De Pere was the beneficiary of an error, helping them advance to the semifinals of the WIAA State Baseball Tournament.
The FRCC champion Redbirds were tied 0-0, with Menasha entering the bottom of the 5th inning when a throwing error scored the first run of the game for either team.
De Pere would add an insurance run off the bat of Axel Donaldson, and Easton Arendt would allow just one Bluejay on base the rest of the way to secure the quarterfinal victory.
Top seeded De Pere will next take on #5 Westosha Central, who also benefited from some less than perfect play.
The Falcons were tied 1-1 with Arrowhead entering the 7th inning, when a pair of wild pitches brought home the eventual game winner.
The Red Birds and Warhawks will face off for a trip to the Division 1 state championship game Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
In the other D-1 quarterfinal matchups, Sun Prairie East blew a 3-0 lead to Hudson before also benefiting from a walk-off error.
Oak Creek had the cleanest run to the semifinals, cruising by Nicolet 11-5 on the back of a perfect 2 innings save by Cade Palkowski.
The Cardinals and Knights will square off on Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The tournament continues today with Division 3 and 4 semifinal actions.
Starting in the small school division, #2 Johnson Creek and #3 Solon Springs/Northwood will kick off the action on Neuroscience Group Field at 9:00 a.m.
This is the Bluejay’s firs appearance in the state tournament since 2018, and the first ever for the eagles.
Then, at 11:00 this morning, #1 Eleva-Strum and #4 Pacelli square off.
This all-Cardinals battle pits Eleva-Strum, a school playing in its first-ever state tournament, against a school that hasn’t made the cut since 2007.
In the Division 3 semifinals, #2 seeded Kenosha St. Joseph will embark on their 2nd title in 4 years against #3 Bonduel, which is making the school’s first-ever appearance at the state tournament.
That game will begin at Fox Cities Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Closing out the day is last year’s runners-up, Aquinas, taking on Cumberland.
This is the Beaver’s first appearance in the tournament since 2017. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
