Class 1A Quarterfinals
New London Vs Kee Lansing
Kee Lansing 4
New London 3
New London struck first in Monday’s quarterfinal round matchup, but a few mistakes opened the door for Kee Lansing early and they took advantage, before holding on to win and advance into the semifinals on Wednesday morning. New London out hit Kee Lansing 7-4, but 4 errors, 2 runs scoring on wild pitches and another run on an illegal pitch was enough for the Hawks.
Kooper Schulte walked with one out top 1st and scored when Tucker Gibbar hit a triple to left field. Gibbar was stranded at 3rd when Tyson Cota struck out the next batter to end the inning. Cota led off the bottom 2nd for the Hawks, moved to 3rd on a sac bunt attempt by Chance Colsch that was fielded by the pitcher and thrown to 3rd. The throw was off line and Cota was safe putting runners on the corners with no outs. Chris Wagner fell behind Hecniel Rodriguez 1-2, but was hit-by-pitch, loading the bases. Cota scored on an illegal pitch and Colsch scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Kee Lansing extended the lead to 3-1 on the Tigers in the 3rd as Damon Weber doubled and moved to 3rd on a one out ground out to 1st base. Weber became the second Hawk to score on a wild pitch.
New London had threatened to extend their lead in the top 2nd inning but left runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. They would threaten again in the 4th, when Brenden Richey walked with one out. He moved to 2nd on a single by Carter Allen but was forced out at 3rd on a bunt attempt putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Dalton Dilbert replaced Cota on the hill for the Hawks in the 4th and got out of trouble, inducing a ground out and Kee Lansing led 3-1. Jonah Reinke led of the bottom 4th for the Hawks with a single and moved to 2nd base on Brayden Mathis sac bunt. He scored when a throw to 1st base on a ground ball by Dalton Dilbert was misplayed.
Kee Lansing took a 4-1 lead into the 6th and looked like they would add an insurance run when the Tigers made their third and fourth errors in the game. Seth Bailey had come in to pitch for the Tigers in the 4th and he battled back in the 6th, getting out of trouble and stranding a Hawk on 1st and 3rd. That sparked the Tigers and Joshua Catala and Kooper Schulte both doubled to lead off the 7th inning. Catala scored on the Schulte double, Schulte then scored on a single by Hecneil Rodriguez. Damon Dilbert forced a ground ball to 2nd base and nearly got the double play but Tucker Gibbar was safe at 1st base. Dilbert got the next two batters and the Hawks advanced with a 4-3 win.
Kee Lansing improved to 34-9 on the season and will play St Mary’s Remsen, Wednesday at 10:00 AM in the semifinals. New London finishes an outstanding season 26-2.
Kee Lansing Stats
Damon Weber 1-4, 2B. RS
Buddy Hill 1-3
Tyson Cota 1-3, 2B, RS- Pitching WP, 3 1/3 IP, 2 Hits, 1 RA, 1 ER, 4 K’s, 3 BB,
Chance Colsch 1 RS
Jonah Reinke 1-3, RS
Dalton Dilbert- Save, 3 2/3 IP, 5 Hits, 2 RA, 2 ER, K, BB
New London Stats
Joshua Catala 1-4, 2B, RS
Kooper Schulte 1-1, 2B, RBI, 2 RS
Hecneil Rodriguez 1-4, RBI- Pitching LP, 3 1/3 IP, 3 Hits, 4 RA, 3 ER, 6 K’s, 2 BB. 2 HBP
Tucker Gibbar 1-4, RBI
Brenden Richey 1-2
Carter Allen 2-3, 2B
Seth Bailey 2 2/3 IP, 1 Hit, 2 K’s, BB
Box Score
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
NL 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
Kee 0 2 1 1 0 0 x 4