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WIAA Playoffs: D1 State Quarterfinals Recap

June 25, 2021
Diego Solares
Staff Writer, Associate Scout

On Friday, June 25, the WIAA D-1 state quarterfinals took place at Herr-Baker Field, home of the Marian University Sabres and the Northwoods League’s Fond du Lac Dock Spiders.

Eight teams competed with a trip to Appleton on the line, fighting for a spot in the state’s final four and ultimately the D-1 state title.

Today, instead of our usual daily roundup, we’ll bring you an in-depth recap for all four games that took place in Fond du Lac.

MENOMONEE FALLS 8, PEWAUKEE 6

The day started off with a classic clash between two of the Milwaukee area’s top teams all season long. Pewaukee jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning after INF Grant Ross (2021; Valparaiso) brought OF Carson Hansen (2022; uncommitted) home on an RBI groundout following Hansen’s leadoff double.

Pewaukee led until the fifth inning when the Falls’ offense turned into another gear and exploded for a five-run inning. A passed ball brought INF Billy Howard (2021; McHenry CC) home to tie things up and, shortly after, INF Austin Anderson (2022) gave the Phoenix a two-run lead with a double to left field.

Menomonee Falls added two more runs in the frame, one on a passed ball and the other on an RBI single from senior OF Luke Nowak (East Carolina). Momentum had shifted rapidly in the Phoenix favor. 

We’ve long known Pewaukee as a scrappy, competitive bunch and everyone that had watched them play all season knew they weren’t going down without a fight. Senior INF Tanner Maroder and sophomore OF Logan Schill started the inning with back-to-back base hits, with the former coming around to score on ‘22 C Jack Sandvik’s RBI single. RHP/INF Logan Dobberstein (2022; Kansas State) brought Schill home on a sacrifice fly and the Pirates then tied the game at 5-5 after a two-run double by the aforementioned Ross.

That tie didn’t last long, as Jack Biemhel’s RBI double in the top of the sixth gave Menomonee Falls the lead again, until the Pirates clawed back and scored another run in the bottom half of that same frame, evening it up at 6-6 heading to the final inning.

Back-to-back doubles by CIF/RHP Zach Wolfram (2023) and CIF Brandon Anderson (2021) gave Menomonee Falls an 8-6 lead in the top of the seventh. Wolfram himself closed things out for the Phoenix, retiring the side in order and sending Menomonee Falls to Appleton next Thursday. They’ll face the winner of Sun Prairie and Onalaska in the state semi-final.

SUN PRAIRIE 6, ONLASKA 1

The Cardinals had complete control of this game from start to finish, even if they only scored six runs against eighth-seeded Onalaska, largely in part to a dominant outing from sophomore RHP/INF Jackson Hunley. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Hunley navigated through the Hilltoppers’ lineup masterfully, cruising through seven complete innings of one-run ball and holding Onalaska to just three hits, all while striking out six. 

INF Liam Moreno (2021; Missouri State) jumpstarted the Sun Prairie offense with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, bringing another runner home in the third inning as well. That third frame proved to be an impactful one for the Cardinals, as they scored five runs rather quickly and put this game out of reach.

OF Durlin Radlund (2021; uncommitted), INF Carson Shepard (2021; Ohio), and Hunley all contributed to the Cardinals’ run scoring outburst in the fifth inning with respective RBIs of their own. 

With the win, Sun Prairie advances to the state semi-finals next week and will square up against Menomonee Falls, who defeated Pewaukee earlier in the day. The Cardinals remain the favorites to take home the state championship, as we’ve had them penciled in at the very top of our Power 25 rankings all season.

BAY PORT 9, WEST BEND EAST 3

Led by James Bornick and complimentary offense to pair, Bay Port defeated West Bend East to earn a spot in next week’s state semi-final game, winning 9-3 and pounding out 15 hits total.

It was the Pirates who drew first blood in this matchup, scraping three runs across in the bottom half of the second inning. OF James Bornick (2021: Marian University) got the Pirates’ offense rolling with a one-out triple and later scored on RHP/1B Gavin Rusch (2021; Concordia-St. Paul) RBI single. OF Jacob Kleeman (2021; Lake County CC) and INF Carl Cano (2021; University of St. Thomas) each brought home a run in the frame as well.

The Pirates padded their lead in the bottom of the third after Bornick sent a line drive right over the right field fence for a two-run blast, making it 5-0. Rusch singled and advanced to third base on OF John Nickel’s (2022; uncommitted) double, setting up a two-run single from INF Matthew Perry (2021; St. Cloud State) that made it a 7-0 game.

West Bend East scratched their way onto the board in the top of the fourth inning, eventually chasing Pirates’ starter RHP Theo Zeidler (2022; Bradley) out of the game. INF Jack Trampe (2022; uncommitted) got things going for the Suns with an RBI single and C Elijah Jenkins (2022; uncommitted) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. RHP Eli Frank (2021; Wisconsin-Whitewater) entered the game for Bay Port and induced an inning-ending double play, ultimately limiting the damage.

Despite not having his “A” game, Zeidler still looked the part on the mound and kept Bay Port in the game. He’s an extremely talented athlete that would be more than capable of playing shortstop at the collegiate level if his abilities on the mound weren’t as advanced as they are. The upside is evident with the Bradley recruit, especially given the ease that he works with downhill and the physical projectability left on his frame. Zeidler worked his fastball in the 86-89 mph range, reaching back for 90 mph early in the game and relied heavily on his heater throughout. He went four innings, striking out three and allowed just three hits.

It didn’t take long for Bay Port to get at least one of those runs back, as the aforementioned Bornick sent one over the right field wall again for his second home run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth, making it an 8-2 lead for the Pirates.

West Bend East added a run on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth, but Frank managed to escape the jam with only one run given up. The Wisconsin-Whitewater commit got that same run back in the bottom of the sixth, drilling a double to center field that scored Zeidler from first, making it 9-3.

Frank closed the game out in the top of the seventh, shutting the Suns down to secure a Bay Port win. The Pirates will square up against the winner of Union Grove and Eau Claire Memorial next Thursday in Appleton for a chance to play in the state championship game.

EAU CLAIRE MEMORIAL 5, UNION GROVE 1

Eau Claire Memorial was a team that, internally, we were high on in the preseason. The Old Abes, like any other team, went through their ups-and-downs, but this roster is extremely talented and it showed, as they defeated perennial powerhouse Union Grove in the quarterfinals.

OF Jack Redwine (2022; uncommitted) got the Old Abes started early with a two-run single to kick things off. The score held at 2-0 in favor of Eau Claire Memorial before Ethan Horon’s double brought a run in for Union Grove, but it was actually Redwine who got the higher end of the play. ECM’s right fielder threw a strike to home, cutting a runner down at the plate and ending the inning to keep the Old Abes on top 2-1.

Eau Claire Memorial padded their lead in the fifth on a passed ball and scored two more runs in the top of the seventh, one of them coming on SS/RHP Dylan O’Connell’s RBI single.

O’Connell’s masterful start on the mound played a huge part in the Old Abes victory. Because of the WIAA pitch regulation rules, Eau Claire Memorial star RHP Vincent Trapani (2021; Arkansas) was unable to pitch today. Head coach Dan Roehl called upon their No. 2 starter and O’Connell dazzled, holding the potent Union Grove's offense quiet for his entire outing. It was another excellent look of ours at O’Connell, who also impressed in the sectional championship game when he shut down D.C. Everest en route to a state berth.

With their win, Eau Claire Memorial advances to Appleton next Thursday and will face off against Bay Port.

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