A daring play at the plate by Shawano’s Chase Henning in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Patriots a 3-2 American Legion win Tuesday against visiting Bonduel at Memorial Field.
The win was Shawano’s first of the season after starting the season 0-2.
With the game tied 2-2 after seven innings, both teams went to their relief corps following strong pitching performances by Shawano’s Jack Lacy and Bonduel left-hander Connor Rosin.
Lacy allowed two runs on six hits, struck out four and issued three walks. Rosin had a near identical performance, striking out seven and allowing two runs on six hits, walking two.
“We had really good pitching tonight and solid defense,” Shawano coach Will Gillis said. “I knew it was going to be a challenge to get runs tonight. (Rosin) had a great season and always pitches well.”
Bonduel coach Jack Thiel also was impressed with the teams’ pitching.
“I thought Connor did great, and Lacy looked good out there,” Thiel said. “It was a very well-played game.”
Mason Boogren picked up the win in relief of Lacy. Boogren struck out two batters, allowed one hit and issued one walk.
Trevor Pedersen took the loss. He allowed one hit, walked two hitters and struck out three.
Left fielder Tasa Grignon and third baseman Kasey Kristof each were 2 for 5 for Shawano.
Center fielder Colton Dobratz and Travis Wollenberg were 2 for 5 for Bonduel.
Bonduel (0-1, 0-0 Central Wisconsin) struck first in the top of the first inning with a two-out single by Wollenberg to score Dobratz.
The Patriots responded in the bottom of the second inning on a Tommy Stueck single to score catcher Dan Hanauer, who led off the inning with a double.
Wollenberg scored Bonduel’s second run on a Pedersen fielder’s choice in the sixth inning, but Shawano came back in the sixth inning when Lacy hit a hard shot to third baseman Hunter VanDerLinden to bring in Tasa Grignon.
Henning scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th on a dash to home plate on Kristof’s fielder’s choice.
Henning, who was 0 for 3, had two walks and two stolen bases.
“Chase did it with his legs tonight,” Gillis said. “(We) got a couple guys on, and we put the ball in the play and made it home.”
Gillis said the first win can lay a foundation for the remainder of the season for Shawano (1-2, 0-0 Fox River Valley-West).
“Overall, we are going to improve as the season goes on,” he said. “The more we play, the better we feel.”
