Panthers turn back arch-rival Falcons

PLYMOUTH – One night after the Sheboygan Falls High School baseball team tripped up New Holstein 8-7, Plymouth stopped the Falcons 9-5 in Eastern Wisconsin Conference action Tuesday, June 29.

Falls needed to win both games to ensure a good seed for the post-season, but instead had to settle for a split to go to 6-7 in EWC action, (7-14 overall) heading into the Fourth of July break.

“We just haven't been able to put it all together this season,” said Falcons coach Todd Struve. “This team is capable of playing with anyone in our conference.”

The Falcons struck for three runs in the top of the first against Plymouth. Falls loaded the bases and Andrew Endsley hits a bases-clearing double to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers came back with five runs of their own, sending nine batters to the plate to make the score 5-3. Falls committed three errors in the inning.

The Falcons settled down to come back and tie the game by the fourth inning.

Zach Van Engen led off the third with a hit and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Cole Heili lined a run-scoring single to score Van Engen and cut the lead to 5-4.

In the fourth frame, Lewis Halverson reached base on a Panthers error and then stole second. Another error on a ball hit by Van Engen allowed Halverson to tie the game at 5-5.

Plymouth retook the lead 7-5 in the bottom of the fourth, after a Trevor Thiel double and a walk to Adam Pruitt. Greg Rhude had a run-scoring infield hit and Jake Rathsack hit an RBI single for the Panthers.

The Plymouth squad added two more in the sixth, after the Falcons piled up two more errors. Thiel scored his third run of the game and Rathsack hit his third single. Rathsack finished 3-for-3, with one run scored and two RBI.

Thiel took the pitching win for Plymouth, allowing six hits, two earned runs, while striking out two, walking two and hitting a batter. Ryan Scheible pitched one-third of an inning in relief for the Panthers.

“We had an answer, back in the first,” said Panthers coach Butch Cain. “It was important that we came back and then Thiel seemed to settle down to pitch a good game.”

Russell Preder suffered the loss for Falls. Preder gave up nine hits, four earned runs, to go with two strikeouts and three walks. Heili relieved Preder in the fifth and gave up one hit with two strikeouts, one walk and two unearned runs.

Heili finished 2-for-3, with a run scored and one RBI. Endsley was 2-for-4, with three RBI, while Van Engen scored twice.

The Falcons' starting pitcher Devin Christenson survived a four-run comeback from New Holstein in the top of the seventh inning in a hotly contested EWC contest Monday, June 28, In Sheboygan Falls.

After Christenson had two outs, the Huskies exploded for four consecutive hits, highlighted by a two-run double by Cody Thede. The next batter, Justin Schneider singled to put the Huskies within one run of the Falcons (8-7).

With the outcome of the game hanging in the balance, Christenson was able to get the last New Holstein batter to fly out.

Falls scored three runs in the third and four runs in the fourth to take a 7-3 lead early in the game.

In the third, Lorenz belted a two-run double and later scored on a RBI hit from Jake Meyer.

The Falcons loaded the bases in the fourth, before Dustin Schueffner scored on an error and Halverson came in on a balk. Then, Heili smashed a two-run single to score Bobby Musil and Van Engen.

Lorenz hit his second double of the game to drive in Musil for an insurance run in the sixth inning.

Christenson pitched a complete game, striking out five batters and giving up seven runs (four earned) on nine hits to get the win.

Lorenz led the Falcons, batting 3-for-4, with two doubles and three RBI.

“I was told that we haven’t beat the Huskies in eight years,” remarked Struve. “We hung in there tonight against a tough team. I’m hoping this builds some team confidence.”

Chris Lefeber took the loss for New Holstein. Lefeber gave up eight runs (five earned) on eight hits, four walks, two hit batters and three strikeouts. Schneider led he Huskies, batting 2-for-4, with a double and three RBI.

The Falcons will open the WIAA summer baseball playoffs, by hosting Kiel Tuesday, July 20, 7:30 p.m.

The Falcons drew the No. 3 seed in their bracket, while Kiel enters the playoffs with a No. 6 seed.

If it defeats Kiel, the Falls squad will face either Sheboygan Lutheran/Kohler or Plymouth in a sectional semifinal contest Friday, July 25, at 1 p.m. in New Holstein.

The sectional championship game will take place later in the afternoon at 4 p.m.