CRVL Playoffs Roundup
The playoffs are off and running in the Crow River Valley League. The following is a quick roundup of all postseason games in the CRVL.
Young America 11, Winsted 1
WINSTED – The first game of the Crow River Valley League playoffs for the Winsted Wildcats didn’t go as they hoped. The Young America Cardinals came into the matchup ready to roll as they cruised to an 11-1 victory in seven innings to take Game 1 from the Wildcats Tuesday night.
The Cardinals came out swinging with two runs in the top of the first. They added on even more later, scoring eight runs in the top of the third to take a commanding 10-0 lead over the Wildcats.
While Young America was rolling offensively, Dillon Whittaker was even better on the mound. He retired the first 13 batters he faced on his way to pitching a gem for the Cardinals. In seven innings of work, he allowed just two hits and one unearned run while striking out 10.
Matt Mann went 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI to lead the way for the Cardinals. Young America had eight different players score at least one run in the win.
For Winsted, Jake Prehn and Curtis Herbolsheimer had one hit each. Prehn also scored the lone run of the game for Winsted on an error.
Watertown 20, New Germany 2
WATERTOWN – The Dutchmen had given the Watertown Red Devils all they wanted in the two regular-season meetings, and it looked like Chad Jones and New Germany were going to get back in the game during the mid-innings after a slow start. The game got away from the Dutchmen in the sixth as Watertown posted 15 runs to pull away 21-2 in game one of a best-of-three series in the Crow River Valley League playoffs.
The Red Devils chipped one run across in the first, one in the third, three in the fourth, and one in the fifth to hold a 6-0 lead, but New Germany bounced back after an error and a deep double with two of their own in the top of the sixth. The Dutchmen beat Watertown the first time around and hung with them for a 5-3 loss just last week — there was no reason they couldn’t make some magic again.
But just as the Red Devil defense bent for New Germany, the Dutch pitching fell apart in the bottom of the sixth. Watertown took 13 walks in the game and only a couple of hits pushed runs across in the sixth — the rest were hit batters, walks, or errors on pop flies.
Zach Iten had a perfect game going with two outs in the sixth before New Germany got moving, but he struck out 10 batters in his six frames and gave up just one hit. Jadrien Keavy finished the job in the top of the seventh.
Watertown added 12 hits to their offensive barrage, Patrick Tschida recording two hits, three runs, and four RBI, and Ryan Hangartner driving in three with three hits as well.
New Germany got a double from Chad Jones for the only New Germany hit. Jones also tossed five and two-thirds innings giving up eight hits and six earned runs.
Carver 17, St. Boni 7
COLOGNE – Dan Gastuch was the hero for the Carver Black Sox as the St. Boni Saints gave them all they could handle early on. A three-run home run from Gastuch in the bottom of the eighth got the Black Sox a 17-7 win as they took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Carver had the extra-base hits rolling early as four of their six hits were doubles. That helped them take a 6-0 lead over the Saints heading to the third inning.
St. Boni didn’t go away easily. Down 7-0, Tommy Mahota blasted a three-run home run in part of a five-run inning for the Saints to get back in the game.
There was no panic for the Black Sox as they responded with six runs in the bottom of the fifth to take back control of the game.
Cologne 5, Green Isle 4
GREEN ISLE – It’s been a tough season for Cologne’s Kyle Brazil so far. When his team needed him most in Game 1 against the Green Isle Irish, he delivered.
A two-run home run in the top of the first followed by an RBI double later in the game proved to be big as the Cologne Hollanders picked up a 5-4 win in the first game of the series.
Jayce Luna and Torben Urdahl helped keep the Irish in check on the mound for the Hollanders. They held Green Isle to eight hits while striking out six.
After a tough start, Green Isle’s Pat Regan stepped up for the Irish. He went six and a third innings, allowing four earned runs off of six hits while striking out five.
The Irish found themselves down 3-0 after an inning but chipped away later on. Two runs in the bottom of the fifth closed the gap to one, but Cologne responded with one run of their own to increase their lead to 4-2.
Green Isle would answer back immediately with two runs in the bottom half, and the game was tied at four heading to the seventh.
In the top of the seventh, Cologne answered back once again. Kyle Twait led off the inning with a single. After a sacrifice bunt and a pair of wild pitches, Twait scored the go-ahead run for the Hollanders which proved to be the winning run.
Hamburg 4, Mayer 3
YOUNG AMERICA – In one of the premier pitching matchups (Spencer Nelson and Will LaLonde) in the first round, both teams battled hard in Game 1 between the Mayer Blazers and Hamburg Hawks. It was the Hawks who jumped out to an early lead and held on late to take a 1-0 series lead with a 4-3 win over the Blazers.
The Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Mayer wouldn’t go away easily. One run in the bottom of the fourth cut the deficit to just two.
After Hamburg extended their lead to three in the top of the eighth, Mayer answered with two runs in the bottom half.
Josh Anthony retired the Hawks in order in the top of the ninth, giving Mayer a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom half. Joe Burns led off the inning with a single. He was able to move up all the way third as the ball was misplayed in right field by Hamburg.
With the tying run just 90 feet away, Will Hoerenmann delivered with a huge strikeout for the first out. Need to rally, Burns tried to make things happen as he tried to score from third on a groundball to short. Brian Crane made the play as a perfect throw to Dawson Hensley was in time as the Blazers were unable to tie the game.
Will LaLonde took the tough loss on the mound for the Blazers. He went eight innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out 10. Spencer Nelson got the win for Hamburg. He went seven and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five.
Glencoe 3, Brownton 2
BROWNTON – The matchup between the Glencoe Brewers and the Brownton Bruins was a back-and-forth affair throughout. In the end, it was the Brewers coming out on top in Game 1 with a 3-2 win over the Bruins on the road.
Glencoe struck first in the matchup with a run in the top of the second. Brownton answered. With a run in the bottom of the fourth and the sixth, the Bruins held a 2-1 lead over the Brewers.
Just like Brownton did, Glencoe answered. The Brewers rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead and held on down the stretch for the big win.
Ryan Grams took the loss on the mound despite allowing just one earned run. He went all nine innings, giving up 11 hits and striking out four.
Korey Johnson got the win and Ty Christensen picked up the three-inning save for Glencoe.
Johnson also had two hits and an RBI to lead the way for the Brewers.
Watertown 12, New Germany 1
COLOGNE – After one big inning blew Game 1 open for the Watertown Red Devils, they did the same thing in Game 2. Thanks to a nine-run second inning, the Red Devils clinched their spot in the Region 7C Tournament with a 12-1 win over the New Germany Dutchmen in Game 2.
Pat Tschida and Matt Butler combined to keep the Dutchmen in check all game long.
Offensively, the Red Devils had all but two players collect a hit in the big inning as they sent 13 batters to the plate.
It’s the fifth-straight season Watertown will be at the Region 7C Tournament.
Young America 13, Winsted 3
YOUNG AMERICA – Needing to win to force a Game 3, Winsted couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. The Wildcats held a 3-1 lead early over the Young America Cardinals thanks to some defensive mistakes. In the end, the Cardinals showed why they are one of the top teams in the CRVL as they rallied back in a big way for a 13-3 win in eight innings.
Roch Whittaker led the way for the Cardinals. He had two home runs as helped Young America shake off the slow start.
Josh Lenz got the start for the Cardinals and did what he does. In five and third innings, Lenz struck out 10 to pick up his defense behind him.
With the win, Young America advances to the Region 7C Tournament for the sixth-straight season. They will be looking to capture their third-straight region title.
Carver 6, St. Boni 2
WATERTOWN – After a high-scoring affair in Game 1, the pitching came through in Game 2. Even with that, the Carver Black Sox proved to be too much for the St. Boni Saints as they completed the sweep with a 6-2 win.
Carver jumped out to a 4-0 lead early and never looked back. With the win, the Black Sox will be back at the Region 7C Tournament for the sixth-straight season. They will be the No. 4 seed and take on No. 5 Young America in the first round Friday, Aug. 6 at Hamburg at 7:30 p.m.
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