Arrowhead rallies past Marquette for state title

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Dennis Semrau
Wissports.net

STEVENS POINT -- Karl Sprung stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Arrowhead catcher and cleanup hitter looked down to third base for a sign from head coach Tim O'Driscoll.

One of the team leaders in runs batted in for the season, Sprung knew what he had to do.

"I just looked at coach and said, 'It's done.' I struck out the time before but not this time," said Sprung, who ripped a liner to deep center field to score Andrew Bauer from third base and rally the Warhawks to a 5-4 victory over Marquette for the WIAA State Summer Baseball Championship.

"We had good speed on third and with one out, all I had to do was get the ball in the air in the outfield. When I hit it, it felt good."

The defending state champion, Marquette (21-21) had taken a 4-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Mike Monfre led off for Marquette and reached on an infield single up the middle. Joe Cannon followed with a sacrifice bunt that Arrowhead pitcher Matt Burke threw away to move Monfre to third and Cannon to second.

Monfre then scored on Arnie Leinfelder's sacrifice fly to left field, which gave Marquette a 2-1 lead. One out later, Hilltoppers first baseman Nolan Peterson blasted a two-run homer over the left-field fence to stake Marquette to a 4-1 lead.

It was Peterson's fourth straight hit in the game and seventh consecutive hit on Friday. He finished the day 7-for-7 with a pair of two-run homers, a walk and a sacrifice spanning the semifinal and championship games.

"I honestly thought it was over," Sprung said after watching Peterson's blast clear the left field fence. "I knew we had fight. But with a team as good as Marquette, when they got up by three it's over."
 
Marquette coach Jim Wilkinson said he was proud of how the Hilltoppers played despite the heartbreaking defeat.

"Peterson was tremendous. That was great to see. It's nice he's coming back," Wilkinson said of the 6-foot sophomore right-hander, who pitched five innings and got the win in the semifinals.

"But I'm so proud of these guys. We had an up and down season. But we became a team these last two weeks. What more can you ask? The game result may or may not go your way. But they were tremendous. We put it together. I'm so proud of the way we played."

Arrowhead, though, refused to quit.

"These kids will not give in. They will not give in to anybody," O'Driscoll said after getting hugs from his friends and family, including Paul VandenHeuvel, who was a catcher on Arrowhead's last state championship team in 1979. "This is the closest team i've had and its' been 35 years. But they never doubted they could do this."

Matt Mayoras got the rally started when he drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning for Arrowhead. Josh Henkel was hit by a pitch and designated hitter David Miller followed with a walk to load the bases.

After Chris Pendergast was called out on strikes, Andrew Bauer then hit a grounder to shortstop Sam Beres. But second baseman Joe Cannon dropped a toss from Beres for an error. That scored Mayoras and brought Arrowhead within 4-2. Brian Crook followed with a two-run single to left field to tie the score at 4-4.

"Some of us were down, some of us were up. But coach wouldn't let us get down that's for sure," Crook said. "He said, 'Listen, we've been here before.' He was right. We came through and got the win.

After Crook's single, a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. Sprung promptly lined the game-winner to center to set off an emotional celebration. That included a mad dash to the nearby Wisconsin River for a quick dip.

"He's been our RBI leader all year. There's nobody I'd rather have up there then Karl," O'Driscoll said. "He gave me the look and I knew he would do it. At first I thought it might be caught but then the ball soared over the center fielder's head. He smoked that sucker."

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Dennis Semrau
Wissports.net

WIAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -- MARQUETTE (21-20) VS. ARROWHEAD (33-5)

FINAL -- Arrowhead 5, Milwaukee Marquette 4

WP -- Matt Burke, LP -- Collin Weyer.

It is Arrowhead's first state title since 1979. Marquette was the defending state champion and had beaten Arrowhead for the title in 2006.

Arrowhead Quick Quotes:
"Some of us were down, some of us were up. But coach wouldn't let us get down that's for sure," Brian Crook said. "He said, 'Listen, we've been here before.' He was right. We came through and got the win.

"I honestly thought it was over," Karl Sprung said after Marquette claimed a 4-1 in the top of the seventh inning. "I knew we had fight. But with a team as good as Marquette, when they got up by three it's over."
 
8:17 p.m. -- After Crook's single, a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. Cleanup hitter Karl Sprung promptly lined the game-winner to center to set off an emotional celebration.

8:12 p.m. -- After Chris Pendergast was called out on strikes, Andrew Bauer then hit a grounder to shortstop Sam Beres. But second baseman Joe Cannon dropped a toss from Beres for an error. That scored Mayoras and brought Arrowhead within 4-2. Brian Crook followed with a two-run single to left field to tie the score at 4-4.

8:10 p.m. -- Arrowhead is doing its best to make Marquette earn its second straight state title. Matt Mayoras drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning for the Hilltoppers. Josh Henkel was hit by a pitch and designated hitter David Miller followed with a walk to load the bases.

7:58 p.m. -- Hilltoppers first baseman Nolan Peterson blasted a two-run homer over the left-field fence to stake Marquette to a 4-1 lead. It was Peterson's fourth straight hit in the game and seventh consecutive hit on Friday. He finished the day 7-for-7 with a pair of two-run homers, a walk and a sacrifice spanning the semifinal and championship games.

SEVENTH INNING -- Mike Monfre led off for Marquette and reached on an infield single up the middle.

7:47 p.m. -- Joe Cannon followed with a sacrifice bunt that Arrowhead pitcher Matt Burke threw away to move Monfre to third and Cannon to second.

Monfre then scored on Arnie Leinfelder's sacrifice fly to left field, which gave Marquette a 2-1 lead.

SIXTH INNING -- Matt Burke retires Marquette in order. He has allowed one hit and no walks in two innings of reielf.

Andrew Bauer leads off for Arrowhead, which has put the lead-off hitter on the last three innings but managed to score only one run. Bauer popped out to the third baseman but Brian Crook reached on a throwing error by pitcher Collin Weyer. After Crook stole second, cleanup hitter Karl Sprung was walked intentionally. But Weyer struck out Connor Harmann and retired Ryan passaglia on a ground ball to second base.

After sixth inning: Marquette 1, Arrowhead 1. 

7:32 p.m. -- The lights have been turned out at the park as dusk is beginning to settle in.

FIFTH INNING -- Nolan Peterson hit a two-out single for Marquette, his third straight hit this game and sixth hit today. He is 6-for-6 with a walk and a sacrifice spanning the semifinal and championship games. But Arrowhead reliever Matt Burke, who took over for Andrew Bauer to start the inning, retired Ryan Grad on a ground ball back the mound.

Matt Mayoras drew a walk to open the Arrowhead fifth. After moving to second on a wild pitch, Mayoras advanced to third on a sacrifice by John Henkel. David Miller then walked and was lifted for pinch runner Tony Mueller, who moved to second on a passed ball.

Arrowhead attempted a squeeze bunt but Chris Pendergast missed the pitch and Mayoras was caught in no-man's land and tagged out by catcher Mike Monfre  Collin Weyer, who entered the game in relief of starter Jack Archie to open the inning, then retired Pendergast on a one-hopper to the mound.

After fifth inning: Marquette 1, Arrowhead 1.

FOURTH INNING -- Andrew Bauer retired Marquette in order in the top of the inning.

Brian Crook led off the fourth for Arrowhead with a single to center but was cut down attempting to steal second. Karl Sprung followed with a double into the right-field corner and moved to third when Connor Harmann grounded out to second base. But Jack Archie struck out Ryan Passaglia to end the inning.

After fourth inning: Marquette 1, Arrowhead 1.

THIRD INNING -- Marquette first baseman Nolan Peterson leads off with a single to center, his second straight hit this game and fifth today. He is 5-for-5 with a walk and a sacrifice spanning the semifinal and championship games.

Peterson gives the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead when he moves to seond base on Ryan Grad's infield out and scores on a throwing error by third baseman Chris Pendergast. But Sam Beres takes a called third strike to end the Hilltoppers' inning.

Matt Mayoras leads off the Arrowhead third and rips a double into the left field corner for the Warhawks' first hit of the game. After Josh Henkel popped out to the pitcher, Mayoras advanced to third on a fly ball to left field. Chris Pendergast then came up with a clutch two-out hit with a sharp single to center field to tie the score at 1-1.

After third inning: Marquette 1, Arrowhead 1.

6:47 p.m. -- It's a cool summer evening in Stevens Point with the sun peeking through the clouds. Both Arrowhead and Marquette are playing sound baseball fitting of a championship game. Marquette has one hit and had left three runners on base while Arrowhead has yet to have a baserunner through two innings.

SECOND INNING -- Luke Acker draws a lead-off walk and moves to second on a sacrifice but is stranded when Arrowhead pitcher Andrew Bauer retires Joe Cannon on a fly ball and Arnie leinfeldr on a liner to second base.

Jack Archie needed just seven pitches to retire Arrowhead in order. In retiring the first six Warhawks batters in order, he has only tossed 18 pitches.

After second inning: Marquette 0, Arrowhead 0.

FIRST INNING -- First pitch is at 6:20 and it's a ball. Marquette lead-off hitter Ryan McShane then bounces out to the second baseman and we're rolling. Nolan Peterson follows with a single to right field for the first hit of the game.  He continues his hot hitting today after going -3-for-3 with a run scored and four RBI, including a two-run home run, in the Hilltoppers' 12-3 win over Franklin in the semifinals.

6:26 p.m. -- Peterson steals second with two outs and Jack Archie draws a walk. Sam Beres hits a one-hop smash up the middle which pitcher Andrew Bauer flags down and throws Sam Beres out at first to end the threat.

Arrowhead goes down in order in the first.

After first inning: Marquette 0, Arrowhead 0.


****

Arrowhead (33-5) will meet defending champion Marquette (21-20) in the championship game with the first pitch scheduled for 6:15 p.m. at Bukolt Park in Stevens Point.  This is a rematch of the 2006 title game won by Marquette 5-3.

Arrowhead defeated Marquette in an early-season meeting this spring 8-4. Arrowhead is riding an eight-game winning streak, while Marquette has won its last five games in a row.

Most cloud skies with temps in the upper 60s predicted for this evening.

A delayed broadast of the championship game will be aired on FSN Wisconsin on Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. Check local cable listings for the channel in your area.

Marquette won its second title a year ago when it routed Kettle Moraine 12-1 in the championship game. The Hilltoppers scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to break open a 2-1 contest.  Jack Archie and Luke Acker each had three hits in the game for Marquette.

Wednesday's quarterfinal results
Franklin 2, Homestead 1
Marquette 10, West Salem 0 (5 innings)
Arrowhead 6, West Bend West 4 (8 innings)
Muskego 12, New Holstein (5 innings)

Friday's semifinal results
Marquette 12, Franklin 3.
Arrowhead 14, Muskego 10

Following are tonight's starting lineups:

Milwaukee Marquette (21-20)
Ryan McShane, 3B
Nolan Peterson, 1B
Ryan Grad, LF
Jack Archie, P
Sam Beres, SS
Luke Acker, CF
Mike Monfre, C
Joe Cannon, 2B
Arnie Leinfelder, RF
 
Arrowhead (32-5)
Chris Pendergast, 3B
Andrew Bauer, P
Brian Crook, 1B
Karl Sprung, C
Connor Harmann, RF
Ryan Passaglia, LF
Matt Mayoras, 2B
Josh Henkel, CF
David Miller, DH
-- Paul Kaye, SS

Marquette is the defending state champ and returns to the tournament for the fifth consecutive time and seventh overall. The Hilltoppers also won state in 2006, advanced to the semifinals in 2007 and were runner-up in 1999. Marquette won its second title a year ago when it routed Kettle Moraine in the championship game, 12-1. The Hilltoppers scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to break open a tight, 2-1 lead. They finished fourth in the Greater Metro Conference and advanced to state by edging New Berlin Eisenhower 8-7 in 10 innings.

Arrowhead is back at State for the seventh time and for the first time since the Warhawks finished runner-up in 2006. The Warhawks won the State title in 1979 and have additional runner-up finishes in 1973 and 1975. Arrowhead won the Classic Eight Conference title and advanced to state after winning the Germantown Sectional with a 10-0, six-inning victory over Brookfield East.

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Dennis Semrau
Wissports.net

WIAA STATE SEMIFINALS GAME TWO -- ARROWHEAD (32-5) VS. MUSKEGO (24-9)

FINAL  -- Arrowhead 14, Muskego 10.

WP -- Mortensen, LP -- Adam Schulz

Time of game: 2:38.

Arrowhead (33-5) will meet defending champion Marquette (21-20) in the championship game to follow.

SEVENTH INNING -- Muskego just refuses to quit. The Warriors are down to their last at bat and hNick McCormack and Mike Robinson drew back-to-back walks to open the inning. Arrowhead coach Tim O'Driscoll brought in reliever Paul Kaye and Kevin Schoenbach doubled to center to make the score 14-9. After Wes Smith singled to left, Andrew Bauer came in to relieve Kaye.

Bauer struck out Sam Hammer before walking Adam Schulz to load the bases. Schoenback scored on an infield out before Bauer got Matt Petritis to fly out to center for the final out.


SIXTH INNING -- Muskego's Kyle Pachowitz reached base on an infield hit and moved to second on a throwing error by thrid baseman Chris Pendergast with two outs. Pachowitz then stole third and scored on a wild pitch on ball four to Matt Petritis to trim Muskego's deficit to 13-7..

Brian Crook is a helluva RB for Arrowhead in football but he's a stellar baseball player, too. His second hit of the day, a single that drove in David Miller, has given the Warhawks a 14-7 lead.

After six innings; Arrowhead 14, Muskego 7.
 
4:25 p.m. -- Any hopes of starting the championship game at 4:30 p.m. have been dashed by a pair of long semifinal games today. The first game, which Marquette won 12-3 over Franklin, lasted 2 hours, 25 minutes. We have also passed the 2-hour barrier for game two, which began at 2:19 p.m..

FIFTH INNING -- After Muskego escaped the mercy rule four runs in the top of the inning, Arrowhead threatened to put the game away in its at bat. Andrew Bauer led off and was hit by a pitch, Karl Sprung walked and Ryan Passaglia had an RBI single to give Arrowhead a 13-6 lead.

Matt Mayoras then walked to load the bases but Josh Henkel struck out to end the inning.

After five innings: Arrowhead 13, Muskego 6.

4 p.m. -- We had the 10-run mercy rule within our grasp in the top of the fifth inning. But Arrowhead let it slip away. Sam Hammer and Adam Schulz drew back-to-back walks for Muskego to open the inning. One out later, Matt Petritis singled to left to score Hammer. After T.J. Anderson reached base on a fielder's choice, Nick McCormack followed with an RBI single and Mike Robinson with a two-run single to trim the Warriors' deficit to 12-6.

FOURTH INNING -- Muskego went down in order in the fourth before Arrowhead broke it open with a seven-run outburst.

Connor Harmann had an RBI double and Ryan Passaglia added a two-run double for an 8-3 lead. DH David Miller then just ripped a grand slam to give the Warhawks a 12-2 lead.

After four innings: Arrowhead 12, Muskego 2.

THIRD INNING -- Connor Harmann had an RBI double and Ryan Passaglia added a two-run double in the fourth inning to give Arrowhead an 8-3 lead..

3:07 p.m. -- Arrowhead has jumped back out in front 4-2. The Warhawks opened the inning with a lead-off homer by Andrew Bauer, his first bomb of the season. Brian Crook followed with an infield single, stole second and scored on Karl Sprung's second RBI single of the game. Arrowh ead's Josh Henkel was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 5-2

After three innings: Arrowhead 5, Muskego 2.

3 p.m. -- A few wireless problems have been corrected. We are in the bottom of the third inning with the score tied at 2-2. Here's a recap of what's happened so far:

FIRST INNING -- Muskego went down in order in the first inning. First pitch was at 2:19.

Arrowhead struck first in its first at bat. Lead-off hitter Chris Pendergast singled to shortstop, stole second and scored on Karl Sprung's single to center field.

SECOND INNING -- Muskego bounced right back to take a 2-1 lead. Mike Robinson hit a solo home run to left center. He hit a grand slam Thursday in his first at bat to help Muskego beat New Holstein .

Two batters later, Wes Smith blasted a solo home run also to left field to give Muskego a 21 lead.

Arrowhead tied the score at 2-2 when Ryan Passaglia led off with a single, stole second and scored on Josh Henkel's double to center field.

After two innings: Muskego 2, Arrowhead 2.

Wednesday's quarterfinal results
Franklin 2, Homestead 1
Marquette 10, West Salem 0 (5 innings)
Arrowhead 6, West Bend West 4 (8 innings)
Muskego 12, New Holstein (5 innings)

Friday's semifinals
Marquette 12, Franklin 3.

The championship game will start approximately 45 minutes after the second semifinal.
 
STEVENS POINT -- Good Afternoon from Bukolt Park. We are nearly 20 minutes away from the second of two semifinal games at the 45th annual WIAA summer state baseball tournament. Muskego (24-9) will meet Arrowhead (32-5) at about 2:15 p.m.

The winner will face defending state champion Milwaukee Marquette (21-20), a 12-3 winner over Franklin in this morning's other semifinal game.

Following are the starting lineups:

Muskego (24-9)
Matt Petritis, CF
T.J. Anderson, SS
Nick McCormack, C
Mike Robinson, 1B
Kevin Schoenbach, 3B
Wes Smith, DH
Sam Hammerz, RF
Adam Schulz, P
Kyle Pachowitz, LF
-- Nick Stoltz, 2B
 
Arrowhead (32-5)
Chris Pendergast, 3B
Andrew Bauer, SS
Brian Crook, 1B
Karl Sprung, C
Connor Harmann, RF
Ryan Passaglia, LF
Matt Mayoras, 2B
Josh Henkel, CF
David Miller, DH
-- Justin Mortensen, P


Muskego is making its fourth state tournament appearance and first since 2002 when the Warriors' finished as runner-up. Muskego entered the playoffs having lost four of its last five games, and won both sectional games in extra innings. It took Muskego 10 innings to beat Whitnall 15-13 and win the Waukesha West Sectional. The Warriors were the co-champions in the Greater Metro Conference this season..


Arrowhead is back at State for the seventh time and for the first time since the Warhawks finished runner-up in 2006. The Warhawks won the State title in 1979 and have additional runner-up finishes in 1973 and 1975. Arrowhead won the Classic Eight Conference title and advanced to state after winning the Germantown Sectional with a 10-0, six-inning victory over Brookfield East.
 

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Dennis Semrau
Wissports.net

SEMIFINALS GAME ONE -- MARQUETTE (20-20) vs. FRANKLIN (25-13)

Both teams have combined to leave 20 runners on base: Marquette 10 and Franklin 10.

Marquette scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning, two on a throwing error with two outs which set the stage for Peterson's two-run home run to left-center field.

After six innings: Marquette 11, Franklin 3.

FIFTH INNING -- Marquette got a pair of singles from Nolan Peterson and Jack Archie but failed to score. In the Franklin half of the inning, the Sabers pulled within 7-3 on Jay Dirienzo's lead-off walk, an infield single by Evan Walton, a wild pitch and Ian Schilt's ground ball to second base.

After five innings: Marquette 7, Franklin 3.

FOURTH INNING -- Sam Beres hit a lead-off single to left and eventually scored on Joe Cannon's single to left to increase Marquette's lead to 7-2.

Ryan Dalton opened the Sabers inning with a single but was stranded as Marquette starter Nolan Peterson retired the next three batters in order.

After four innings: Marquette 7, Franklin 2.

THIRD INNING -- Marquette used a five-run outburst to rally for a 6-2 lead. Sam Beres opened the inning with a double and moved to third when Luke Acker reached base on a sacrifice bunt attempt and catcher Ryan Dalton's throw to third base was too late to get an out. After Mike Monfre's sacrifice fly to center field scored Beres to tie the game at 2-2, the Hilltoppers got four straight hits to chase Franklin reliever Jacob Mahnke.

Joe Cannon's RBI single made it 3-2. Adm Leinfelder then singled and Ryan McShane followed with an RBI double to left. Nolan Peterson's two-run single caoped the rally and gave Marquette a 6-2 lead.

Franklin was then retired in order, the first 1-2-3 inning of the game, on three ground balls to Marquette second baseman Joe Cannon.

After three innings: Marquette 6, Franklin 2.

11:58 a.m. -- We're headed for a 3-hour plus game. Through two innings, there have been 11 runners left on base -- six for Marquette and five for Franklin.

SECOND INNING -- Marquette pulled within 2-1 on Arnie Leinfelder's RBI-double. The Hilltoppers
chased starter Ian Schiltz, who walked four batters in 1 1/3 innings. Reliever Jacob Mahnke walked the first batter he faced. But he retired Ryan Grad on a popup and got Jack Archie to ground into a force out to leave the bases loaded.

Franklin started a rally with two outs when Lance Baretz was hit by a pitch and stole second base and then Jay Dirienzo was walked intentionally. But Evan Walton grounded out to third base to end the inning.

After two innings: Franklin 2, Marquette 1.

FIRST INNING -- Following McShane's lead-off single and a sacrifice, Ryan Grad and Sam Beres drew a pair of walks sandwiched around a long fly ball to right by Marquette clean-up hitter Jack Archie. With the bases loaded and two outs, Franklin pitcher Ian Schiltz induced Luke Acker to ground out to the second baseman to end the scoring threat.

Franklin scored a pair of runs with two outs to take a 2-0 lead. Jay Dirienzo doubled to left field and Evan Walton drew a walk. Adam Kaniewski and Ian Schiltz followed with back-to-back RBI singles. Eric Charbonneau walked but Ryan Dalton bounced into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

After first inning: Franklin 2, Marquette 0.

****

We're underway at 11:01 a.m. and the first pitch is ball one. Sophomore right-hander Nolan Peterson is the starting pitcher for Marquette, while senior right-hander Ian Schiltz is on the mound for Franklin.

Marquette lead-off hitter Ryan McShane gets things started with a line drive single to left field on a 3-2 count. 

Wednesday's quarterfinal results
Franklin 2, Homestead 1
Marquette 10, West Salem 0 (5 innings)
Arrowhead 6, West Bend West 4 (8 innings)
Muskego 12, New Holstein (5 innings)

Friday's semifinals
Franklin (25-13) vs. Marquette (20-20), 11:05 a.m.
Arrowhead (32-5) vs. Muskego (24-9), to follow

The championship game is set for a 4:35 p.m. start.

Welcome from Stevens Point!

It is 65 degrees under mostly sunny skies, a beautiful day for baseball.

Following a one-day delay due to rain, the 45th annual WIAA summer baseball state tournament resumes with the first of two semifinal games at Bukolt Park. The first pitch is about 20 minutes away with the lineups being announced for Marquette (20-20) vs. Franklin (25-13).

Milwaukee Marquette (20-20)
Ryan McShane, 3B
Nolan Peterson, P
Ryan Grad, LF
Jack Archie, 1B
Sam Beres, SS
Luke Acker, CF
Mike Monfre, C
Joe Cannon, 2B
Arnie Leinfelder, RF
 
Franklin (25-13)
Trevor Thiessen, SS
Lance Baretz, CF
Jay Dirienzo, RF
Evan Walton, LF
Adam Kaniewski, 2B
Ian Schiltz, P
Eric Charbonneau, DH
Ryan Dalton, C
Ryan Geil, 1B
-- Brandon Wiedenfeld, 3B

Marquette is the defending state champ and returns to the tournament for the fifth consecutive time and seventh overall. The Hilltoppers also won state in 2006, advanced to the semifinals in 2007 and were runner-up in 1999.[font=""times new roman""] Marquette won its second title a year ago when it routed Kettle Moraine in the championship game, 12-1. The Hilltoppers scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to break open a tight, 2-1 lead. They finished fourth in the Greater Metro Conference and advanced to state by edging New Berlin Eisenhower 8-7 in 10 innings.

Franklin is making its second state appearance in the last three years and its seventh overall. The Sabers finished runner-up in 2000. They reached the State Tournament with a 5-4 victory over Oak Creek in the South Milwaukee Sectional final. The Sabers placed third in the Southern Division of the Greater Metro Conference this season.

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Dennis Semrau
Wissports.net

STEVENS POINT -- Raindrops keep falling our heads but more importantly on the baseball diamond at Bukolt Park, too.

So both semifinal games as well as the state championship game of the 45th annual WIAA state summer baseball tournament at Bukolt Park have been postponed until Friday.

Paul Mirman, the on-site coordinator for the WIAA state summer baseball tournament, confirmed that play will resume Friday beginning at 11 a.m. with Franklin meeting Marquette in the first semifinal. Arrowhead will face Muskego in the other semifinal to follow.

Steady rain overnight and intermittent shows Thursday morning and early afternoon forced the postponement.

WIAA and tournament officials discussed moving at least one semifinal game to the UW-Stevens Point facility, which has a FieldTurf surface in the infield. But WIAA tournament manager Wade Labecki said the field wasn't ready to host a tournament game.

The championship game, which was originally scheduled for Thursday at 3:35 p.m., most likely will be pushed back at least an hour on Friday, too.

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