Tomfohrde lifts Pirates to emotional victory
Clinching gem is tribute to his father
PEWAUKEE - Walking off the mound on Thursday at the Waukesha County Technical College’s baseball field, Patrick Tomfohrde raised his arms and glanced up at the overcast sky.
The reaction, which came at the close of a five-inning, 11-0 win for Tomfohrde's Pewaukee Pirates over the Greendale Panthers, was more than a response to his team’s clinching at least a share of the Woodland West title.
It was a gesture to his late dad, Scott, who passed away on May 20 from a major stroke.
“I know he was here watching,” Patrick said postgame, fiddling with his black cap. “I miss him a ton, but I know he’s watching. I owe it all to him, man.”
With one game remaining, a loss for Pewaukee (16-7) and a win for Greendale (14-5) would force a tie for first. Both teams play Saturday.
As the final out unfolded, a Greendale groundout to Pewaukee shortstop Ian Petoskey, Patrick’s mom, Jill Tomfohrde — who watched every pitch from the fence next to the home-side dugout — beamed. Patrick gave up five earned runs to Greendale on May 30. He’s given up one earned run since, and Thursday's complete game shutout proved his strides.
“I’m really proud of him,” Jill said of Patrick with a tear streaming down her left cheek and one of her two daughters watching from afar. “He’s really powered through, and he’s doing it for his dad.”
Wearing a red No. 14 jersey, the right-hander undoubtedly wanted to get the win for the man who taught him much of what he knows — on and off of the diamond. He wanted it for his teammates who provided ample production along the
way, too.
Thanks to four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Pirates were able to extend their lead to enforce the 10-run rule. And in that inning, Conner Goodman, a UWMilwaukee commit who Pewaukee co-coaches Marc and Adam Dobberstein spoke highly of postgame, produced his second base hit of the game.
Goodman’s other hit came in the third, an inning in which Pewaukee made a five-run charge.
Tomfohrde faced his first and only real test of the game in the second inning.
After relinquishing hits to Greendale’s Logan Rezach and Jaelen Johnson, Tomfohrde was called for a balk on a pickoff attempt to second base. In that moment, his mind drifted to a tip his dad would give him: Be calm and don’t show your emotions.
Growing up, Scott Tomfohrde coached a number of Patrick’s little league teams, as well as his teammates'. Tomfohrde said his dad taught him everything from how to throw to philosophy on the mound like getting ahead in the count.
Figuratively, Patrick wasn’t ahead at this moment, but he battled just like he’s done since May 20 striking out the next two batters and forcing a groundout to end the inning.
Tomfohrde was at baseball practice when his dad's stroke occurred more than a month ago. Arriving home, he greeted his two sisters in the living room and went upstairs. His dad was sitting there disoriented.
“I was like, what’s going on?” Tomfohrde said.
Moments later, his mom noticed something was wrong, too, so she dialed the paramedics, who took Scott Tomfohrde to the hospital. The next day, his condition worsened and he ultimately wasn’t able to overcome it.
Jill Tomfohrde struggled to express how hard life’s been since, but she also admitted Scott’s passing at age 50 forced the family closer.
“We have to rely on each other and try to support each other,” Jill said.
The many fans wearing “In loving memory of: Scott Tomfohrde" shirts supported Patrick Tomfohrde as he set down the side in the opening inning. His team pushed across two runs in the bottom half of the inning, which was when Greendale coach Brian Johnsen knew then the game was going to be an uphill battle.
A father of three himself, Johnsen shut his eyes when thinking about Tomfohrde’s situation. He also marveled at the pitcher’s success throughout the year.
“It’s a testament to his character and his courage,” Johnsen said, “and he’s a class act with the way he carries himself.”
The win, which brought Gatorade baths for the Dobberstein brothers, is one Tomfohrde won’t ever forget.
Nor will he forget the embrace with his mom as he lowered his hands and looked forward.
“I told him when he came off of the field that his angel was here,” Jill said. “He knew."