Erb, Finger named to Legion All-Star Game

The Clintonville and Bonduel Legion baseball teams have each enjoyed strong summer seasons and each hold high aspirations for the postseason.

Bonduel’s Wyatt Erb and Clintonville’s Kyle Finger have played big roles in the success of their respective teams and were recently honored with roster spots for the 2018 Wisconsin American Legion All-Star Game. Erb and Finger will represent the Stripes team in the contest, which will be played at Miller Park on Aug. 5, following the completion of the Milwaukee Brewers game against the Colorado Rockies.

Bonduel head coach Jason Boldt was also named to the All-Star Game and will serve as one of three coaches for the Stripes team.

While making the Legion All-Star Game is a honor most players hope to earn, the feat seemed unlikely for Bonduel’s Erb following a devastating injury just one summer ago. Erb tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while trying to gain exposure on the basketball court.

After undergoing surgery on July 11, 2017, Erb did everything in his power to try and make it back for his senior season of high school baseball. After a long recovery road, Erb was cleared just in time for the start of the spring season.

Since that point, Erb has turned heads while competing on the diamond. Erb was named the Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division player of the year to cap his high school career.

This summer, Erb has put up video game-like number on the hill, striking out 62 batters in 27 innings while earning three wins. He struck out 18 batters in a season-opening win over Clintonville before striking out 15 batters in his next start against Wittenberg. The left-handed hitter and pitcher is also batting .303 while hitting third in the Grizzlies’ lineup.

To be named to the All-Star Game is an extremely satisfying honor for Erb.

“While I didn’t expect it, I worked very hard with my rehab in the hopes that I would achieve the honor I was given,” he said. “It gives me satisfaction that all the hard work I have put into baseball has paid off. I am also honored to be able to represent Bonduel at the game.”

Erb is also thrilled to be able to play a game at Miller Park and do it with Boldt alongside him.

“It is a great honor to be able to play with some good talented ball players from around the state and to be able to play at Miller Park,” Erb said. “I am very excited, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to play at a major league stadium, that doesn’t happen every day. It is really cool because coach Boldt has coached me and watched me grow as a baseball player since I began playing baseball. He has been to almost all my baseball games, either as a coach or a spectator.”

The Clintonville spring and Legion teams each got off to slow starts in their respective seasons but turned things around as the postseason neared. Finger has played a major role in the steady improvement of the Diamond Cats this summer, leading the club at the plate while helping pitchers navigate their way through games behind the plate.

Finger has put up some video game-like statistics of his own this summer. The catcher currently holds a batting average of over .500 and an on-base percentage of over .600. He’s also clubbed 11 doubles and a home run while driving in 16 runs.

Making the Legion All-Star Game was one of Finger’s personal goals. Despite striving for the coveted honor, the selection to the game still left the standout in awe.

“I set a few team goals and a few personal goals before high school baseball even started,” Finger said. “One of them was to win a regional championship, we were fortunate enough to win and make it to my first sectionals. The other three goals I made for myself and the team was to get first team all-conference, win a Legion state title and to make the Legion All-Star Game. I achieved all of my goals so far, and making the All-Star Game is just the icing on the cake. I am thrilled to be chosen to play in the All-Star Game.”

Like most baseball players growing up in the state, Finger was a fan of the Brewers. He now will have the honor of playing at Miller Park, a dream so many youngsters had while growing up.

“It is very special to represent my team and community down in Miller Park for the Legion All-Star Game,” he said. “It is the perfect way to end my high school baseball career. The Brewers have been my favorite team since my dad introduced me to baseball. Getting the opportunity to catch in a major league ball park is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I am extremely excited. I am really looking forward to playing in Miller Park with some of the best baseball players in the state. Along with that, being announced in front of the whole stadium before the Brewer game.”

Following his selection to the coaching staff, Boldt praised the Bonduel baseball program as a whole, from the Little League teams to his current assistant coaches, Ryan Engel and Al Erb.

Boldt is also thrilled to have the chance to be among the presence of so much baseball talent.

“I’m looking forward to enjoying the weekend with some of the best baseball players and coaches from around the state,” he said. “There is going to be a lot of talent on that field and it will be fun to be part of the atmosphere with coaching these athletes on the Miller Park field.”