The Tomahawk American Legion Post 93 boys made their eight-team Nekoosa regional much more difficult with an opener loss, but worked all the way back to Sunday’s championship game with four consecutive victories before getting edged out by their hosts in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Thus Post 93 closed out a dream season just one run away from the state tournament. Tomahawk finished with a 22-5 record that included a 13-game win streak to start.
“Battling back to the finals after losing the first game surprised a lot of people, but we knew we could do it,” Tomahawk manager Wes Roessler said. “It was a great year for the team. They should be very proud of their record, the way they grew as a team and as individuals.”
The Cubs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning of the finals, but solo scores in the next two frames tied it and Nekoosa pulled ahead 4-2 in the sixth. With two outs and two strikes, Jordan Roessler hit a two-run single up the middle to tie it. After Jared Jarvensivu was hit by a pitch, the left fielder tracked down Kevin Bolder’s fly ball to deep left center that would have scored both runners. Nekoosa came back to tally the tournament winner in the bottom of the seventh.
“This was a hard fought game by both teams,” Roessler said. “Jordan Shilts pitched a great game for us and kept the Nekoosa hitters off balance. We had some nice at-bats but weren’t able to open it up.
“At this stage of the playoffs, all aspects of the game need to be flawless and they weren’t for us in this game. The regional tournament was a lot of travel for the guys, but we had a ton of laughs and good times. This is a great group of guys.
“We will miss Jon (Nyberg) and Trevor (Iwen) as they move on to college. They were key parts of the team and great leaders. We wish them luck in the future.”
Fletcher Schoone (3-3), Roessler (2-4, 2 RBI), Jarvensivu (1-3, 2B), Bolder (1-4, 2 RBI) led Post 93 to 8 hits. Shilts (1 H, 1 W, 1 K, 1 R, 0 ER in 4 I) started, and Schoone (2 H, 2 W, 1 K, 3 R, 3 ER in 1-1/3 I) and Jarvensivu (2 H, 1 R, 1 ER in 1 I) relieved.
Payback
Post 93 had lost the opener to Marathon, but eliminated the squad in Sunday’s loser’s bracket final by a 7-3 tally.
“Marathon is a very good team,” Roessler said. “We were able to take an early lead and never give it up. Marathon kept battling back but we were able to answer.
“Kevin pitched a good game on short rest and Fletcher did a nice job to close it out.”
Tomahawk scored twice in the first, fourth and fifth innings for a 6-2 lead, and matching runs in the sixth left the Cubs on top.
Schoone drove in 2 runs as Tomahawk had 5 hits, 6 walks and 4 stolen bases. Bolder (5 H, 2 W, 8 K, 3 R, 2 ER in 6 I) won and Schoone (1 H, 1 K in 1 I) capped it.
Turnabout
A seven-run second backed up with treys the next two innings ended Saturday’s game with Mosinee early at 13-1.
“Our bats came to life tonight,” Roessler said. “We were able to jump out to a big early lead that was difficult for Mosinee to overcome.
“Jared pitched a very good game and the Mosinee hitters could not figure him out.
“This was a nice way to bounce back from the last time we played them. It was another solid performance by the whole team.”
Bolder (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Aaron Schoone (2-3, 2 R), Iwen (1-4, 3 RBI), Jarvensivu (1-2, 3 R), Jacob Saielny (1-1, 2B), Roessler (1-3, 2B) helped Post 93 to 12 hits and 5 walks.
Jarvensivu (3 H, 2 W, 4 K, 1 R, 0 ER in 5 I) won.
Making do
Tomahawk managed six hits and three walks, but turned them into a 7-2 triumph over Wittenberg on Friday.
“This is a classic example of a game where we took advantage of what they give us,” Roessler said. “We didn’t hit the ball all that great, but they made several mistakes in the field.
“Fletcher pitched a nice game and our defense was solid.”
Tomahawk led 3-2 after the third, but took control with pairs of runs in the fifth and sixth.
Bolder (3-3, 2B, 2 RBI) led the Cubs to 6 hits and 3 walks. F. Schoone (5 H, 1 W, 7 K, 2 R, 2 ER in 7 I) worked the win.
Rippin’ good
The Cubs faced elimination on Thursday and instead started their run with an 8-1 triumph over Ripon.
“This was a really nice bounce back win for the team,” Roessler said. “We hit the ball better and did not make the mistakes in the field that we did (Wednesday) night. We were able to jump out to a big lead early and that helped to take the Ripon batters out of the game.
“Our pitching did a nice job tonight with Kevin’s start and Jordan Shilts’ close out. It was a solid team performance.”
Post 93 worked 5-0 and 8-0 leads in the first two innings, then blanked Ripon until the seventh. Jarvensivu (2-4, 2 R, 2B), Lorne Ahrens (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI), Bolder (2-3) helped Tomahawk attack with 9 hits, 3 walks and 4 stolen bases.
Bolder (1 H, 3 W, 12 K, 0 R in 5 I) won and Schilts (1 H, 1 W, 1 K, 1 R, 0 ER in 2 I) closed it out.
Stubbed toe
The Cubs assured themselves of the long road with Wednesday’s 4-0 tourney-opening loss to Marathon.
“This was not a typical game for our squad,” Roessler said. “We were flat in the field and made errors that we normally don’t. We were able to get guys on, but not push them home. It was not the way we planned to start the regionals but this is a team that can battle back.”
Marathon scored once in the first and three times in the third for the win. Tomahawk had 7 hits including solid days from Bolder (2-4, 2B) and Iwen (2-3) but couldn’t do anything with them. Nine strikeouts didn’t help.
Nyberg (7 H, 4 W, 7 K, 4 R, 3 ER in 7 I) took the loss.