By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

KAUKAUNA, WI – Sectional play began Tuesday around the state at all Divisions and in Kaukauna West De Pere started things off upsetting No. 6 Appleton North 5-3. For the Lightning it was only their fourth loss of the season for a team that spent a good portion of the year as the top ranked team in our Power 25.

The Phantoms junior RHP Brendan Meissner (Illinois commit) was the difference for West De Pere. Appleton North threatened in multiple innings leaving the bases loaded twice, but Meissner made the big pitches when he needed to and kept the Lightning from putting together the big inning.

West De Pere jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with RBI’s from Reece Lade, Cal Herlache and Beau Mommaerts in the third inning. The four runs proved all Meissner would need as he held Appletons North to one run innings in the second, third and fifth frames.

The Phantoms tacked on an insurance run in the fifth with a squeeze bunt from Mommaerts to make it a 5-2 lead at the time.

The Lightning went quietly in their last at bats as Meissner induced three consecutive lazy flies to send West De Pere to the Sectional Championship game and a chance to go to Appleton.