Thursday at home.

The game was tied 2-2 before the Tigers’ big inning allowed them to pull away.

Cole Hoffman earned the victory for Stratford, pitching four hitless innings of relief with four strikeouts. He also had a double and two RBIs.

Lance Heidmann added a pair of hits and scored twice, and Mark Handrick had two singles as well for Stratford (12-4, 8-3 Marawood South).

The Tigers host Auburndale in both teams’ Marawood South finale on Friday at 4:45 p.m. Stratford has cemented its spot in second place in the conference standings behind champion Pittsville.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Tigers 5, Wildcats 2

Northland Lutheran 011 000 0 – 2 4 1

Stratford 002 003 x – 5 7 3

WP: Cole Hoffman. LP: Bryson Bernarde.

SO: Bernarde (5 1/3 inn.) 5, David Gustafson (2/3 inn.) 0; Lucas Heidmann (3 inn.) 1, Hoffman (4 inn.) 4. BB: Bernarde 4, Gustafson 1; Lu. Heidmann 0, Hoffman 2.

Top hitters: S, Mark Handrick 2×4; Hoffman 2B, 2 RBIs; Dylan Schoenherr 2B, run; Lance Heidmann 2×3, 2 runs, RBI.

Records: Northland Lutheran 6-5, 5-5 Marawood South; Stratford 12-4, 8-3 Marawood South.