Shawano baseball team eliminated in regional title game

Hawks fall to Rhinelander in 9 innings
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The top-seeded Shawano Community High School baseball team was eliminated from the postseason after a nine-inning loss to second-seeded Rhinelander in a Division 2 regional title game on June 16 in Shawano.

The Hawks advanced to the title game after a 4-1 regional semifinal victory over fourth-seeded Clintonville on June 15 in Shawano.

Regional title

It was a rough start to the regional title game for Shawano, which surrendered three first-inning runs to the Hodags before another run in the second made it 4-0.

As it has several other times this season, Shawano was able to dig deep and rally. The Hawks scored four runs in the sixth to tie it.

Kaleb Lowney started the rally in the sixth by reaching on an error with two outs. Zac Jurmu and Ashton Henning followed with walks to load the bases before Andrew Popp cleared them with a double. After a walk by Brandan Bushy, Zach Erdmann delivered a single to plate Popp and tie the contest.

The game remained tied until the ninth, when Rhinelander started the frame with a single. Rhinelander moved a runner to second with two outs before a single gave the visitors the lead.

Bushy walked to start the bottom of the ninth for the Hawks, but was eventually stranded on third to end the contest.

Shawano stranded 12 runners on base in the contest. The Hawks also had baserunners caught stealing in the seventh and eighth innings.

Aidan Berry started the game for the Hawks and got the first four outs before giving way to Joey Sperberg.

Sperberg worked the next 7⅓ innings, striking out 10 batters along the way. He was dealt the loss after allowing the hit to start the ninth and hit the pitch count limit soon after. Bushy was on the hill when Rhinelander scored the go-ahead run.

The loss ended Shawano’s season with a 14-6 record. The Hawks started the season slow before hitting their stride near the end of the regular season.

“We were not playing as a team at the beginning of the season, everyone was playing for themselves, but team bonding helped us after a very tough loss against Fox Valley Lutheran,” said Bushy, who walked three times and added a hit in the loss to Rhinelander. “After that we became a team and played as one too.”

Regional semifinal

Shawano also rallied against Clintonville in the regional semifinal game.

Clintonville scored once in the second frame to take the lead before Shawano answered with a run in the third to tie it. Henning doubled with two outs before being doubled in by Popp.

Shawano took the lead with a three-run sixth.

Bushy opened the inning with a single before Berry and Jacob Landon both tried laying down sacrifice bunts. Berry and Landon each reached to load the bases.

Braedyn Kowalkowski then came through with a pinch-hit single to score Bushy. Carson Popp followed with another single to plate Berry. Landon later scored on a wild pitch.

Henning then stranded a pair of Clintonville runners on base in the seventh to seal up the win. Henning earned the win after pitching two scoreless innings and striking out three.

Andrew Popp started and allowed just two walks, a hit and an unearned run over five innings. He struck out nine batters.

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