A’s Use Big First Inning to Power Past Sussex; Steldt Records 700th Career Hit

The Sheboygan A’s offense came out swinging and never let up Wednesday night at Wildwood Park, rolling to a 10–1 victory over the Sussex Cardinals. Fueled by a six-run first inning and a dominant effort from the pitching staff, the A’s improved their early-season form in front of the home crowd.

The first inning saw Sheboygan load the bases with no outs, thanks to a walk by Calvin Keesler, a base hit from Chase Hanselman, and a sharp single to left from Harry Steldt — the 700th hit of his storied A’s career. John Hadley, making his A’s debut, got the scoring started with a fielder’s choice that brought Keesler home. Jacob Neese followed with an RBI single to left, and after Bradyn Horn, also making his debut, drew a walk to load the bases again, Cal Casper roped a two-run double into the left-center gap. Keesler, batting for the second time in the inning, added to the rally with a line-drive RBI single to center. A wild pitch later in the frame allowed Casper to score the sixth run before Sussex could record the third out.

In the fourth inning, the A’s tacked on another when Hadley brought home a run with a groundout after a walk and an error had set the table. Two more came across in the fifth. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Jason Sims lifted a sacrifice fly to center, and Ty Wuytack added an RBI single moments later. The scoring concluded later that inning when Riley Palmquist punched a single to left, bringing home Sheboygan’s tenth and final run of the night.

While the offense lit up the scoreboard, the pitching staff delivered an equally strong performance. Starter Noah Imrie earned the win, working three shutout innings and allowing just one hit. He was followed by Charlie Wahlen, Casey Stone, Sawyer Kowalkowski, Brad Rindfleisch, and Dylan Davis — each throwing one inning to close out the nine-inning game. Sussex’s only run came in the fifth inning on three singles, including an RBI hit by Parker Wyatt, but Stone limited the damage by inducing a groundout to strand two runners. The Cardinals also threatened in the sixth with two leadoff walks, but Kowalkowski struck out the next two batters and ended the inning with a routine popup to first. The A’s defense turned a double play, committed no errors, and got clean innings from each of the final three pitchers.

Offensively, Sheboygan drew 11 walks and collected 10 hits, with multi-hit games from Keesler and Neese. Casper and Keesler each drove in two, while Steldt’s milestone knock came as part of the team’s first-inning surge. The A’s were also active on the basepaths, stealing four bases and pressuring Sussex into several defensive miscues.

Sheboygan travels to Addison, Illinois, this Saturday to start a four-game Wisconsin State League weekend against the Addison Braves. The team returns home Tuesday, June 10, to open Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League play with $1 hot dog and $1 soda night when they take on the Menasha Macs. Tickets are available now at SheboyganBaseball.Simpletix.com. The 2025 season is presented by Meijer.