By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

STEVENS POINT – A game between the Plover Black Sox and the Stevens Point Sixers felt closer than what the scoreboard read at the end. 

A dominant pitching performance by Plover’s Ty Rechner and a couple of high-scoring innings became the difference in a 7-1 road win at Bukolt Park in Stevens Point on Jul. 11.

Deacan Koback went six strong innings in the start for the Sixers.

The Black Sox collected seven hits in the win, while Rechner only allowed four hits in his start.

Plover’s Jackson Fox and Ben Fonti collected two hits, while Bryce Ehr led the team with three RBIs.

Things got going early in the top of the first. 

Fox led off the game with a single back up the middle for the Sox.

With one out, Chase Geyer got a free base after taking a Koback pitch off the helmet. 

That brought up Ehr, who made an early statement.

He directed a first-pitch fastball to deep center field to cash in a three-run homer that put the visitors up 3-0. It was his second-straight game with a home run. 

Rechner gained control of the strike zone early for Plover. Getting through the first inning scoreless, the Sixers put two in scoring position with two outs in the second. 

Tyler Giese was working a nice at-bat before hitting a slow roller up the middle that got fielded by Black Sox shortstop Carl Biechler, ending the threat. 

The pitchers traded zeros for the next four innings, keeping the game at 3-0 in favor of the Black Sox.

Then came the seventh when Plover broke the game open. 

The Black Sox opened the frame with consecutive runners on base. 

Braylon Nystrom got his first hit of the night in the ensuing at-bat, driving in one run. 

Another run scored on a throwing error from home to second as Nystrom tried to take second base during the throw to the plate. 

That forced the end of Koback’s night on the mound, pitching six innings and being replaced by Peyton Flees. 

Nystrom scored on a Geyer single, which Koback was responsible for. He ended up with six runs on five hits and striking out four hitters.

That made it a 6-0 game until Fonti crept one into the outfield to score the Sox’s seventh run. 

Rechner was still going strong entering the seventh. The only hiccup came in the final inning, allowing just one run to cross the plate. 

Giese got the inning off to a good start with an infield single and moved his way to second.

He later advanced to third and scored on a Bennet Klish ground ball and fielder’s choice. 

Rechner ended his complete game performance with a flyout and a 7-1 win. 

Plover moves to 25-3 (11-1), while the Sixers fall to 12-11 (4-5) this summer. 

The Sox are back at Memorial Field tonight, Jul. 12, to face Antigo before the Central Wisconsin Classic starts on Thursday, Jul. 13. 

Stevens Point looks to bounce back on the road today, Jul. 12, vs. Wausau, at 8 p.m.