| 7/29/2010 4:17:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| OFF TO THE RACES - During a rundown between third and home Jefferson Legion second baseman Ike Roth misses the tag on Ripon runner Curtis Morgan. Jefferson thought Morgan was out of the baseline, but the umpire ruled he was not and all runners were safe. Morgan scored one batter later on Michael Polczyn's groundout. Ripon went on to win, 10-2, eliminating Jefferson from the Class A State Tournament in Black River Falls. Jefferson finished the season 17-12. — Daily Union photo by Jeff Seisser. |
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UPDATE: Jefferson Legion makes early State Tournament exit
Jefferson goes 0-2 in Class A Tourney
By Jeff Seisser
Union sports editor
BLACK RIVER FALLS - From the opening batter the Jefferson American Legion baseball team had troubles with defending champion Ripon, and their troubles only got worse in a 10-2 loss, eliminating the local Legionnaires from the Class A State Tournament field Thursday in Black River Falls.
"We played two very good teams; we were on the tough side of the bracket," said Jefferson coach Steve Hotter, whose team lost its opening-round game to Clintonville, the 2007 and 2008 Class A champions, 8-3 Wednesday. "It's not that we didn't try. I'm proud of them."
Starting pitcher Cody Schreiner seemingly got off on the right foot for Jefferson, striking out Ripon lead-off hitter Cutis Morgan. But as Morgan swung at the third strike in the dirt, Jefferson catcher A.J. Neils had trouble locating the ball, eventually throwing it past first baseman Zach Peachey for an error.
That would only be the beginning of Jefferson's troubles Thursday. Michael Polcyn followed with a single to right and Morgan scored on a Jesse Ehrenberg single. Polcyn and Ehrenberg would later cross the dish for a 3-0 Ripon lead.
"We had some troubles early, and when you get down in the State Tournament to the defending State champions, it's an uphill battle to get back in it," Hotter said.
Jefferson (17-12) threatened to score in both the second and third innings, but to no avail.
In the second, Lucas Smillie singled and was replaced on Peachey's fielder's choice. After Neils drew a walk, Peter Linse reached on another fielder's choice as Jefferson had runners at the corners. But Ripon lefty Brandon Winfield struck out Michael Stellmacher ending the threat.
The Jefferson Legionnaires made a push to score again in the top half of the third, but again Winfield came through. After Zach Wellnitz singled and Ike Roth walked, Jefferson again had runners on the corners. That set up a showdown between Winfield and Smillie.
With two runners on in Wednesday's game with Clintonville Smillie launched a three-run home run to bring Jefferson to within 4-3.
But Winfield fared much better than Clintonville's Patrick Vandaalwyk, striking out the Jefferson clean-up batter on a 2-2 pitch ending another possible scoring chance.
After Ripon (16-5) put up a run in the third as Ehrenberg doubled and scored on a wild pitch, the defending State champions gave themselves even more breathing room tallying four runs in the fourth.
The big blow was a two-run Jordan Jess double to left. Morgan added an RBI double, while Polcyn's groundout to second brought in the other run as Ripon's lead was now 8-0.
Jefferson broke up Winfield's shutout bid in the sixth. Peachey and Neils hit back-to-back doubles before Stellmacher's single to left fell just in front of a diving Morgan, bringing the score to 9-2.
Ripon tacked on one insurance run in the sixth as Jess singled and scored on a groundout by his brother, Jeremy.
Ripon finished with 14 hits off Schreiner, who was saddled with the loss. The right-hander gave up nine earned runs while striking out one and walking one in six innings, finishing the summer with a 5-6 record.
Jordan Jess had a perfect 4-for-4 game, while Morgan and Ehrenberg added 2-for-4 afternoons.
"We just got beat by a better team," said Hotter.
No player in the Jefferson lineup had more than one hit.
Smillie All-Tourney
Lucas Smillie was named to the All-Tournament team.
In two games, Smillie was 3-for-7 with a home run and three RBIs.
Ripon plays the loser of the Northern Door/Prairie du Chien game at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
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