Top-seeded Ellsworth, Prescott survive scares to reach regional finals
Ellsworth and Prescott's high school baseball teams may well have been top seeds in their respective regional tournament brackets. But both squads had to survive spirited opposition from their opponents in semifinal action Tuesday.
- Ellsworth's Jake Betthauser
- Prescott's Derrick Munsen
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Ellsworth and Prescott's high school baseball teams may well have been top seeds in their respective regional tournament brackets. But both squads had to survive spirited opposition from their opponents in semifinal action Tuesday.
Ellsworth went extra innings to get past Durand 5-4 at Brown Field in Hager City while No. 1 ranked Prescott rallied back from a 4-0 deficit to beat Eau Claire Regis 9-4 at Firehall Field in Prescott.
Ellsworth’s Brady Schroeder delivered a big-game performance when the Panthers needed it most. The winning pitcher went the full nine innings and struck out 17 hitters. He also tied the game in the seventh with a RBI-sacrifice to score Dennis Schutz.
Schutz, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, scored the game-winning run in the ninth after hitting a lead-off triple and advancing home off a throwing error. Durand (8-16) misplayed the relay throw on Schutz’s triple and the ball sailed into its dugout to allow Schutz to score.
Ellsworth (16-5) trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning and had two outs and nobody on when Schutz drew a walk. Schutz stole second base and Schroeder delivered the hit to extend the game.
Ellsworth will face second-seeded Altoona (20-6) Wednesday in Hager City at 5 p.m. for an opportunity to move on to the sectionals in Barron. The winner of Wednesday’s game will play June 5 at Barron against the winner of West Salem and Nekoosa. Altoona defeated St. Croix Central 10-0 in five innings Tuesday to advance.
Prescott meanwhile turned around a 4-0 deficit by plating two runs in the third, three in the fourth and four runs in the fifth.
Jake Hintz's three-run homer despite the wind and deep Firehall Field fences was the spark PHS needed to turn the game around. PHS had only six hits in the game but most of them were for extra bases. Mike Brookshaw, Mike Lytle and Derrick Munsen each hit doubles and Munsen drove in two runs himself.
Connor Loutsch didn't start the game but he pitched most of it and got the win. He tossed a three-hitter and struck out two.
Prescott hosts No. 3 seed Elk Mound this afternoon at 5 p.m. at Firehall Field. The Mounders upset No. 2 ranked and second seeded Boyceville 4-3 in Boyceville. The winner goes on to the sectional next Tuesday in Cumberland.
Tags: prep baseball, sports, prep, ellsworth, prescott
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