HADLEY — Brent Hokeness’ three-run home run in the first inning set the tone for the Hadley Buttermakers in their non-league matchup against the Milroy Yankees on Sunday to close out the regular season. The Buttermakers tacked on an additional three runs in the first inning and never looked back, coasting to a 21-3 run in seven innings.

Hokeness’ homer came after Joe Larson walked and Max Zwart singled to put two runners on. After the three-run shot, Alex Petersen and Abe Paulzine singled with a Lincoln Graven walk to load the bases. Dylan Kluis and Tucker Sorenson each drew walks to force in a pair of runs, and Larson was hit by a pitch to force in another for a 6-0 Buttermaker lead.

The Buttermakers’ pitching never let Milroy get back into the game. Bryce Ahrendt pitched two scoreless innings of relief, striking out three batters while giving up two hits and no walks to earn the win. Avery Webber and Josh Van Dam each also pitched a scoreless inning of relief with no hits or walks allowed.

Jakob Olson also earned a no-decision after giving up three earned runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.

The Yankees cut the deficit in half in the third inning. Jackson Hughes singled, Alex Schuh walked and Ethan Weedman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Anndy Schmidt grounded into a fielder’s choice to drive in one run, and a single from Ty Kemp drove in another.

After Braydin Kvistero singled to load the bases, Parker Schmitt was hit by a pitch to cut the deficit to 6-3 before a pop out ended the inning. Yet, Hadley responded with 15 unanswered runs to close out the mercy-rule win.

Hadley put 11 consecutive batters on base to start the fourth inning, coming on six hits, two walks and a pair of hit batters. Each of those batters scored to account for 11 of Hadley’s 13 runs in the frame.

Graven and Paulzine kicked the scoring off with an RBI single and an RBI double, respectively. A two-run single from Larson and a two-run double from Derek Kluis quickly brought the score to 13-3, and the rally continued with an RBI single from Petersen and a two-run double from Paulzine. Sorenson and Larson were each also hit by a itch with the bases loaded to force in a run while Derek Kluis capped off the frame with an RBI single.

Schmitt was charged with the loss after giving up six earned runs on five hits and four walks over two innings. David Schmidt, David Schuh, Mauer Leysen and Kemp each also pitched an inning of relief for the Yankees, with Schmidt and Schuh allowing eight and five earned runs, respectively, while Leysen and Kemp held the Buttermakers without one.

Sorenson scored in the third when he walked, stole second and crossed home on a Derek Kluis double. The Buttermakers also tacked on one last insurance run when Hokeness reached on an error in the fifth and scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Sorenson, making the score 21-3.

Derek Kluis finished the game with three hits — including a pair of doubles — for four RBIs while Paulzine contributed two doubles for three RBIs. Kvistero and Hughes led Milroy with two singles each.

Hadley finishes its regular season at 14-9 and will take on Pipestone in the best-of-3 first round of the Region 10C tournament. The Buttermakers will go on the road for game 1 on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and will host game 2 and game 3 if necessary on Saturday and Sunday, with both games slated for 2 p.m.

BOX SCORE

HADLEY

P. Schmitt: L, 2 IP, 6 ER, 5 H, 4 BB; D. Schmidt: IP, 6 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO; D. Schuh: IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB; M. Leysen: IP, H, R, BB, SO; T. Kemp: IP, H, SO, BB.