Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School senior pitcher Nate Laude throws a ball to first base in the second inning of an 8-0 loss to West De Pere on Tuesday.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School senior Tasa Grignon fields a ground ball and runs to force an out at first base to end West De Pere’s two-run first inning Tuesday in Shawano. Shawano lost, 8-0.
West De Pere attacked senior Nate Laude’s fastball early in Shawano’s 8-0 loss at home Tuesday.
The Phantoms scored eight runs in the first two innings, chasing Laude after just 1 1/3 innings of work.
Laude allowed a two-run, two-out double to West De Pere senior Dan Paulson in the first inning, which boosted the confidence of the Phantoms, according to West De Pere head coach Joe Rukamp.
“Our guys came in knowing he’s a very good pitcher, so our guys were ready and anxious to get after him,” Rukamp said. “I just think we attacked early. He threw fastballs early, and our guys got after him early, and that was the difference.”
In the second inning, after an error and a sacrifice bunt, five straight batters connected for hits off Laude, causing Shawano head coach Rob Wolff to switch to senior Tasa Grignon.
“They hit the ball hard. There was nothing we could do. They weren’t just bloopers, they were line drives,” Wolff said. “They were totally on the ball. Sometimes, you have to tip your hat as a pitcher. It didn’t matter where you threw the ball, they were going to hit it hard.”
Grignon walked the first batter he faced before allowing an RBI single to left to Caleb Buboltz.
Grignon settled down and got the next two batters out. He allowed two hits and gave up two walks in the remaining five innings.
“He’s a kid that steps up and says, ‘Coach, if you need me, I’ll pitch,’” Wolff said. “That’s a nice performance, because that’s a nice-hitting ball club.”
At the plate, the Hawks struggled as well, managing just two hits of West De Pere junior Cole Nelson, who threw a complete game.
Junior catcher Jack Hanauer singled off Nelson with two outs in the fourth inning, and Brady Belongia singled to left field in the sixth.
His team’s struggles at the plate late in the game concerned Rukamp, who will see the Hawks again Thursday when Shawano (3-7, 3-4 Bay Conference) travels to West De Pere (10-5, 5-1 Bay) with junior Dylan Sumnicht on the mound.
“We are going to have to make some adjustments hitting, and we’ll see how it goes from there,” Rukamp said. “Every game is different, so you never know.”
Meanwhile, Wolff wants to see more of his team at the plate. Although a few of the Hawks made solid contact off Nelson, many of the balls were hit directly at Phantom defenders.
“Even though we only had two hits, we hit the ball, squared it up five or six other times,” Wolff said.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
West De Pere 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 8 10 1
Shawano 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1