Amateur Baseball: Hofa Park tops Bonduel in Dairyland Grand Championship

BONDUEL — Hofa Park rallied from a pair of early deficits and went on for a 7-3 win over Bonduel in the Dairyland League Grand Championship on Sunday at Jack Reinke Field.

It marked the five consecutive title for the Panthers, who won the league’s East Division with a 11-2 record. Hofa Park knocked off Freedom and Marinette to advance to the championship.

Bonduel grabbed the lead by scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning. Luke Kostreva and Matt Scheelk each drove in runs for the Broncos, scoring Chris Blum and J.C. Reinke.

Hofa Park answered with two runs in the second. Bobby Tilot doubled home Jon Rupno for the first run. Taylor Noe then singled to left, and the ball bounced over the left fielder’s head, allowing the tying run to score.

Bonduel regained the lead in the third when Scheelk singled home J.C. Reinke, who beat the throw home with a headfirst dive.

The hosts held onto the lead over the next couple of innings and looked to be on their way to halting Hofa Park’s title run, but the Panthers flipped the momentum in the sixth.

Hofa Park totaled five hits in the frame to score three runs and take its first lead at 5-3.

Matt Zittlow singled in the first run before Tilot doubled in the go-ahead run. An infield single from Bryan Schwebke accounted for the other run.

Hofa Park added an insurance run in the eighth and another in the ninth to cap the scoring.

After a rocky start, Hofa Park starting pitcher Tyler Jacobson settled in on the mound. He ended up pitching all nine innings, striking out eight batters.

Jacobson stranded nine runners, including two in the bottom of the ninth. He also got some help from the defense behind him, as the Panthers turned two doubles plays. Zittlow made a highlight reel stop and throw to first on a grounder in the eighth.

J.C. Reinke pitched the first seven innings for Bonduel. Jack Reinke pitched the eighth, before Noah Beilfuss worked the ninth.

Bonduel finished the regular season as the co-champions in the West Division. The Broncos topped Shawano and Navarino to advance to the title game.

Clintonville, Birnamwood fall in BABA semifinals

Both Clintonville and Birnamwood were blanked in Badger Amateur Baseball Association semifinal playoff matchups on Sunday.

Waupaca earned a 10-0 win over Clintonville, while Little Falls took down Birnamwood 6-0.

Waupaca and Little Falls will play for the BABA title at 2 p.m. on Sept. 1 in Waupaca.

Cam Seidl struck out 12 batters and pitched seven innings to lead Waupaca over Clintonville. Jake Popham finished with three hits, while Jon Popham and Kyle Douglas each had two.

Clintonville’s offense was stifled, tallying just three hits. Hunter Vollmer suffered the loss on the mound.

Chris Dunn earned the win for Little Falls, striking out eight batters in a complete game effort. Drew Radies and Jenner Gullixon each provided two hits.

Birnamwood was held to five hits, but did draw seven walks. Brad Erickson finished with two hits. Zach Bembenek suffered the loss.

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