Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Legion second baseman Alex Hoffman makes a throw to first baseman Jacob Lacy during Thursday’s 7-6 home victory. The Patriots committed three errors but held on for the win.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Legion shortstop Cole Nelson makes a backhanded snag before completing the throw to first base early in the Patriots’ 7-6 home victory Thursday.
Kaukauna put the tying run on third base in the top of the seventh inning, but Shawano’s Kasey Kristof earned the save by getting Tyler Froehlich to ground out for a 7-6 home victory Thursday.
The Angels used two hits, two walks and an error to score two runs on Patriots starter Isaac Buntrock in the top of the seventh before head coach Ryan Koenig made the switch to Kristof with the bases loaded and two outs.
Kristof got Froehlich swinging at the the first two strikes before getting the groundout to end the game.
“He had pitched really well, threw strikes,” Shawano assistant coach Will Gillis said. “That’s what you need, bases loaded, two outs, seventh inning, with the tying run on third base, you need someone that can throw strikes.”
Buntrock pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up five earned runs and eight hits. He struck out four and walked four.
“He’s not as experienced as some of the other guys at pitching, so it might be some of that,” Gillis said. “But he battles hard, he’s a competitor.”
Shawano scored seven runs over the second and third innings after falling behind 3-0.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Brad Bartz and Kristof each singled before Cole Nelson hit a fly ball to left field. Froehlich and Morgan Swanson converged on the ball, but miscommunication allowed it to drop between the two, scoring the first run for Shawano.
“They were young,” Kaukauna head coach Kevin Meyer said. “We have a guy just starting out in left for the first time, a guy who is starting his first time in center field, and I think it just got in their heads.”
Shawano, which overcame a three-run deficit late against Clintonville on June 23, took advantage of the error and pulled out another comeback.
“When they play loose, we’ve come from behind a lot this year and put a lot of hits together late in the game,” Gillis said. “It’s just staying together.”
Connor Klish’s RBI single made it a 3-2 game. Kien Moorman singled, but Nelson was thrown out at home trying to tie the game.
In the third inning, Shawano (7-7) pushed across three runs on four singles, a hit batter and a walk. With the bases loaded, Klish and Moorman each had RBI walks to make it a 7-3 game.
Meyer, who has a young team with just three seniors, thought the Angels (3-5) fought back late in the game.
“We battled back. We played a game after that,” Meyer said.
Noah Brodhagen and Bartz each had two hits for Shawano.
Kaukauna starter Robert Benotch pitched 2 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking one. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits. Brady Meyer threw the final two innings for the Angels, walking two and giving up one hit.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Kaukauna 1 2 0 0 0 1 2 6 10 1
Shawano 0 2 5 0 0 0 x 7 11 3