As the Oconto Falls American Legion baseball team prepares for the Class AA regional tournament, coach Chris Hillberg is embracing the underdog role for his squad.
“I think everyone on the team knows we’re the underdog going into that tournament,” Hillberg said. “As such, I don’t think anyone is going to throw their No. 1 pitcher against us. … We’re OK with that.”
Oconto Falls (7-5) opens the tournament Friday against Sturgeon Bay (8-4) at 8 p.m. in Sturgeon Bay. Pulaski (8-4) and Kewaunee County (6-4) face each other at 5 p.m.
“All four of the teams there are pretty evenly matched,” Hillberg said. “I like our chances.”
The tournament features a double elimination format, which will allow each team to play at least two games. Games will be played Saturday at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The championship game, or games, will be played Sunday. If an undefeated team suffers its first loss in the championship game, it will get a another chance at the title in a second game.
Kewaunee County will host the Class AA state tournament and gets an automatic bid to the state tournament, regardless of how it does in the tournament. That means two of the four teams in the Region 1 tourney will compete at state.
For Oconto Falls, getting to state starts with beating Sturgeon Bay.
“I’m sure they’re going to defend their field well,” Hillberg said. “The first game of the regional, Friday night, opening night, the main time, I’m sure they’re going to be ready to play.”
Hillberg said his team needs to avoid mistakes that were costly during the regular season.
“We’ve had our ups and downs,” Hillberg said. “We have a core group of players that I believe that when they’re playing good ball and swinging the bats, we can play with anybody. If we’re not on our game, we can lose to anybody also.”
Categories
