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Leader Photo by Morgan Rode Shawano’s Nick Grignon, right, swings at a pitch during the team’s matchup with Seymour on Monday. Grignon has had a hot bat for the Patriots all summer and will be looking to help the team as it plays in the Antigo Regional over the next few days.
Leader Photo by Morgan Rode Wittenberg’s Shane Herb delivers a pitch during the team’s road clash with Bonduel in the middle of June. Herb will be one of the pitchers counted on as the team tries to work its way through the Marathon Regional.
The Shawano and Wittenberg Legion baseball teams open regional tournament play on Friday.
Shawano is part of the four-team Class AA Antigo Regional, while Wittenberg will try and navigate its way through the six-team Class A Marathon Regional. Both tournaments follow double elimination format.
Shawano is scheduled to open up taking on Antigo at 8 p.m. Pulaski and Rhinelander will open the tournament at 5:30 p.m.
Despite failing to record a win to this point of the season, Shawano coach Kobey Pues has reason for optimism as the team has played its most competitive baseball over the past couple of weeks.
“Well, without a win, we are probably in the best place we can be,” Pues said. “I mean, we’ve played pretty good the last three games. We’ve had some good at-bats and are making some good plays defensively…”
The Patriots have a tough opening round clash with Antigo, who made it to state last summer.
Another factor working against Shawano is that the team is thin on guys to use on the mound, especially with Joey Tadych not being able to attend the tournament.
Pues said the team would use several pitchers to try and get through games. Zach Erdmann, Steve Hoffmann, Karson Rades, Ian Reinders and Kaleb Lowney have all spent time on the hill this summer and will likely be asked to step on the bump and get some outs.
At the plate, Parker Pues will try and set the table for Hoffmann, Nick Grignon and company.
The biggest key to the Patriots success in the regional might be limiting opposing team’s big innings. Several big innings have turned close games into lopsided ones for Shawano this summer.
Coach Pues will continue to preach that baseball is just a game and to have fun playing it, no matter what the scoreboard might say.
The winner of the Antigo Regional will advance to state, which will be held in Mauston from July 26-30.
Wittenberg is set to take on Nekoosa at 4 p.m. to open regional play Friday. Medford and Mosinee square off at 1 p.m., and Eagle River takes on Marathon at 7 p.m.
Wittenberg experienced an up-and-down season on the diamond, but coach Dan Kapitz has appreciated the team’s work ethic all summer.
“I feel that our team has been consistent in that players have been willing to show up and play hard,” Kapitz said. “Consistency is an important part of baseball, especially with your middle infield and pitcher, catcher combinations.”
The team has rolled out several pitchers this season, which gives the coach some more positivity heading into regional play.
“Success in baseball relies on pitching. In the Legion tournament, we have enough pitching to be successful but I also stress the importance of being around the plate and pitching for contact,” Kapitz said. “Second, you have to have a defense that is able to step up and make plays to prevent extended innings. I feel that our squad has enough pitching to make it through our regional tournament.”
Shane Herb, Simon Stewart, Kody Szews, Austin Worzalla, Will Urquhart and Matt Kapitz are among the options Wittenberg could send to the mound during the tournament.
At the plate, Wittenberg has gotten production from throughout its lineup and been able to put up runs in bunches.
A couple big innings paired with some solid pitching could help Wittenberg work through the bracket and eventually punch a ticket to state. The Class A State Tournament will be held in Westby from July 26-30.