‘Jays, Tigers baseball both lose regional finals

By Casey Krautkramer

The Athens varsity baseball team put forth a valiant effort against Rib Lake in Thursday’s WIAA Division 4 regional championship in Rib Lake. The Bluejays lost, 6-5, to the Redmen but it was clear they had improved tremendously since the two teams played each other early in the Marawood North Conference regular season. Athens concludes this season with an 8-10 record.

Rib Lake advanced to Tuesday’s sectional semifinal where it beat Edgar, 6-2, before losing to Northwood/ Solon Springs, 10-2, in the sectional championship Tuesday in Bruce. Rib Lake and Abbotsford/ Colby won a share of the Marawood North Conference championship this season.

Tigers fall to Eagles

Stratford’s varsity baseball squad lost, 2-0, to Auburndale in Thursday’s

See REGIONAL BASEBALL/ page 22

QUICK REACTION- Athens senior pitcher Hunter Haehlke throws out Rib Lake’s Donovan Sutherland on a sixth inning sacrifice bunt in Thursday’s WIAA Division 4 regional championship. SN PHOTO/MATT FREY Regional baseball

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WIAA Division 3 regional home game. Tigers senior Brady Schmidt pitched admirably against the Eagles, even though he took the loss on the mound. Stratford could only muster three hits against Auburndale junior hurler Blake Raab. Stratford finishes this season with a 19-6 record.

Auburndale defeated Marathon, 1-0 in an extra inning, in last Wednesday’s regional semifinal to advance to play Stratford in the regional championship. Marathon ends their season with a 21-4 record.

The Auburndale Eagles ended up losing, 2-1, to Bonduel in the Division 3 sectional semifinal on Tuesday in Gillett. Auburndale concludes its season with a 14-6 record. Bonduel beat St. Mary Catholic, 6-0, in the sectional championship to advance to state for the first time in school history.

HANK’S FAREWELL GAMEStratford

senior Henry “Hank” Zaleski takes a practice swing between pitches during Thursday’s 2-0 home loss to Auburndale in the WIAA Division 3 regional championship.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER