Gerrard Diaz, gdiaz@shawanoleader.com
The Clintonville American Legion baseball team had the tying run on third base in the seventh inning but couldn’t get him home and lost 5-4 to Wisconsin Dells at the American Legion Class A tournament Friday in Nekoosa.
Trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Diamond Cats (19-6) loaded the bases on Vinny Doberstein’s single, a base on balls by Zac Riemer and a single by Jake VanAllen. Parker Mindel then hit a bouncing ball up the middle that Wisconsin Dells turned into a double play.
Doberstein scored on the play and Riemer advanced to third. Jansen VanDaalwyk then flew out to right field to end the game and Clintonville’s tourney run.
Wisconsin Dells (16-2) took a lead in the second on Justin Hintz’s two-run homer.
The Diamond Cats pulled to within 2-1 on Aaron Morse’s sacrifice fly in the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Wisconsin Dells scored two runs on a bases-loaded, two-out blooper by Alex Cimaroli. Another run came in on an error before Clintonville could get out of the jam.
A throwing error and an RBI single by VanDaalwyk put the score at 5-3.
VanDaalwyk took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits, walking four and striking out eight in seven innings of work. He was 2 for 4 with an RBI at the plate. Jake VanAllen was 3 for 4. Aaron Morse was 2 for 2 with an RBI.
Ashton Mace was the winning pitcher, throwing all seven innings and allowing four runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
Cimaroli was 1 for 3 with two RBIs for Wisconsin Dells. Hintz was 1 for 2 with a home run and two RBIs.
Wisconsin Dells will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against either Waupun (25-1) or Denmark (10-7).