Falls rally falls short in baseball playoffs

The Kiel Raiders took an early 5-0 lead and held off a furious rally from the Sheboygan Falls Falcons in the final innings to notch a 5-4 victory in a WIAA regional summer baseball playoff game Tuesday, July 21, in Sheboygan Falls.

The Falcons, which finished the 2010 season 12-22 overall, wasted many opportunities in the early innings, after getting the leadoff batter on base in each of the first four innings.

“Our batters failed to execute,” said Sheboygan Falls head coach Todd Struve in a frustrated tone after the loss. “We were the better team. If we score early, that takes Kiel out of their game.”

Not only was Struve upset at missed bunt attempts and steals, he felt that the Falcons gave Kiel too much confidence.

The Raiders stole six bases in six attempts, which set up a 3-0 lead by the fourth inning. In each of the first three innings, Falls failed to advance the runner to second base and then followed with a wasted hit.

“We didn’t get any key hits until late in the game,” stated Struve.

After Kiel built a 5-0 lead, the Falcons rallied in the sixth inning. Adam Lorenz singled to start the inning and both Cole Heili and Jacob Meyer walked to load the bases. Andrew Endsley hit a run-scoring single and Ryan Halverson had a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 5-2.

Back-to-back doubles by Bobby Musil and Zach Van Engen brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, with power hitters Lorenz, Heili and Meyer batting with nobody out.

Lorenz and Heili made out, but Meyer came through with a line-drive single to drive in Van Engen and make it 5-4.

Kiel’s Cody Retlich pitched in relief, after starter D.J. Driscoll, who was chased in the seventh, gave up the two doubles to open the inning.

Retlich got the final out when Endsley grounded out to the shortstop. Retlich picked up the save, allowing one hit and striking out one batter. Driscoll, who was credited with the win, gave up eight hits and four earned runs, while walking two and striking out three.

David Esswein led Kiel, batting 2-for-4, with one run scored and one RBI.

Kiel (13-16) defeated Sheboygan Lutheran/Kohler 8-2 in the semifinal and then lost to New Holstein 5-1 in the sectional final. New Holstein (18-10) qualified for the state quarterfinals, starting July 28 at Bukholt Park in Stevens Point.

Heili took the loss for Falls, pitching three innings and giving up six hits, two runs, two walks and striking out two. Christenson relieved Heili for the final four innings, striking out three. He also walked two and gave up three runs on three hits.

Van Engen went 3-for-4, with a run scored and an RBI to lead the Falcons. Musil was 2-for-4, with a run scored.

“Overall I felt that we could play with anyone,” Struve commented. “We had an interesting year with this young team. This will be a gut check for the future.”

Score by Innings Kiel……………………..002 102 0 - 5 9 4 Sheboygan Falls…..000 002 2 - 4 9 3

D.J. Driscoll, Cody Retlich (7) and Sam Moehring. Cole Heili, Devin Christenson (4) and Bobby Musil. W-Driscoll. LH_ e_il_i 2_-_7._ 2_B_’s_-K_ie_l,_ J_o_rd_a_n _M_ey_e_r._ S_h_eboygan Falls, Bobby Musil and Zach Van Engen.