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The Dodgeville high school baseball team's bats were as cold as the weather Saturday as they lost a close one to Darlington in a non-conference game.
The highlight of the day was a ceremony before the two teams played on the newly upgraded Darlington Redbirds Field that honored former Darlington player and Dodgeville coach Luke Weigel who lost his life to an infection last August. Luke's father, Pete, daughter Lilly and sons Tyler and Owen threw out the first pitch. The game was played in Luke's honor and as a fundraiser for Weigelstrong.
Hunter DeVoss started for the Dodgers and pitched into the fifth. He struck out two, walked two and spaced three hits.  Neither of the two runs the Redbirds registered off him were earned.
The two Darlington runs off DeVoss came in the fourth. Jesse Sturz walked, Tyler Torstenson-Harris was hit by a pitch and Sturz scored on an error. Ryan Glendenning singled to put two runners on and Sam Cohen singled to make it 2-0.
Jordan Olson came on strikeout to end the frame.
The Redbirds plated the eventual winning run in the fifth. Will Schwartz coaxed a walk, took second on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly rbi by Sturz.
Olson finished the game on the mound for the Dodgers. He fanned three, walked one and gave up an earned run.
The Dodgers made it close in the top of the seventh with two runs. Trent Jones led off the inning with a walk and took second when Cole Sullivan was hit by a pitch. A walk to Olson loaded the bases then Jordan Larson walked on a 3-1 count to force in Olson. Zack Weber then collected the lone Dodgeville hit that sent in Sullivan.
The final out of the game came on a throw to the plate on an attempted sacrifice fly that nipped a sliding Olson.