If Oconto Falls’ recent pitching performances are any indication, Shawano will have its hands full in the opening round of the American Legion Class AA Region 3 tournament Thursday.
Receiving the starting nod for Oconto Falls (14-10, 6-7 Fox River Valley North) will be Hunter Magnin, who has produced two of the team’s three shutouts in the last nine games.
Magnin has accrued 19 strikeouts through his last 12 scoreless innings, including a seven-strikeout performance against Menominee on July 14.
Evan Sigmund pitched the other shutout in Oconto Falls’ 8-0 victory at Seymour on Friday, where he allowed just one hit with six strikeouts and three walks.
“Our pitching has been extremely solid and our hitting has vastly improved,” Oconto Falls coach Chris Hillberg said. “We have to limit our mistakes defensively.”
Continuing the momentum will be difficult against Shawano (10-5, 8-5 FRV-West), whose leading hitter, Chase Henning, is batting .429 in the Fox River Valley West Division.
“Our biggest challenge is to maintain our focus and the level of baseball we have been playing as of late,” Hillberg said.
Kaukauna and Mosinee open the Shawano regional at 5 p.m. Thursday. Oconto Falls and Shawano will play the second game. Losers of the two games play at 2 p.m. Friday. The winning teams play at 5 p.m.
The regional championship will be played at 5 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park, with a second game to follow if needed.
“I think all four teams are pretty even going into the regional,” Hillberg said. “The team that hits the ball the best this weekend has the best chance of advancing.”
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