An early rally and a wild pitch keyed Shawano American Legion’s 10-9 win Thursday over visiting Waupaca.
With Shawano behind 1-0 entering the bottom of the first, Zack Sousek hit a leadoff single and scored on a Ky Schmidt single. Outfielder Chase Henning then delivered a two-run blast to pull the Patriots ahead 3-1.
“They didn’t pitch to him after that, which is a smart move,” Shawano coach Will Gillis said. “He just did what he has done all year.”
Henning was 1 for 2, had two intentional walks and scored two runs.
“Chase is a great hitter and one of the best hitters I have ever seen at the high school level,” Waupaca coach Kyle Douglas said.
Shawano (12-6, 7-1 Fox River Valley-West) added six runs in the second inning and one in the fifth.
Kasey Krisof led off Shawano’s half of the second with a walk. Sousek singled, and Ky Schmidt delivered a two-run single. Following an intentional walk to Henning, Grant Wainio singled in Schmidt. Starting pitcher Tasa Grignon hit a single, then Jack Lacy doubled in Henning and Wainio. Kristof capped off the rally with a sacrifice to score Grignon, who reached base on a single.
In the fifth inning, Sousek was hit by a pitch and scored on a wild pitch by Brendan Canterbury.
Waupaca (10-6, 5-5 Fox River Valley-West) chipped away at the lead with two runs in the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Grignon picked up the win despite allowing five runs on five hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out two. He was relieved by Dylan Sumnicht, who allowed two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings before being lifted in the sixth inning for Tommy Stueck.
Stueck walked the first two batters to lead off the top of the seventh, but eventually struck out the side to seal the victory.
“He didn’t pitch a ton in high school and is still figuring out his pitches. But when he gets into a groove, he can hit his spots,” Gillis said.
Schmidt was 2 for 2, drew two walks, scored twice and drove in three runs. Sousek was 2 for 3 and scored three runs.
Losing pitcher Ryan Dayton gave up nine runs on six hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. Leadoff hitter Shane Olson was 2 for 2 and scored two runs.
