JEFFERSON — The Jefferson Blue Devils defeated visiting McFarland 4-1 Thursday night, and with it moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division of the Home Talent Night League.
Jefferson (7-1) moved ahead of Lake Mills (6-2) after the Grays suffered an 8-2 loss to Whitewater Thursday.
The Blue Devils received a complete-game pitching performance from Scott Endl. The right-hander scattered five hits, struck out five and walked only two.
Jefferson broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run third. Tony Baumann led things off with a seeing-eye single to right before Kyle Lange reached on an infield single. Meanwhile, the throw form McFarland third baseman Cory Schuchardt got away, allowing Baumann to score and Lange to reach second.
Lange would later score on Ryan Wagner’s RBI groundout, and Justin Thiede, who walked, scored on Travis Wagner’s base knock giving the Blue Devils a 4-1 cushion.
It was all Endl needed, as the steady veteran retired nine of the final 11 batters he faced.
Kyle Lange paced the Blue Devils with a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate, while Baumann was also perfect going 2-for-2.
Four of McFarland’s five hits were doubles, one each by Schuchardt, Nick Bergeman, Dave Ellefson and Eddie Jimenez.
Jefferson, 18-8 overall, returns to Fischer Field tonight hosting Evansville in a HTL Sunday League make-up. The contest is a match-up of Southeast Section leaders: Jefferson (7-4) is tied with Fort Atkinson atop the East Division, while Evansville (9-2) heads the West Division.
The first pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.
JEFFERSON 4, MC FARLAND 1
McFarland 100 000 0 — 1 5 2
Jefferson 103 000 x — 4 8 0
McFarland (ab-r-h-rbi) — N. Bergeman 4-1-1-0, Ellefson 1-0-1-0, Schuchardt 3-0-1-1, Patten 2-0-0-0, E. Bergeman 3-0-1-0, Nartowicz 3-0-0-0, Bauhs 2-0-0-0, Brereton 2-0-0-0, Jimenez 3-0-1-0. — Totals — 23-1-5-1.
Jefferson (ab-r-h-rbi) — K. Lange 3-2-3-0, C. Lange 3-0-1-0, Thiede 1-1-0-1, Guttenberg 1-0-0-0, R. Wagner 3-0-1-1, T. Wagner 3-0-1-1, Endl 2-0-0-0, Koski 1-0-0-0, Huckabay 3-0-0-0, Bi. Becker 2-0-0-0, Probst 2-0-0-0, Be. Becker 0-0-0-0, T. Baumann 2-1-2-0. — Totals — 26-4-8-3.
HR — None. 3B — None. 2B — N. Bergeman, Ellefson, Schachardt, Jimenez; C. Lange.
Pitching HO — Nartowicz 8 in 6; Endl 5 in 7. ER — Nartowicz 1; Endl 1. SO — Nartowicz 5; Endl 5. BB — Nartowicz 1; Endl 2. W — Endl. L — Nartowicz.