Reedsville baseball headed to state for first time

The Brillion News

The Panthers had so much fun at a WIAA state tournament in March they decided to do it again. For the first time in school history, Reedsville baseball will compete in the state tournament.

The No. 2 Panthers reached the state tournament with a 6-5 win against top-seeded and undefeated Barneveld in the WIAA Division 4 sectional championship game at Pecatonica High School in Blanchardville on Tuesday.

The championship game was back-and-forth with big hits and lineup changes. The Panthers took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning when Lucas Lodel hit an RBI single to score Zach Prochnow. Prochnow used his speed to beat the throw to home plate. Prochnow hit a single two at-bats before Lodel stepped to the plate.

In the top of the seventh inning, Lodel, who was shuffled in and out of the pitching rotation in the sectional semifinal and final games, and the defense, closed the game out with a three-up three-down inning to punch Reedsville’s ticket to state.

It was a clutch final run to state for Reedsville, who held a 5-3 advantage before Barneveld tied the game with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning.

The final followed a high-scoring semifinal earlier in the day, which was a Reedsville 10-6 win over No. 4 Green Lake/Princeton.

Reedsville’s specific time and opponent on Tuesday, June 16, in the WIAA Division 4 state semifinal game at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, is to be determined. The Division 4 state championship game is scheduled for Thursday, June 18 at 9:05 a.m.