Steldt’s Sixth-Inning Homer Lifts A’s Past Appleton in Rain-Shortened Win
Posted: June 19, 2026
Harry Steldt delivered the swing the Sheboygan A’s needed Thursday night, and Mother Nature made sure there would be no late answer.
Steldt launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the A’s to a 4-3 victory over the Appleton Legends in Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League play. The game was called in the middle of the seventh inning when heavy rain suddenly hit Wildwood Park and made the field unplayable. With the top of the seventh complete, the game was official.
Appleton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before Brad Rindfleisch tied the game in the second with a solo home run to left field.
The Legends moved back in front in the third, scoring on a passed ball to take a 2-1 lead. That score held until the sixth, when the A’s finally broke through.
Alex Ames opened the inning with a single before Chase Hanselman followed with a base hit of his own. Steldt then drove a pitch over the left-field fence, scoring Ames and Hanselman and giving Sheboygan a 4-2 lead.
Appleton threatened in the seventh. After two singles put runners aboard, Reid Hietpas delivered an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-3. Jared Reklaitis responded by striking out Cole Dornfeld to end the inning and strand the tying run at third.
Moments later, heavy rain moved in and the game was called.
Reklaitis earned the complete-game win, striking out 12 and walking none. He threw 85 of his 106 pitches for strikes and started 28 of 31 Appleton hitters with a first-pitch strike.
Steldt finished with three RBIs, while Rindfleisch added the A’s other run with his solo homer. Ames and Hanselman each scored on Steldt’s sixth-inning blast.
With the win, Sheboygan improved to 2-2 in NEWBL play and 11-7 overall. The A’s remain 6-2 in Wisconsin State League play.
Sheboygan returns to action Saturday, June 20, with a 1 PM Wisconsin State League doubleheader at Wildwood Park against the Kenosha Kings. It will also be Meijer Family Day, with all kids ages 14 and under receiving free general admission. Kids can register to be Junior Starters and be introduced on the field with the A’s during the game one starting lineup. A’s players will sign autographs between games, fans can run the bases after the final game, and Elsa, presented by Mischief and Magic, will visit Wildwood Park.
The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
