By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

APPLETON, WI – This year’s state quarter-finals started off with a bang, in my most anticipated game of the state tournament Sun Prairie knocked off Stevens Point 5-3 in a rematch of last year’s title game.

Stevens Point struck first in the second inning when senior outfielder Aaron Winch drove an RBI triple to right field scoring Aaron Nickel.

The Cardinals struck back quickly in their bottom half of the inning scoring twice to take the lead. SPASH starting pitcher nearly wiggled out of the inning but with the bases loaded and two outs, an error by the shortstop Trev Anderson led to the two runs and a Cardinal lead.

The Panthers took the lead back in the fifth in this back and forth affair. Michael Froehlich got it started with his RBI single after a pinch hit single off the bat of DJ Drohner. Similar to the Sun Prairie third, the Cardinal defense gave the lead back this time with a two out error by shortstop Justin Krebs leading to another run.

Sun Prairie answered quickly again hanging three runs on SPASH in the bottom half. Michael Marchese led the inning off with a double. Junior Coby Oswalt got the big hit with a two RBI single giving Sun Prairie the lead for good.

Cardinal starter Sam Lund held the Panthers off the rest of the way picking up the complete game victory, striking out four.

Sun Prairie will advance to the Semi-Finals at 6:00 PM and play the winner of Janesville Parker vs. Bay Port.