WIAA Daily Roundup: April 3 & 4

The Vikings capitalized on a pair of fifth-inning unearned runs to rally past the Red Hawks for a tight 2-1 victory on Saturday. Trailing by a run in the top of the fifth, Janesville Parker tied the game when LF Jameson Johnston reached on a fielding error that allowed Ryan Jensen to score, setting the stage for a clutch, go-ahead RBI single from 1B Sam Hoium later in the frame. The Vikings used a committee on the mound to secure the win, with starter Gentry Madsen tossing two scoreless innings before Jensen and Colton Smalley combined to throw five strong frames of relief, highlighted by Smalley's final 2.2 scoreless innings pitched to shut the door. RF Easton Agnew swung a hot bat for Milton in the narrow defeat, tallying half of the team's hits by going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Milton starter Quinn Kavanaugh suffered a tough-luck loss despite a strong outing, striking out five batters over four innings while surrendering zero earned runs. Parker is 2-0 to start the spring while the Red Hawks fall to 1-1.

Virginia's Lightridge program rode a dominant pitching performance and a breakout third inning to shut out the Pirates 7-0 on Saturday. Senior starter RHP Andrew Webb overpowered the Pirates' lineup to earn the victory, racking up 12 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and two walks over 4.1 scoreless innings. Jeffrey Burpoe seamlessly took over in relief, tossing 2.2 perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts to complete the combined shutout. The Lightning offense came alive in the third frame, sparked by back-to-back RBI triples from CF Ben Drinkwine and LF Matt Coleman, followed immediately by a run-scoring single from Webb to help his own cause. Drinkwine finished with two hits, a walk, and an RBI from the top of the order, while C Brody Clark and 2B Everett Clark also tallied multi-hit games for Lightridge. Junior Graham Williams accounted for the bulk of the offensive production for Bay Port in the defeat, recording two of the team's three total hits on the day.

The Badgers swept a doubleheader against Edgewood on Saturday, dominating the opener 11-1 before securing an 8-4 victory in game two.

In the first game, Badger's offense erupted early and often, backed by a stingy combined effort on the mound. Starter Connor Kavanaugh earned the win, yielding zero earned runs on just two hits across 3.2 innings, while Owen Skilling tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to secure the win. 2B Ryan Albanese and CF Matthew O'Grady paced the lineup with three hits and multiple RBIs each, while SS Bradley McCarthy tripled, stole a pair of bases, and drove in two runs. CF Kaleb Oeth singled and scored the lone unearned run for Edgewood.

The Badgers' bats stayed hot in the second contest, relying on a massive performance from O'Grady, who blasted a home run and finished with five RBIs. Albanese capped off a stellar doubleheader at the plate by going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. Starter Matt Jensen stifled the Crusaders to pick up the victory, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out four over five dominant innings. 3B Liam Bishop managed an RBI groundout and a single to account for a portion of the offensive production, and he K'd six batters over three innings in relief for Edgewood despite the loss. Badger moves to 2-1 on the spring, rebounding from an opening day loss to Milton in style.

The Turner Trojans staged a dramatic late-game rally to walk off with an 8-7 victory over Illinois' Niles Notre Dame on Friday. Trailing by a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Turner pushed across a pair of runs to secure the comeback win, after a game-tying single from 1B Gunnar Herstad followed by a bases-loaded, walk-off walk earned from SS Jayden Mosely. Starter Sawyer Wightman surrendered two earned runs over three innings, while Aiden Berg earned the victory with two stellar innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one unearned run to keep the Trojans within striking distance. Wightman also contributed at the plate by doubling twice, while Mosely and C Adriel Salazar each drove in two runs for Turner; OF Case Ehret slugged a solo homer in this one as well. As for Notre Dame, C Monty Chalabi swung a productive bat in the tough loss, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs; 3B Noah Collins tallied two hits with a double as well.

The Burlington Demons outlasted Tennessee's Liberty Creek for an 8-7 victory on Friday, propelled by a massive two-way performance from SS Trey Kerkhoff. Tied 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning, Kerkhoff delivered a clutch, go-ahead RBI double and later scored on a single by C Jake Dummer to grab the lead. Kerkhoff anchored the offense all afternoon, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a two-run home run in the first inning, a three-run blast in the third, collecting a total of six RBIs in the ballgame. Starter Noah Ruleford kept Liberty Creek at bay early by scattering four hits over three scoreless innings, while Kaydan Ensign picked up the win in relief before Kerkhoff took the mound to record a game-ending K with the tying run on base. Gavin Pade and Tre Foster were key offensive contributors for the Wolves in the back-and-forth affair, with Pade driving in two runs on a pair of hits and Foster reaching base four times.

The DeForest pitching staff combined for a two-hit shutout to secure a 4-0 victory over the Sun Prairie West Wolves on Friday. Starter Evan Kallstrom earned the win, scattering two hits and four walks over five scoreless innings while striking out two. 1B/RHP Nolan Pennekamp then slammed the door in relief, striking out four batters over two perfect innings to complete the shutout, while also pacing the offense with a 3-for-4 performance that included an RBI and a run scored. C Mason Sprague provided key production late in the game by driving in a pair of runs, and 3B Carter Meyers reached base three times, stole two bases, and scored a run for DeForest. 3B/P Clark Dehnke and LF Zane Pienkowski accounted for the entirety of the offensive output for Sun Prairie West, each recording a single and drawing a walk in the defeat.

The Cardinals and the Golden Bears split a pair of tightly contested matchups on Friday, with Marshall securing a 6-5 walk-off victory in the opener before Barron bounced back for a 5-4 win in game two.

In the first game, Marshall broke a late tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when 1B Mason Aldworth laced a clutch, two-run double to right field to take the lead. Aldworth was equally impressive on the mound, earning the victory after scattering three hits and allowing zero earned runs over six strong innings with six strikeouts. Barron threatened in the top of the seventh by drawing four walks to plate a run, but reliever Xander Wentworth locked down the save by striking out back-to-back batters with the bases loaded. CF Troy McDonough swung a productive bat for the Golden Bears in the narrow defeat, recording a double and an RBI.

Barron flipped the script in the second contest, relying on a three-run fifth inning and a strong pitching performance to secure the split. 1B Glendon Thompson provided the bulk of the run production for the Golden Bears, driving in three runs on a single, a sacrifice fly, and an error. Starter Zac Edwards earned the victory, striking out seven batters over 5.1 innings while yielding just two earned runs. 2B Landon Connelly paced the Cardinals' offense with a pair of singles and two runs scored, while starter Logan Ney suffered a tough-luck loss on the mound, surrendering just one hit and a single earned run across 4.2 innings of work.

The Broncos overcame an early deficit with a relentless offensive attack, erupting for double-digit runs to secure a 14-4, six-inning victory over Plymouth on Friday. 3B Nick Mandra powered the Montini lineup, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and a staggering six RBIs to anchor the run production. 2B John Louise also delivered a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate, scoring four times, while LF Drew Chrastka added a pair of hits, two stolen bases, and three runs scored. Starter Santino Mateja settled in after a rocky start to pitch three innings, allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts, before Nick Kois tossed two hitless, scoreless innings of relief to help lock down the win. SS Liam O'Toole reached base twice, doubled, and scored a pair of runs to account for a portion of the offensive production for Plymouth in the defeat.

New Richmond erupted for five runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a late tie and outlast Baldwin-Woodville for a thrilling 11-6 extra-inning win on Friday. After Baldwin-Woodville rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, New Richmond finally seized control in the 10th, sparked by a go-ahead, two-run double from UTL Matthew Fouks and immediately followed by a two-run single from INF Lucas Quade. Quade anchored the run production all afternoon, finishing 2-for-5 with five RBIs, while 1B Tanner Gess set the table by going 4-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Starter Truman Weiss delivered a solid outing for the Tigers, allowing two earned runs on six hits over five innings, before Josh DeGear slammed the door in relief. DeGear earned the victory by tossing three hitless, scoreless innings out of the bullpen, walking just one and striking out three to secure the marathon win. SS JT Dachel served as a catalyst for the Baldwin-Woodville lineup in the extra-inning defeat, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Pewaukee paired consistent run production with stingy pitching to secure a commanding 10-2 victory over Columbus on Friday. C Hudson Bremberger anchored the offensive attack by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of stolen bases, while RF Logan Peterson added two hits, an RBI, and two runs scored. Pewaukee steadily pulled away throughout the afternoon, breaking the game open with a three-run third inning and later capping the scoring with a four-run surge in the sixth, aided by a two-run single from 2B Colton Wall. Starter Blayke Duvall earned the victory for the Pirates, scattering four hits and allowing just one unearned run over four innings of work with three strikeouts. Brady LaBlanc was perfect out of the bullpen, striking out three batters over two hitless, scoreless innings to slam the door. CF Jordan Mobry showcased his speed at the top of the lineup for Columbus in the defeat, recording a hit, stealing a pair of bases, and scoring a run.

The Poynette Pumas leveraged a breakout fourth inning and dominant pitching to secure a 3-1 victory over Cambria-Friesland on Friday. Starter Justin Wells was electric on the mound to earn the win, striking out nine batters over five scoreless innings while scattering just two hits and a single walk. SS/RHP Talan Schoeneberg locked down the final two innings in relief, allowing one unearned run and striking out three to seal the victory, while also sparking the offense with a triple and a run scored from the leadoff spot. Poynette manufactured all three of its runs in the fourth frame, highlighted by an RBI double from CF Jack Gossfeld and a sacrifice fly by 3B Sawyer Steinhorst.

The Random Lake Rams showcased an explosive offense in a pair of decisive weekend victories, routing the Houston Tigers 13-3 on Friday before overpowering the Fieldcrest Knights 16-6 on Saturday.

In the first contest, the Rams' bats caught fire early and often, highlighted by a massive day from 3B Decker Kleppin, who blasted a pair of home runs and drove in three. SS Griffin Donahue also homered and matched Kleppin with three RBIs, while LF Bredon Danielczak recorded three hits and drove in a run. Starter Reed Traas earned the victory on the mound by allowing just two earned runs over five innings of work, and Mikey Merlo tossed two scoreless frames in relief to close it out. RHP/2B Knox McCloy paced the Houston lineup in the defeat, recording an RBI double and drawing a walk.

Random Lake carried that offensive momentum into Saturday's matchup, breaking open a close game with a combined 10 runs across the fifth and sixth innings to secure the run-rule victory. Danielczak and Traas anchored the production with three RBIs apiece, while 2B/CF Logan Michaels set the table by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Donahue was dominant on the hill to pick up the win, scattering a single hit across three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. RF Noah Anson and C Caleb Hartley drove in a pair of runs each to lead the offensive effort for Fieldcrest. The Rams are 3-0 to start the spring as one of the top teams in Division 3.

The Cavaliers erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning to blow open a tight game, ultimately securing a 13-3, six-inning run-rule victory over the Whitnall Falcons on Saturday. RF Luke Mrazek anchored the offensive onslaught, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBIs, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple in the decisive fifth frame and a game-ending, walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. LF Jackson Rodriguez also thrived at the plate for St. Thomas More, tallying three hits, including a triple, and scoring three times. Starter Ethan Rudolph earned the victory, allowing just one earned run on six hits and three walks while striking out three across four innings, before Austin Adamczewski tossed two hitless, scoreless frames in relief to close it out. SS Aaron Zuber tallied a pair of singles and scored a run to spearhead the Whitnall attack in the defeat, while 3B Evan Kaczmarek added an RBI double. St. Thomas More opened its season with this win, while Whitnall fell to 1-2 overall on the young spring.

Union Grove dominated a Friday doubleheader, routing the Houston Tigers 16-1 in a five-inning opener before shutting out the Fieldcrest Knights 10-0 in the nightcap.

In the first game, Union Grove exploded for 10 runs in the first inning to put the contest out of reach immediately. 3B Tucker Katterhagen anchored the massive offensive outburst, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and four RBIs, while CF Kevin Brau added a home run, three runs scored, and two RBIs. Starter Jayden King earned the victory on the mound, holding Houston hitless over four innings while striking out three and allowing just one unearned run. Houston was held without a hit in the defeat, manufacturing their lone run of the contest on a third-inning error.

The Broncos' pitching staff remained nearly untouchable in the second contest, with starter Luke Drummond earning the win after scattering just one hit and striking out four over four scoreless frames. C Charlie Weist provided the offensive highlight of the game with a second-inning, inside-the-park home run and finished with two RBIs. 1B Jake Reesman also sparked the lineup with a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored, while reliever Christian Kuiper tossed a hitless fifth inning with three strikeouts to complete the combined one-hit shutout. C Caleb Hartley recorded the only base hit for Fieldcrest in the loss.

University School exploded for an astonishing 29 runs over the first two innings to completely overwhelm Cudahy on Saturday. CF Augie Baum orchestrated a historic day at the plate by hitting for the cycle, finishing 4-for-5 with an inside-the-park home run, four runs scored, and four RBIs to fuel the massive offensive outburst. OF Dylan Eason matched Baum with a four-hit performance and drove in a team-high five runs, while starting pitcher Mason Kroening helped his own cause by going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, four runs scored, and four RBIs. Kroening was equally dominant on the mound to earn the complete-game victory, striking out nine batters and allowing just two earned runs on three hits and four walks over five innings of work.

The Wautoma pitching staff tossed a combined five-inning no-hitter to overwhelm Green Lake/Princeton for a commanding 10-0 run-rule victory on Saturday. Starter Carson Rose was utterly dominant on the mound to earn the win, striking out 11 batters while issuing just two walks over four hitless frames, before Parker Grenier struck out one in a perfect fifth inning to complete the combined no-no. Rose was equally as lethal at the plate, anchoring the Wautoma offense by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, a pair of stolen bases, and two runs scored. MIF Peyton Pica also reached base three times and drove in two runs for the Hornets, who secured the run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth when LF Jett Richard drew a game-ending, bases-loaded walk. Sophomore OF/LHP Drake Westfield served as the lone spark on the basepaths for Green Lake/Princeton in the defeat, drawing a walk and stealing two bases; he also K'd seven batters over 2.2 innings in relief.

The West De Pere pitching staff combined for a no-hitter to blank Mitchell 8-0 in the opening game of a Friday doubleheader, before falling 9-2 to the Bedford North Lawrence Stars in the second game.

In the first contest, sophomore starter Clay Maxam anchored the combined no-hitter to earn the victory, racking up 10 strikeouts while issuing just one walk over four hitless innings. Jake Rodewald, Chase Kerrigan, and Sammy Berg each tossed an inning of hitless relief out of the bullpen to slam the door and complete the no-no. C Caleb Scheller, 2B Laliwa Delgado, and LF/1B Josh Kelley paced the balanced West De Pere offensive attack by driving in two runs apiece, while 3B/RHP Sammy Berg and 1B Isaac Habetler each recorded multi-hit games. Mitchell's lineup was completely stifled, failing to record a single hit or advance a runner past first base in the shutout defeat.

Bedford North Lawrence controlled the second matchup from the jump, relying on a five-run surge across the first two innings and an overpowering pitching performance to secure the win. Starter Cutler Chastain was electric on the mound for the Stars to earn the victory, striking out eight batters and allowing just one hit over five strong innings. SS Jackson Jones and 1B Chase Rynders anchored the Bedford North Lawrence run production, tallying a hit and two RBIs apiece. DH Logan Wierzba provided the lone offensive highlight for the Phantoms in the defeat, blasting a two-run home run in the fourth inning to account for the team's only base hit and runs of the game.

Jefferson split a Friday doubleheader, falling in a tight 2-0 pitcher's duel to White House-Heritage before bouncing back with a 10-6 victory over Liberty Creek.

In the opener, White House-Heritage starter Caleb Cayce completely stifled the Eagles, scattering seven hits over 6.1 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts to earn the win, before Ryan Greer recorded the final two outs. The Patriots manufactured the only two runs of the contest in the third inning on an RBI single from SS Dane Hinshaw and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt by Greer. Jefferson starter Mason Merz suffered a tough-luck loss, yielding zero earned runs and striking out two across five strong innings of work. SS/RHP Bentley Wagner and C Tyler Altermatt accounted for the bulk of the offensive production for Jefferson in the shutout defeat, tallying two hits apiece.

Jefferson's bats caught fire in the nightcap against Liberty Creek, fueled by a massive two-way performance from LHP/CF Braxton Thiede. Thiede anchored the offensive outburst by going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and four RBIs, while also earning the victory on the mound by striking out five batters over three innings. 1B/RF Mason Merz set the table by reaching base three times and scoring three runs, and 3B/SS Gavin Berge added a pair of hits and two RBIs to help secure the split. DH Lucas Banks served as the primary run producer for Liberty Creek in the loss, driving in three runs on two hits.

Winneconne relied on a four-run first inning and a combined shutout to defeat Manitowoc Lincoln 4-0 on Friday. Starter Colson Kleinschmidt earned the victory with a dominant outing, scattering two hits and one walk while striking out five across six scoreless innings. SS/RHP Lucky Pahl sparked the early offensive surge with a pair of RBIs, and later took the mound in the seventh inning to toss a perfect scoreless frame and complete the shutout. CF Aaron Zimmer added an RBI double and finished with a pair of hits, while C Ethan Duel paced the Winneconne lineup by going 3-for-4. Nick Minikel provided strong relief out of the bullpen for Manitowoc, striking out seven batters over 3.2 scoreless innings to keep the game within reach, while SS/RHP Gabe Eichmann reached base twice with a single and a walk to pace the offense in the defeat. Winneconne has two solid wins to start the spring over Lincoln and Oshkosh West back on opening day.