There are some local sporting events on the docket with serious postseason implications.
BASEBALL
There are two home-and-home series this week that will determine conference championships.
The first games of those series take place this afternoon as Manitowoc Lutheran, winners of six straight Big East North Division games (6-2), look for a seventh straight as Division-leading St. Mary Catholic (7-1) comes calling to Lancer Circle.
The Lancers have been successful with putting pressure on the defense by working the count to get on base, then utilizing their team speed once on base to wreak havoc with the opposition.
They have 80 stolen bases heading into Monday’s game against Sheboygan Falls, with Logan Haupt (18), Wesley Hecker (15), Isiah Hockmuth (13), and Josiah Martin (13) combining for 59 of those 80 stolen bags.
The Lancers have also jumped out to early leads, cranking up that pressure, and by showing patience, their team batting average has risen to .310, and their OPS is an impressive .793.
St. Mary Catholic began their season losing four of their first seven overall, then went on a tear winning seven straight and 10 of 11 before losing a non-conference game to Iola Scandinavia 7 to 6 last Friday.
The Zephyrs have a good mix of young and veteran talent and have terrific team speed, having stolen 90 bases through 19 games.
Leading the way is freshman Caleb Vogel with 23 thefts.
He also leads the Zephyrs in batting average (.478), hits (32), runs scored (21), doubles (6), on-base percentage (.551), and slugging percentage (.567) for a team-leading OPS of 1.118.
A Lancer victory would forge a tie atop the Big East North Division standings heading into the rematch on Thursday in Fox Crossing.
The first pitch at Lancer Circle is scheduled to be thrown at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, two terrific teams meet in Brillion as the undefeated Kiel Raiders (12-0 in the EWC, 15-0 overall) visit the Brillion Lions (12-0 on the EWC, 20-2 overall).
The Lions have won 19 straight games with terrific production up and down the lineup, with senior Joe Shimek leading the way.
He leads Brillion in several offensive categories, including batting average (.516), on-base percentage (.656), slugging percentage (.645), OPS (1.301), runs scored (41), and doubles (8).
Brillion also has several arms they can throw at you, with a sparkling team earned run average of 2.17. led by Joe Shimek, who has walked only seven and struck out 54 in 36-and-a third innings of work.
Kiel is a spitting image of Brillion, having had an outstanding season with a great mix of young and veteran talent led by senior Colton Schafer.
Schafer leads the Raiders in on-base percentage (.569), slugging percentage (.727), OPS (1.296), and doubles (7). Where he’s really excelled is on the mound. He’s allowed only one earned run in 34 innings (.21 ERA) with a staff-leading 70 strikeouts.
Senior Aaron Stephany gives the Raiders a good one-two punch as he leads the Raiders with six wins and only 6 walks and 43 strikeouts in a team-leading 40 and two-thirds innings of work.
The winner takes over sole possession of first place in the EWC with the rematch scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Kiel.
The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 4:30 this afternoon. Another great matchup in Crivitz where the 17 and 1 Wolverines host undefeated Kewaunee (20-0).
Elsewhere, Manitowoc Lincoln hosts Green Bay Preble, Roncalli goes to Chilton, Two Rivers hosts New Holstein, Valders entertains Sheboygan Falls, Reedsville is at Mishicot, Sheboygan North visits Bay Port, Kohler/Sheboygan Christian hosts Sheboygan Lutheran, Little Chute travels to Denmark, Howards Grove hosts Cedar Grove-Belgium, Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah hits the road for Hilbert, Random Lake travels to Oostburg, West De Pere visits rival De Pere Green Bay East/West entertains Seymour, Green Bay Southwest is home for Notre Dame, Pulaski is at Green Bay Notre Dame, Algoma plays a doubleheader at Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay is home for Oconto, Gibraltar/Washington Island hosts Sevastopol and Luxemburg Casco is in Waupaca to battle the Comets.
SOFTBALL
Manitowoc Lincoln looks to bounce back after a doubleheader loss at Bay Port Saturday as they travel to Green Bay Southwest and a season series sweep of the Trojans.
Also, Manitowoc Lutheran hosts Oostburg, Hilbert heads to Kiel, and Reedsville heads north to play Gibraltar.
GIRLS SOCCER
Manitowoc Lincoln returns to FRCC play tonight as they travel to Green Bay Preble to meet the Hornets.
The Ships won two of three matches at The Kiel Invite last Saturday, with their lone loss coming at the hands of the unbeaten and state-ranked Kiel Raiders 1-0.
A winning season is still very much in the sights of Manitowoc Lincoln, sitting at 10-7-2 with four matches remaining, three if those four are in conference and on the road as well.
Green Bay Preble is just above the Ships in the FRCC standings (3-3) and 8-6 overall. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Other matches have Valders is at Sturgeon Bay, Manitowoc Lutheran welcomes Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, Sheboygan Falls travels to New Holstein, Sheboygan Lutheran/Christian entertains Ozaukee/Random Lake, Notre Dame Academy of Green Bay travels to Sheboygan North, Howards Grove hosts Ozaukee, Kohler is at Cedar Grove-Belgium, Denmark entertains Clintonville, Bay Port is at Green Bay Southwest, Ashwaubenon hosts West De Pere, De Pere plays at Pulaski, Sevastopol/ Gibraltar is home for St. Mary Catholic and Little Chute has a match at Luxemburg Casco.
TRACK AND FIELD
The FRCC Conference Track and Field meet is at De Pere.
BOYS GOLF
The final EWC Boys Mini Golf Meet is at Town and Country Golf Club in Sheboygan
BOYS TENNIS
Manitowoc Lincoln has a FRCC dual meet at Lincoln Park against Ashwaubenon, and Roncalli/Manitowoc Lutheran travels to Fond Du Lac to play St. Mary’s Springs.
