11:13 am CTShare this update

Up next, No. 1 Hudson vs. No. 8 Badger

Zac Bellman

With Hamilton punching their ticket to the semifinal in our first quarterfinal of the day, our focus shifts to who will join them in Wednesday afternoon’s semifinal. Top-seeded Hudson (19-6) will face No. 8 seed Badger (21-7).

Our starting pitchers today will be Riley Lussmyer for the Badgers and Mark Susa for the Raiders.

10:55 am CTShare this update

Hamilton advances to D1 semifinals with victory over Oak Creek

Mike Sherry

Hamilton has advanced to the Division 1 state semifinals with a 6-1 victory over Oak Creek.

The Knights scored a run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Brady Martin, which scored Nate Schopf after he led off the inning with a single.

Ethan Hibicke and Jacob Osmanski combined to limit Oak Creek to five hits.

Hamilton improves to 22-8 overall, while Oak Creek finishes the season with a 23-6 record.  

10:48 am CTShare this update

Hamilton three outs away from advancing to D1 semifinals

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek mounted its first threat in the top of the sixth inning but came up empty.

The Knights got back-to-back singles to start the inning by Carson Dachel and Brandon Briesemeister.

Jackson Villarreal then struck out and Camden Jeske flew out to center field for the second out. That was the end for Hamilton starting pitcher Ethan Hibicke.

Jacob Osmanski came on in relief and got Brian Simmons on a soft liner to shortstop to end the Oak Creek threat.

Hamilton got a one-out single from Hibicke in the bottom of the sixth inning, but that was it.

The Chargers lead 6-0 heading to the seventh inning.

10:32 am CTShare this update

Hamilton in control with 6-0 lead over Oak Creek

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the top of the fifth inning – the fourth time in five innings.

Hamilton added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Pinch-hitter Kyle Becker led off the inning with a single into shallow center, then Nick Brauhn tripled off the wall in left-center to score Becker. After an out, Blake Guthrie singled through a drawn-in infield to score Brauhn and make it 6-0.

And that’s the score as we head to the sixth inning.

10:17 am CTShare this update

Hamilton adds to lead, holds 4-0 advantage over Oak Creek

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the top of the fourth inning, including a nice sliding catch in foul territory by Hamilton right fielder John Arnold for the third out of the inning.

Chargers pitcher Ethan Hibicke has thrown 50 pitches through four innings.

Hamilton got a double from Nate Glapa to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, and that was the end for Oak Creek starting pitcher Ryan Buchta. Ben Mills came on in relief.

Mills retired Luke Lehnen on a shallow fly ball to right, but Wes Spreng grounded a single between third and shortstop and Glapa advanced to third. Spreng then stole second base.

Ethan Hibicke followed with a soft liner to right field to score Glapa. Spreng slowed down at third, but when the ball was bobbled in right field he continued around to score and give Hamilton a 4-0 lead.

Mills got out of the inning with a 6-4-3 double play.

9:58 am CTShare this update

Hamilton leads 2-0 after three innings in first D1 quarterfinal

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek picked up its first hit of the game in the third inning with a two-out single by No. 9 hitter Brandon Briesemeister, but Jackson Villarreal grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Hamilton got a two-out double off the wall in left field from Nick Brauhn in the bottom of the third, then Luka Tusic hit a grounder up the middle that snuck through into center for a single to score Brauhn and make it 2-0.

The Chargers have six hits through three innings. The Knights have one hit.

9:43 am CTShare this update

Hamilton leads Oak Creek 1-0 after two innings

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the second inning for the second time in a row.

Hamilton got a one-out single to right field from Blake Guthrie in the bottom of the inning, then Nate Glapa dumped a single into left field to put runners on first and second.

Luke Lehnen struck out looking for the second out, but Wes Spreng walked to load the bases for the second inning in a row and bring up cleanup batter Ethan Hibicke.

Hibicke hit a hopper back to the mound that Oak Creek pitcher Ryan Buchta snared with his bare hand, and he tossed to first for the out to get out of the inning.

9:24 am CTShare this update

Hamilton takes 1-0 lead after one inning, but leaves the bases loaded

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the top of the first inning against Hamilton ace Ethan Hibicke, who threw just 8 pitches.

Hamilton then loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame against Oak Creek ace Ryan Buchta. Luke Lehnen walked with one out, Wes Spreng followed with an opposite-field single to left field and Ethan Hibicke walked to load the bases.

John Arnold then lined a single to center on a 1-2 pitch to bring home the game’s first run and leave the bases loaded.

Brady York struck out looking for the second out, then pinch-hitter Nick Brauhn also struck out looking for the final out.

Buchta threw 31 pitches in the inning.

9:05 am CTShare this update

We’re underway at Fox Cities Stadium with the first D1 quarterfinal game

Mike Sherry

The WIAA state baseball tournament is underway.

Sussex Hamilton is the home team and has taken the field. Ethan Hibicke is on the mound for Hamilton.

The crowd is a little sparse for this first D1 quarterfinal game. Hamilton fans outnumber Oak Creek fans and have been making more noise.

It’s mostly cloudy with a little bit of sun poking through.

2:53 pm CTShare this update

End 1st – 2-1 Hartford

Zac Bellman

Aidan Kolb got Hartford started in the top of the first with a first-pitch base hit up the middle, which Carter Kutz followed with a base hit of his own two pitches into his at-bat. Brady Helms sacrifice bunted the runners to second and third, then Joe Landgraf got one home with an “excuse me” half swinging infield hit between third and shortstop. Hortonville’s pitcher Taiven Gass tired to pick off the runner at third with two outs and threw it wildly up the third base line, allowing a second run to score on the error. Gass proceeded to strike out Ayden Grulke looking to strand a pair of runners to end the top of the first.

A packed and raucous Hortonville crowd got into things early in the bottom half, as Turner Kuhnke tripled to right field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kameron Chronis a batter later. Hartford’s Carter Kutz worked around a hit by pitch to get out of the frame with just one across.

2-1 Hartford after one.

2:14 pm CTShare this update

D1 quarterfinals pick up at 2:30 with Hartford Union-Hortonville

Zac Bellman

We are almost ready to return to action here at 2:30, as No. 3 seed Hortonville (22-7) faces No. 6 seed Hartford Union (21-7). Hortonville has senior Taiven Gass taking the ball as it makes the program’s 10th state appearance, while Hartford Union throws Carter Kutz on the mound in the program’s ninth appearance at WIAA state.

The winner of this game faces the winner of No. 2 seed Sun Prairie East and No. 7 seed Muskego in a matchup immediately following this game to determine the other semifinal qualifier.

1:20 pm CTShare this update

Badger advances to D1 semifinal with 14-3 win over Hudson

Zac Bellman

Badger’s Riley Lussmyer is relieved with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, giving way to Gavin Stewart after surrendering a two-out double. Stewart closes it out with a pop-out to shortstop.

Lussmyer gets the win, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four in four and two-thirds. Leading hitters for Badger were Matthew O’Grady (2-for-3, three runs scored, one RBI) and Ryan McCarthy (3-for-4, one run scored, two RBIs) amidst a 13-hit effort for the team.

The Badgers will face Sussex Hamilton on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. back at Neuroscience Group Field in Grand Chute. Hamilton won our first quarterfinal of the day, 6-1 over Oak Creek. Our next game is at 2:30 p.m., as No. 3 Hortonville faces No. 6 Hartford Union.

1:08 pm CTShare this update

Mid 5th – Badger puts run rule in effect with 9-run inning

Zac Bellman

Matthew O’Grady doubled to right center to lead us off in the top of the fifth, and after a Gavin Stewart walk to put two on, Hudson’s Mark Susa was chased from the game. Right-hander Bennett Brathol took over on the mound with nobody out and two on. Ryan McCarthy laid a perfect bunt single between third base and short to load the bases, before Brathol got the next hitter via strikeout. Lussmyer helped his own cause a batter later with a one-out, two-RBI base hit to center. Brendan Kellar followed with an RBI base hit that made it 8-3. Kellar stole his way into scoring position, and Ryan Albanese brought home two more with a base hit while advancing to second himself on the throw.

The beat went on with a bunt single by Zach Walton, who stole his way to second to put two in scoring position for Trent Ertmann. Another run scored on a high-chopping grounder to shortstop that resulted in Ertmann reaching on an error, making it 11-3. O’Grady sent his second double of the inning into the left center field gap to follow, driving home the seventh run of the inning. Stewart sent a sacrifice fly to center field to put the run rule in effect for the bottom of the inning, and Ryan McCarthy doubled off the left field wall to add an insurance run. Brathol was relieved by Myles Howe with two away in the inning, and walked one before inducing a 6-3 groundout on a nice play fading to his right by Jace Mataczynski.

Read more

12:40 pm CTShare this update

End 4 – Badgers add a run as lead holds

Zac Bellman

Badger mounted its first scoring threat since the first inning, as leadoff hitter Bradley McCarthy sent a rocket past the glove of third baseman Silas Heisler in what was ruled a two-base error. He would score two batters latter on a wild pitch after being advanced to third by a Lussmyer groundout. Hudson’s Susa stranded two on to end the inning, as he sits at 71 pitches for the game.

Third base umpire Brian Jicha took a line shot on a foul ball in the bottom half of the inning on what looked to be his right forearm, but he stayed in the game. Lussmyer is at 62 pitches after stranding another runner in scoring position on his second strikeout of the inning and fourth of the game.

Our score is 5-3, Badger.

12:23 pm CTShare this update

End 3 – Badger quells scoring threat

Zac Bellman

Another clean frame for Susa on the mound for Hudson, as he walked the leadoff man before inducing a 4-6-3 double play and a flyout to center. His pitch count is at 51 through three, as he has faced the minimum since allowing the first five to reach in the first.

The Raiders put the tying run on third with a two-out triple to center by Jace Mataczynski, his second hit of the game. Lussmyer struck out the next batter though, preserving the lead as he sits on a pitch count of 46.

We’re still at 4-3 through three complete.

12:13 pm CTShare this update

End 2nd – Both teams down 1-2-3

Zac Bellman

Both pitchers settled in after a high-scoring first, as Susa went 1-2-3 with one strikeout. His pitch count stands at 40 after two frames.

In the bottom half, the Raiders were also down 1-2-3 with a strikeout, as Lussmyer’s pitch count stands at 35.

It remains 4-3, Badger as we head to the top of the third.

12:04 pm CTShare this update

End 1st – Seven total runs in high-scoring inning

Zac Bellman

The Badgers got to Hudson starter Mark Susa in the first, as Zach Walton walked, Trent Ertmann bunt singled, Matthew O’Grady reached on an error that scored Walton and Gavin Stewart doubled home Ertmann and O’Grady. Ryan McCarthy followed with an RBI single that scored Stewart to make it 4-0, before McCarthy was balked to second on the ensuing at-bat. Susa retired the next three-in-a-row, as Bradley McCarthy popped out to second to end a stretch of five-straight reaching base for the Badgers to start the inning, Lussmyer popped out to short and Brendan Kellar struck out.

In the bottom half of the first, Hudson loaded the bases with a base hit up the middle by Sam Abrahmson, a walk by Logan Hagman and an infield hit to third by Jace Maytaczynski. After a fielder’s choice scored one run, Steele Homme tripled to right with two outs to score two more. A pop-out to first ended a high-scoring first frame.

It’s 4-3, Badger.

11:13 am CTShare this update

Up next, No. 1 Hudson vs. No. 8 Badger

Zac Bellman

With Hamilton punching their ticket to the semifinal in our first quarterfinal of the day, our focus shifts to who will join them in Wednesday afternoon’s semifinal. Top-seeded Hudson (19-6) will face No. 8 seed Badger (21-7).

Our starting pitchers today will be Riley Lussmyer for the Badgers and Mark Susa for the Raiders.

10:55 am CTShare this update

Hamilton advances to D1 semifinals with victory over Oak Creek

Mike Sherry

Hamilton has advanced to the Division 1 state semifinals with a 6-1 victory over Oak Creek.

The Knights scored a run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Brady Martin, which scored Nate Schopf after he led off the inning with a single.

Ethan Hibicke and Jacob Osmanski combined to limit Oak Creek to five hits.

Hamilton improves to 22-8 overall, while Oak Creek finishes the season with a 23-6 record.  

10:48 am CTShare this update

Hamilton three outs away from advancing to D1 semifinals

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek mounted its first threat in the top of the sixth inning but came up empty.

The Knights got back-to-back singles to start the inning by Carson Dachel and Brandon Briesemeister.

Jackson Villarreal then struck out and Camden Jeske flew out to center field for the second out. That was the end for Hamilton starting pitcher Ethan Hibicke.

Jacob Osmanski came on in relief and got Brian Simmons on a soft liner to shortstop to end the Oak Creek threat.

Hamilton got a one-out single from Hibicke in the bottom of the sixth inning, but that was it.

The Chargers lead 6-0 heading to the seventh inning.

10:32 am CTShare this update

Hamilton in control with 6-0 lead over Oak Creek

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the top of the fifth inning – the fourth time in five innings.

Hamilton added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Pinch-hitter Kyle Becker led off the inning with a single into shallow center, then Nick Brauhn tripled off the wall in left-center to score Becker. After an out, Blake Guthrie singled through a drawn-in infield to score Brauhn and make it 6-0.

And that’s the score as we head to the sixth inning.

10:17 am CTShare this update

Hamilton adds to lead, holds 4-0 advantage over Oak Creek

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the top of the fourth inning, including a nice sliding catch in foul territory by Hamilton right fielder John Arnold for the third out of the inning.

Chargers pitcher Ethan Hibicke has thrown 50 pitches through four innings.

Hamilton got a double from Nate Glapa to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, and that was the end for Oak Creek starting pitcher Ryan Buchta. Ben Mills came on in relief.

Mills retired Luke Lehnen on a shallow fly ball to right, but Wes Spreng grounded a single between third and shortstop and Glapa advanced to third. Spreng then stole second base.

Ethan Hibicke followed with a soft liner to right field to score Glapa. Spreng slowed down at third, but when the ball was bobbled in right field he continued around to score and give Hamilton a 4-0 lead.

Mills got out of the inning with a 6-4-3 double play.

9:58 am CTShare this update

Hamilton leads 2-0 after three innings in first D1 quarterfinal

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek picked up its first hit of the game in the third inning with a two-out single by No. 9 hitter Brandon Briesemeister, but Jackson Villarreal grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Hamilton got a two-out double off the wall in left field from Nick Brauhn in the bottom of the third, then Luka Tusic hit a grounder up the middle that snuck through into center for a single to score Brauhn and make it 2-0.

The Chargers have six hits through three innings. The Knights have one hit.

9:43 am CTShare this update

Hamilton leads Oak Creek 1-0 after two innings

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the second inning for the second time in a row.

Hamilton got a one-out single to right field from Blake Guthrie in the bottom of the inning, then Nate Glapa dumped a single into left field to put runners on first and second.

Luke Lehnen struck out looking for the second out, but Wes Spreng walked to load the bases for the second inning in a row and bring up cleanup batter Ethan Hibicke.

Hibicke hit a hopper back to the mound that Oak Creek pitcher Ryan Buchta snared with his bare hand, and he tossed to first for the out to get out of the inning.

9:24 am CTShare this update

Hamilton takes 1-0 lead after one inning, but leaves the bases loaded

Mike Sherry

Oak Creek went down in order in the top of the first inning against Hamilton ace Ethan Hibicke, who threw just 8 pitches.

Hamilton then loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame against Oak Creek ace Ryan Buchta. Luke Lehnen walked with one out, Wes Spreng followed with an opposite-field single to left field and Ethan Hibicke walked to load the bases.

John Arnold then lined a single to center on a 1-2 pitch to bring home the game’s first run and leave the bases loaded.

Brady York struck out looking for the second out, then pinch-hitter Nick Brauhn also struck out looking for the final out.

Buchta threw 31 pitches in the inning.

9:05 am CTShare this update

We’re underway at Fox Cities Stadium with the first D1 quarterfinal game

Mike Sherry

The WIAA state baseball tournament is underway.

Sussex Hamilton is the home team and has taken the field. Ethan Hibicke is on the mound for Hamilton.

The crowd is a little sparse for this first D1 quarterfinal game. Hamilton fans outnumber Oak Creek fans and have been making more noise.

It’s mostly cloudy with a little bit of sun poking through.