There was no love lost between Bonduel High School and visiting Shiocton in Friday night’s WIAA Division 3 regional championship game in Bonduel.
Shiocton handed the Bears their only loss of the season last month and last year knocked them out the playoffs.
Bonduel got a measure of revenge Friday as a walk-off single by senior Colton Dobratz secured a 3-2 win in the 10th inning.
The regional championship is Bonduel’s second in three years.
“Since they gave us our only loss of the year, revenge is sweet, especially against a quality team like that,” Bonduel coach Don Gruenewald said. “We knew it was going to be a battle.”
“That is the kind of competition we have had all of these years.” Shiocton coach Jude Backman said. “It has always been even games all the way through.”
Left-hander Connor Rosin struck out 11 hitters through eight innings for Bonduel but came away without the decision. He allowed two runs, three hits and two walks. Travis Wollenberg got the win in relief.
Gage Kamp scored for Shiocton (19-7, 11-3 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) in the first inning on an RBI single by Mitch Ebben.
Rosin calmed down from there and retired 13 batters in a row from the second through sixth innings.
“He did what he always does. He is a location pitcher and he never gets rattled,” Backman said.
Pedersen put the Bears on the board with a single to score Wollenberg, who started at shortstop, in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Two innings later, Austin Siolka knocked in Pedersen on a standup double to pull the Bears ahead 2-1.
The lead held until the seventh inning when Rosin, who eclipsed 100 pitches by that point, began to tire. Shiocton second baseman Nate Schmidt’s RBI single scored designated hitter Brady Bellin to tie the game.
“I was hoping we could get the win in the seventh inning because we knew Connor was reaching his limit,” Gruenewald said.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Rosin was relieved by Pedersen, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning, walking two and striking out one.
Pedersen drew a walk to start the 10th inning, was sacrificed to second by Austin Siolka and scored on a two-out single by Dobratz to right field, beating the throw to the plate.
“When I was rounding third, I told myself I was going to score no matter what, and there was no way I was going to be stopped,” Pedersen said.
Wollenberg picked up the win for Bonduel (22-3, 13-1 CWC-8) with a scoreless 10th inning. He allowed one hit and struck out one batter.
Dobratz was 2 for 4. Pedersen was 2 for 5 and scored two runs.
Schmidt took the loss for Shiocton. He allowed one run on one hit and struck out one.
Bonduel opens sectional play at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Marathon against Marinette & Oconto Conference champion Coleman (20-6, 10-2 M&O). The winner will play either Marathon or Pacelli, which Bonduel defeated twice in the regular season, in the final.
