Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

By DENNIS SEMRAU 

Wissports.net 

  

GRAND CHUTE – Aquinas pitcher Max Gierszewski made such his return trip to the WIAA state baseball tournament was a good one Wednesday afternoon. 

  

Gierszewski scattered six hits in going the distance and had a run-scoring hit to lead Aquinas to a 6-2 victory over Winnebago Lutheran Academy in a Division 3 state semifinal game at Fox Cities Stadium. 

 

"This feels really good. Last year, we couldn t quite get it done," said Gierszewski, referring to the Blugolds 7-6 loss to eventual state runner-up Marathon in the 2009 state semifinals. "But this year we came with the same mentality of playing two games. 

 

"To be able to pitch the whole game was awesome for me and it also gives us some momentum that hopefully will carry over to tomorrow." 

 

Aquinas (23-7) will play the winner of the Marathon vs. Elk Mound semifinal in the Division 3 state championship game at Fox Cities Stadium Thursday at noon.

 

Jim Coady drew a lead-off walk in the Aquinas third and came around to score on a two-base wild pitch and a Nic Barnes sacrifice fly to center field. 

 

Zach Kammel then added an RBI single and later scored on a dropped fly ball to stake Aquinas to a 3-0 lead. 

 

"We talked about if we play from behind, we kind of struggle mentally to come from behind," Aquinas coach Scott Bagniefski said. "So if we can get ahead early, we seem to play a lot better. There is a comfort level for our guys." 

 

Winnebago Lutheran (19-8), though, crept back within 3-2 in its half of the third inning. 

 

Kevin Seibel blooped a single to right, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Brandon Jacobs' sacrifice fly to right. Cody Jackson, who walked, later scored on a passed ball. 

 

"When we answered with two runs in the bottom of the third, I liked where we were," Vikings coach Mike Seibel said. "I felt we were in a good spot." 

 

However, Jordan Schreiner walked to lead off the Aquinas fourth and scored on Andy Vegel's single to center to increase the Blugolds lead to 4-2. 

 

"We got a couple of clutch hits and we were scrapping all day long, just trying to get a lead-off runner on and hoping someone would come through," Bagniefski said. "We just hung in there." 

 

Aquinas put the game away in the seventh. Vegel doubled to left field and moved to third on a bunt single by Barnes. After Gabe Gale pinch ran for Barnes, Andy Fuchs walked to load the bases. 

 

After Vegel was forced out at home on a fielder s choice, Gale scored when Max Gierszewski reached base on a single on a squeeze attempt. Ethan Jerue followed with an RBI single to end the scoring. 

 

"I said going in that we needed to get to five (runs)," Seibel said. "That wouldn t have done it anyways. But they shut us down to two. Nobody s down that all year on us." 

  

  

Aquinas 6, Winnebago Lutheran 2 

 

La Crosse Aquinas           0 0 3 1 0 0 2 – 6 7 0 

Winnebago Lutheran       0 0 2 0 0 0 0 – 2 6 2 

  

Pitchers (ip-h-er-bb-so) – M. Gierszewski (W, 7-6-1-2-5). Skaer (L, 6.1-7-5-8-3), Zahn (2/3-0-0-0-0). 

 

Leading hitters: A – Vegel 2x3, Jerue 2x4.