By Spencer Flaten
Staff Writer 

GRAND CHUTE, Wis.—Prairie du Chien advanced to a state championship game for the first time since 2008 with a 2-0 win over Markesan in the Division 3 state semifinals on Wednesday.

The Blackhawks had Chas Sagedahl to thank for silencing the Hornets’ bats all game long. The junior southpaw threw a complete game four-hitter with 11 strikeouts in arguably the biggest game of his life to date.

The Blackhawks’ offense fared slightly better than Markesan’s, although they weren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard either. They scored a run in the second inning on an RBI single by Jonathan Dyer plated Jack Wasechek hit a triple earlier in the frame.

The Hornets got two runners on base in the third inning, but Sagedahl forced a ground out to end the threat.

Prairie du Chien added to their lead in the fourth with an RBI single by Chad Mara. That was pretty much the end of the offense, though.

Shane Ryan singled and stole second for Markesan in the bottom of the fourth, but nothing came of it.

The Blackhawks loaded the bases in the seventh, looking to add some insurance. However, a diving stop by Markesan second baseman Ryan Walker on a grounder up the middle let the Hornets off the hook.

Sagedahl closed the door in the seventh and sent his team to the championship game.

Kyle Krueger pitched well for Markesan, but didn’t get any run support to help his cause. He pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on eight hits.

Prairie du Chien will play the winner of the semifinal between Unity and St. Mary Catholic in the Division 3 state championship game on Thursday afternoon.