Lake Country This Month
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SPORTS Page 8A • FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY AUGUST 2013 PREP BASEBALL SECTIONAL Lasers gain trip to state tournament Baseball team shuts out sectional foes, loses in state semifinals By Mark Hutchinson Freeman Staff BROOKFIELD – What's better than a baker's dozen? If you ask the members of the Kettle Moraine High School baseball team, they would tell you 14 donuts – and a trip to the WIAA state tournament. Juniors Matt Melbye, Brady Durni and Austin Wolf combined on a fivehit shutout – their team's second of the day, spanning 14 innings – as the Lasers defeated Pius 3-0 in the Dombrowski Brookfield Central Sectional final to secure their first state tourney berth since 2008 and the third in the Koehn program's history. Wolf, who saved KM's sectional semifinal game with three scoreless innings of pitching, Melbye slammed a two-run home run in the second inning of the sectional final, then returned to the mound and saved Wolf that game as well, getting the last six outs. "What an amazing day for these kids – all those scoreless innings," said KM coach Brian Adamczyk, who was an assistant on the Lasers' staff when they made their last state appearance five years ago. "Among all the other things, watching Austin Wolf bounce back after finishing a tough game was amazing. He got the big home run to put us up and change the game a little bit, then got the call to come back in on the mound." The Lasers lost to eventual state champion New Berlin West 7-6 in an eight-inning state semifinal at Kapco Park in Mequon. "This is crazy," Wolf said after the sectional victory. "This is what we wanted. There were a lot of people shooting us down, but we're here to show people they were wrong. We are the team we always believed we would be." The Lasers, seeded first in the sectional, spent a few hours in air-conditioned comfort following their 2-0 sectional semifinal victory over Brookfield East while second-seeded Pius was battling the 90-degree heat for a 4-2 semifinal victory over third-seeded Wauwatosa West. KM wasted little time gaining the upper hand in the sectional final. Senior center fielder Dom Nabak led off the bottom of the second with a single and took second on an errant throw. Two outs later, Wolf lifted a long drive to right field that left the audience momentarily stunned. Pius right fielder Dominic Kenyon originally extended his right arm in the air and made a circling motion (signaling a home run), then raised both arms (indicating that the ball had bounced over the right-field fence). One of the three umpires signaled a home run, and Pius coach Kevin Kehoss raced out to question the call. The umpires, after conferring, gave the homerun signal again, and the Lasers had a 2-0 lead. "It was an outside curveball," Wolf said. "I was actually trying to hit the "Coach talks about us getting in our groove and playing our pace," Wolf said. "My pace is fast, and I just got up there and did what I did." STEVENS POINT – The Kettle Moraine High School summer baseball team. the Arrowhead boys tennis team and the Lake Country Lutheran spring baseball team were among sportsmanship winners awarded by the WIAA for the 2013 spring and summer state team championship series. Ashland won in girls soccer, while Appleton East was honored in softball. Lake Country Lutheran/University Lake/Trinity received honorable mention in girls soccer. It is the second time Lake Country Lutheran has been a recipient of the Rural Mutual Insurance/ WIAA sportsmanship award. In 2012, the school was honored in girls soccer along with its co-op partner, University Lake School. Kettle Moraine also picked up its second sportsmanship award. The Lasers also received the honor with their co-op program in girls hockey in 2012. It is the first time Arrowhead has been named the recipient of the sportsmanship award in boys tennis, and it is the second time the school has received the award across all sports. In 2004, the school and its fans were recognized in boys volleyball. The sportsmanship award is presented to one school and community in each of the state team tournaments. The award winners are determined by the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by athletes, coaches, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands and spectators. Additional consideration is given for the effort of school administrators and chaperones to ensure support for their teams are positive and that the highest ideals of sportsmanship are upheld. Email: mhutchinson@conleynet.com – Freeman Staff Robert F. Borkowski/Special to The Freeman Members of the Kettle Moraine High School baseball team celebrate a 3-0 victory over Pius in the championship game of the Brookfield Central Sectional, which earned the Lasers a trip to the WIAA state tournament. KM lost 7-6 in eight innings to eventual state champion New Berlin West in a state semifinal game. ball 'oppo' (to left field), but be hung it and I took it yard. I took a hack and it just went. I was like, 'Is it going or is it not?' I just kept running. I just wanted to get home." Adamczyk didn't have the greatest vantage point of the hit from the thirdbase coach's box. "Austin was struggling a little bit at the plate late in the season," Adamczyk said. "So it was huge for him to come up, take a great swing and hit the ball pretty far." Melbye, KM's starting pitcher, scattered three hits over four shutout innings. He escaped a jam in the second when Nabak and senior shortstop Keith Koehn hooked up on an 8-6 double play to end the inning. "Coach showed a lot of confidence in me, and I know I have the defense behind me that will make the plays," Melbye said. "I just tried to throw strikes, make them put it in play and trust the defense behind me. Our whole outfield is very fast, and everyone on our infield is very talented. They not only make the average plays, but the above-average plays." Durni pitched a scoreless fifth before yielding a walk to senior left fielder Vinson Mulvey and a double to junior catcher Tino Bullock to open the sixth. Then Adamczyk summoned Wolf. Wolf walked senior first baseman Sam Matel, but struck out sophomore third baseman Jalen Fischer, then got senior designated hitter Henry Posnanski to hit into a 4-6-3 double play. Robert F. Borkowski/Special to The Freeman Kettle Moraine head coach Brian Adamczyk gets doused by his team after winning a WIAA sectional title. ee! auk Pew Destination SHOP & DINE The premiere personal watercraft, speed boat & luxury pontoon boat rental company in Southeastern WI 233164005 Ask me about Accident forgiveness. With other insurance companies, having an accident can mean your rates rise as much as 40%. But with Allstate's Accident Forgiveness, your rates go up at all just because of an accident. Don't wait! Call me today. Costigan & Associates (262) 695-1600 601 Ryan Street Suite E, Pewaukee jamescostigan@allstate.com Area teams earn WIAA sportsmanship honors (delivered to the lake of your choice) or JOIN THE CLUB to enjoy luxury pontoon boats on Pewaukee or Okauchee Lake all summer long. Visit us at www.goodtimerentalswi.com or call us to discuss your options Feature is optional and subject to terms and conditions. Safe Driving Bonus® won't apply after an accident. 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