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2016 Future Games: Team Wisconsin Opens With Win

August 5, 2016

By Steve Nielesn and Matt Huck
PBR Wisconsin Scouting Staff

Team Wisconsin opened up gameplay on Friday with a 7:00 PM matchup against Iowa/Minnesota. Wisconsin came from behind to take the opener 6-4.

Wisconsin came out hot to start the game, Evan Albrecht (West Bend West, 2018) singled on the first pitch of the game and promptly stole second. Noah Berghammer (Janesville Craig, 2018) drove in Albrecht with a triple down the right field line. Berghammer came around to score on an RBI groundout by Alan Roden (Middleton, 2018).

RHP Max Alba (Franklin, 2018) took the ball first for team Wisconsin and came out sitting 87-88 mph, touching 89 mph with a lively fastball and 74-77 mph curveball with depth and bite. Despite giving up two runs Alba struck out two and allowed just one ball out of the infield. His stuff seemed to set the tone for team Wisconsin as the rest of the arms followed.

LHP Eric Torres worked a perfect second frame, striking out one. Torres sat 81-83 mph, with a 73-74 mph slider. RHP Paul Stefiuk (Green Bay Preble, 2018) showed improved velocity up to 88 mph, sitting 84-87 mph with serious downhill tilt.

In the fourth LHP Jacob Schellpfeffer (Mayville, 2018) retired the side on a slick 4-6-3 double play. RHP Bryce Konitzer (Mukwonago, 2018) finished off the fifth with a strikeout looking on a painted fastball. Konitzer’s heater played at 85-86 mph, with a 68-69 mph curveball.

With the game tied 2-2 in the sixth Tanner Kohlhepp (Eau Claire Memorial, 2018) hit a ground rule double to right centerfield to start the inning, An Ian Drays (Jefferson, 2018) groundout advanced Kohlhepp to third. Ty Olejnik (Hamilton Sussex, 2018) lined a sacfly to centerfield to give Wisconsin the lead.

Team Minnesota/Iowa took the lead 4-3 in the sixth, but the 6-foot-5, 220-pound southpaw Jackson Pothast (Sheboygan North, 2018) ran his fastball up to 84 mph with a 70-74 mph breaking ball.

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh Wisconsin scored three times to take a 6-4 lead. Evan Albrecht walked with one away followed by a hit by pitch to Jordan Bailey (Janesville Parker, 2018) put two men on for Noah Berghammer. After falling behind in the count and fouling off multiple two strike pitches Berghammer singled to drive in Albrecht to tie the game. Alan Roden then came up with a two run single to cap off the scoring.

A pair of Eau Claire Memorial arms closed out the game for Team Wisconsin. RHP Jack Brown showed off a quick arm that reached 88 mph with a 72 mph slider, striking out one. RHP Tanner Kohlhepp may have stole the show on the mound for Team Wisconsin, Kohlhepp retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts on a plus slider at 75-77 mph. Kohlhepp worked from a low ¾ slot at 86-87 to close out the win.

Wisconsin plays two games tomorrow taking on Illinois at 4:00 PM and then play the final game of the 2016 Future Games against Indiana at 8:00 PM.

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