The THS baseball team worked its way into a tie for second place in the GNC final standings by taking 2-of-3 Northern games last week.
Tomahawk topped Pines 7-3 on Tuesday, setting up Thursday’s critical home double-header with Mosinee. The winner was guaranteed second in the GNC, a tie leading to a tie.
The Hatchets knotted up Game 1 in the bottom of the seventh at a 3-3 tally, but the visitors pulled out the win the eighth.
Mosinee appeared well on the way to outright second place when it jumped out 5-0 by the third inning of Game 2.
Both squads scored a single run in the fourth, but a six-run fifth pushed THS into a 7-6 lead. Singles from Kaleb Kaminski and Aaron Leonhrad around a Jordan Roessler walk loaded the bases for a Kevin Bolder two-run hit. Lorne Ahrens, Jacob Sabielny and Roessler would all single in runs and Bolder scored on a wild pitch.
Mosinee tied it in the sixth, but the Hatchets pushed two across in the seventh for a 9-7 triumph.
“The team showed a lot of character in this game,” THS coach Wes Roessler said. “After a disappointing Game 1 loss and being down 5-0, it would be easy to give up. These guys never do.
“Both Fletcher (Schoone) and Kaleb pitched out of some difficult situations. Lorne, Kevin and Jacob came up with clutch hits to drive in runs in key situations.
“One of the things I really like about our team is that any one of the guys can be the hero at any given time.”
Tomahawk– 000 160 2–9.
Mosinee– 122 101 0–7.
TP: Schoone 3 I, 10 H, 1 W, 0 K, 5 R, 4 ER; Kaminski 3 H, 3 W, 1 K, 2 R, 2 ER. TH: 10 H; Ahrens 3-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI; Bolder 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI; Sabielny 2-4, 2 RBI; Leonhard 1-4, 2 R.
Mosinne led Game 1 3-0 by the fifth inning, but a Roessler triple, Leonhard RBI double, Bolder walk, Ahrens single and Schoone sac fly cut it to 3-2 in the sixth. Leonhard’s RBI triple with two out in the seventh pushed an extra inning, but Mosinee closed it out there.
“This was a hard fought game that we came back late to tie but just couldn’t finish the job,” THS coach Wes Roessler said. “Some of our bats are starting to come to life, but we still need to improve. We made some mistakes that really hurt us in a game this close.”
Mosinee– 002 010 01–4.
Tomahawk– 000 002 10–3.
TP: Bolder 7-1/3 I 7 H, 2 W, 5 K, 4 R, 3 ER; Kaminski 2/3 I, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K, 0 R. TH: 8 H; Leonhard 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Roessler 2-4, 3B.
Toppling Pines
Pines took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, but the Hachets immediately made it 5-1, then tacked on solo runs in the fifth and sixth frames. Two in the sixth wasn’t enough for the visitors.
“Jared (Jarvensivu) did a real nice job pitching,” Roessler said. “He kept the Pines’ hitters off balance and held them hitless into the fifth inning.
“We struggled again putting the ball in play and coming up with key hits. It wasn’t one of our better hitting games, but luckily we were able to come up with a key hit or two and take advantage of the opportunities.”
N. Pines– 000 102 0–3
Tomahawk– 000 511 x–7.
TP: Jarvensivu 7 I, 4 H, 2 W, 10 K, 3 R, 2 ER. TH: 4 H; Leonhard 2-3, Jarvensivu 1-2, 2 RBI.
Tomahawk tied Mosinee for second in the GNC at 7-5, and was 10-6 overall heading into Wednesday’s regional semi-final against the winner of Tuesday’s Medford/N. Pines contest.
Antigo (12-0, 19-1) won the league.