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WIAA State Championship: Day 3

June 20, 2022
Maddox Durst & Alison Pielsnik
Wisconsin Staff

DIVISION 2 SEMIFINALS:

#4 JEFFERSON vs #1 MOSINEE

After having to cancel their matchup on Wednesday night due to weather, the Jefferson Eagles and Mosinee Indians faced off in the first Division 2 semifinal on Thursday. Because of Wednesday’s cancellation, the game took place at Nienhaus Field, the home of Appleton West High School. 

The Indians jumped all over the Eagles in the bottom of the first inning, as they put up four runs to take a 4-0 lead. With the bases-loaded, OF Trevor Garski (2022) launched a grand slam to left field for Mosinee.

After scratching across another run in the second inning, Mosinee had a 5-0 lead. But, Jefferson was able to respond in the third, when SS Luis Serrano (2022; Bryant and Stratton commit) had an RBI single.

For the next three innings, the Eagles were able to score at least one run. In the fourth, OF Aiden Behm (2022) had an RBI double, and RHP Tyler Fredrick (2024) plated a run with a single. That cut Mosinee’s lead down to just two after four innings.

Serrano capped off a 2-for-2 game with a two-run home run which tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth. A fielder’s choice from INF Aidan Kramer (2024) gave Jefferson the lead heading into the seventh. Then, OF Evan Neitzel (2022) made the game-winning diving catch in center field to send Jefferson to the WIAA Division 2 State Championship game.  

Fredrick threw 6 ⅓ quality innings and earned the win for the Eagles. Also, RHP Tyler Butina (2023; Central Michigan) slammed the door and got the save in the final inning for Jefferson. 

#3 DENMARK vs #2 PEWAUKEE

The Denmark Vikings, the 2021 WIAA Division 2 State Champions, were looking to repeat for a second consecutive time on Thursday against the Pewaukee Pirates. 

The Pirates got out to an early lead in the second inning when UTIL Drew Dobberstein (2025) had an RBI single to right field. Pewaukee then added three more runs in the third inning, with the help of an RBI double from LHP Nick Doubek (2022; UW-Oshkosh commit) and a two-RBI triple from OF Logan Schill (2023) to get out to a 4-0 lead early. 

Denmark got two runs back in the fifth when OF Hayden Konkol (2022; St. Cloud State University) tripled and C Rheis Johnson (2023) grounded out, giving each player an RBI.

Pewaukee answered in the bottom of the 5th with two runs of their own. Another triple from Schill and a Denmark error allowed two runs to score for Pewaukee, giving them a 6-2 lead. 

The Vikings would erupt in the seventh inning though. After being down four runs, Denmark scored seven in their final inning to give themselves a 9-6 lead. Pewaukee had three errors in the inning, and INF Lucas Miller (2023) had a clutch 2-RBI double to give Denmark the lead. 

Pewaukee made a push at the end of the game, but it was not enough as Denmark advanced to the championship game after a 9-8 comeback victory.

DIVISION 4 CHAMPIONSHIP:

#3 BANGOR vs #1 EAU CLAIRE REGIS

Last season, the Regis Ramblers lost their state semifinal matchup but after winning their semifinal matchup the day prior, they looked to bring home a state title. In their State Final game they were matched up against the Bangor Cardinals, a team that defeated #2 Columbus Catholic 9-8 the day before. 

The Cardinals continued to stay hot from Wednesday’s performance as they got out to a quick 2-0 lead with the help of an RBI triple from 1B Ashton Michek (2022; Augustana-South Dakota commit) and an RBI single from INF Chase Horstman (2024).

The Ramblers would answer back quickly though. They put up two runs of their own in the first inning, after a couple of walks and a two-RBI single from C Sam Knickerbocker (2023). After one inning of play, the game was tied at 2-2.

INF Bryce Peterson (2025) got the job done for Bangor in the second inning, as he gave the Cardinals the lead after lining a double into left field, scoring one run. 

Regis once again responded in the third inning, and got the lead back. A walk, stolen base, and RBI single from OF Zander Rockow (2023) tied the game at 3-3. Rockow then stole two bases and scored on a throwing error from the catcher, giving Regis their first lead of the game. 

Once RHP Cooper Dykes (2023) settled in for the Ramblers, the offense was able to break through for Regis. In the fifth inning, the Ramblers put up five runs via a single from OF Payton Loomis (2023) and a 2-out 2-RBI single from OF Alex Leis (2022). That inning put Regis up 9-3 heading into the sixth. 

As Bangor went quiet in the sixth, Regis responded with three more runs of their own. A double from both Rockow and DH Matt Vesperman (2022) extended the Ramblers’ lead to 12-3.

Two quality innings from RHP Patrick Callaghan (2023) and a WIAA state record of 15 stolen bases helped officially make Regis the WIAA Division 4 State Champion. They finished their season with a record of 23-1, and Bangor ended at 22-6.

DIVISION 3 CHAMPIONSHIP:

#4 CUBA CITY vs #2 ST. CROIX FALLS

In the second game of the day, 8-seed Cuba City faced 4-seed St. Croix Falls for a heated D3 championship. 

This game started out quick, as a very aggressive Cuba City scored two right away in the first inning, as clean up hitter, OF Jackson Soja (2022) lined a two-RBI single into right field. 

St. Croix matched the energy and also started off aggressive, looking to match Cuba City’s offense in the bottom of the first. 1B Brady Belisle (2023) hit a hard RBI single to right field, bringing home C Adrian Scott (2022) from second. While St. Croix didn’t tie the game here, they cut the lead to one. 

Both teams added a run in the second inning as CF Will Busch (2023) had an RBI single for the Cubans, making the lead 3-1. In the bottom of the second, leadoff hitter, 2B Oliver Schmidt (2022) had a solid RBI single to right center field, bringing the Saints one run closer at 3-2 and the end of two.

Belisle was clutch for the Knights, scoring two of their four runs. In the third, Belisle tied the game up with a huge RBI triple, scoring SS Brayden Olson (2023). Following his big triple, CF Tyler Olson (2023) sent a fly ball to center field to score Belisle easily, allowing St. Croix to grab the lead for the first time in the game, 4-3. 

After the third inning, scoring was all Cuba City. In the fifth, they scored three to give them a more comfortable lead. Soja drove in his second run of the day to tie the game up. Following right after, OF Max Lucey (2023) took advantage of the bases being loaded, and shot a two-RBI single into left field. 

The Cubans put up two more runs in the sixth, on a pass ball and a bases-loaded walk, giving them a 8-4 lead late in the game. 

RHP Blake Bussan (2022) was the winning pitcher and starter for the Cubans, pitching 6.2 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. RHP Mason Reese (2022) came in for the final out of the game, after Bussan hit the pitch maximum pitch count. 

Cuba City had a no-stress final inning, to give them their first state championship in only their second appearance in school history. 

DIvISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIP:

#4 JEFFERSON vs #3 DENMARK

The nightcap and final game of the WIAA season ended with a thriller between the Jefferson Eagles and the Denmark Vikings. This game was a rematch of last year’s WIAA Division 2 Championship, as Denmark got a 4-1 win over Jefferson. In the semifinals, both teams were able to make comeback victories over the higher seeds that they were facing.

The Vikings looked to repeat as champions, as they threw RHP Owen DeGrand (2022; College of Lake County commit). The Eagles countered with RHP Drew Peterson (2024). 

Denmark was able to tack on one run in the first three innings of play. C Rheis Johnson (2023) got the evening started with an RBI single in the bottom of the 1st, giving the Vikings a quick 1-0 lead. 

After scoring another run in the second via an error, Denmark added one more run in the third with the help of a leadoff triple from OF Hayden Konkol (2022; St. Cloud State University). He was driven in by Johnson, who had a RBI groundout to the shortstop. 

Before that though, Jefferson was able to tie the game at 2-2 due to a monster home run from 1B Tyler Butina (2023; Central Michigan). Butina sent a 2-run shot to the deepest part of Fox Cities Stadium, allowing the Eagles to get some momentum back. 

In the 4th, Jefferson got their first lead of the game. Two hit batters, an error, and an RBI single from OF Evan Neitzel (2022) gave the Eagles a 4-3 lead. Jefferson dropped down two bunts in the inning, which helped them wreak havoc on the basepaths. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Denmark responded with two runs of their own, as two singles and an RBI groundout from Konkol got the Vikings their lead back at 5-4. 

In this back-and-forth affair, Jefferson once again came back and tied the game at 5-5 due to an RBI double from OF Aiden Devine (2022). Denmark was able to limit the damage though as a relay of OF Nolan Perry (2023) and INF Lucas Miller (2023) allowed the game to remain tied. 

Denmark and Jefferson could not plate a run in their next innings, which led the tied ballgame into the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back singles from Denmark’s SS Abe Kapinos (2022) and OF Ethan Ovsak (2023) set up Konkol once again. Konkol drove a double to deep right field, capping off a 3-RBI day for him, and giving the Vikings their second straight WIAA Division 2 Championship with a 6-5 victory.

Denmark finished another successful season with a 24-3 record, and Jefferson did the same with a 24-8 record. 

DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIP:

#8 BAY PORT vs #6 MILTON

After having to switch time slots with the D2 championship due to Wednesday nights weather, #6 Milton matched up with #8 Bay Port for the D1 championship. 

Milton got out to a big lead early, batting 11 hitters and scoring six runs in the first inning. To put the first run on the board, SS Gavin Kilen (2022; Louisville commit) shot a line-drive single to left center, scoring 2B Jack Campion (2022) from second. 

The Red Hawks took advantage of struggles from Bay Port’s pitching and defensive throwing errors, scoring two runs on wild pitches, and one on a throwing error in the first. 

After getting out to a 6-0 lead, Red Hawks pitching dominated, keeping Bay Port to minimal hits. RHP Michael Birkhimer (2022) started for Milton, collecting five strikeouts, five hits, zero walks, and one run in four innings pitched.

The Red Hawks kept the innings quick defensively, only letting four batters hit in the first, followed by a three up-three down second and third inning. 

While the entire Milton lineup had an outstanding game offensively, DH Broden Jackson (2024) had an exceptional game, going 3-for-3, and racking up three-RBIs, contributing heavily to the Red Hawks lead. 

Bay Port made an attempt to come back in the fifth inning, when they found themselves with the bases loaded. C/OF Austin Holton (2022) singled to center field, bringing in OF/C Isaiah Grimm (2022; Marian). The Pirates could not bring any more runs in, getting three outs in a row following Holton’s RBI, ending the inning with three on base.

Milton finished it off early in the fifth inning, run-ruling Bayport on a walk-off walk with the bases loaded. That gave Milton their first state championship in school history in dominant fashion. 

It was an up and down season for the Red Hawks, rising all the way up to the No. 3 in our Power 25 rankings early on in the season but finishing the regular season unranked. 

Nonetheless, the talent Milton possessed was apparent as they started the season in the No. 6 and they seemed to play their best baseball when it mattered, bringing a state trophy to Milton for the first time in school history. 

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