Day two of the WIAA State Baseball tournament was a doozy at Neuroscience Group Field in Grand Chute.
It all opened with an 11-inning defensive battle between #3 Reedsville and #2 Potosi/Cassville in a Division 4 semifinal matchup.
The Panthers knotted it up in the 6th inning, and were able to get out of several bases-loaded jams, but a mishandled ground ball ended the historic season with a 2-1 loss.
In game 2, top-seeded Columbus Catholic knocked off #3 Loyal 3-1, thanks in part to a 9-strikeout performance from Mac Konieczny and 2 RBI off the bat of Kayleb Pankratz.
In the Division 3 semifinals, #3 Cedar Grove-Belgium cruised by #2 Marathon 13-4, with Ira Hilbelink having a day to remember.
He went 4 for 4 at the plate, with three of those hits being triples and one earning him a double.
Hilbelink was also intentionally walked while also pitching 5 and one-third innings, allowing 5 hits and earning 6 strikeouts.
Closing out the day was the second upset of the tournament. #4 Dodgeville snuck by #1 St. Croix Falls 6-5, despite the fact that the Saints carried a 5-0 lead into the 6th inning.
That is when the Dodgers’ bats came alive, plating 6 runs, with the eventual game winner coming off the bat of Jack Graber.
The Division 1 and 2 championship matchups will be determined today in the last semi-final matchups of the tournament.
The day will start with the Division 2 semis, where #2 Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic will face #3 Waupun, followed by top-seeded Pewaukee battling #4 Somerset.
Then in the Division 1 semifinals, #3 Kaukauna, hot off the back of a 4-1 win over River Falls in the quarterfinals, will face #7 Nicolet, who upset #2 Milton 3-2.
That game will be played at Appleton North High School, while the final semifinal of the day will showcase #4 Madison Memorial and top-seeded Muskego.
The Spartans knocked off #5 Fond du Lac to advance, while the Warriors bested Marquette in the quarterfinals.
Champions will be crowned in all four divisions tomorrow.
