Shawano could not maintain its momentum entering the American Legion Class AA state tournament title game Sunday against River Falls.
A day after drubbing River Falls 16-6 and an hour removed from a gritty 6-5 win against Waterford, the Patriots ran into River Falls pitching ace James Witt.
Witt struck out eight and held the Patriots to six hits as River Falls claimed the state championship, 14-4. He walked three.
“We had our best pitcher on the mound and that gives you the confidence right away,” River Falls coach Ryan Bishop said. “And our offense was hitting the ball hard today.
“They are a very good team and we have enjoyed playing with them Saturday and Sunday. And if you want to win a state championship, you have to beat the best of the best, and they had a great run.”
Shawano coach Will Gillis said the win over Waterford contributed to the late collapse against River Falls.
“It is hard to stay focused for an entire game and then another. We won by one, so it was a tough win there,” Gillis said. “To keep that focus through the championship game makes it more difficult.”
Shawano got the on scoreboard first, though, breaking a scoreless tie in the third inning when Kasey Kristof scored on a sacrifice fly by Ky Schmidt.
River Falls jumped ahead with a five-run fifth inning, with Logan Schmidt and Brian Grove delivering triples and Joe Halling a double.
Shawano responded with three runs in the bottom off the fifth, cutting River Falls' lead to 5-4. Ky Schmidt's single score Kristof, and Chase Henning followed up with a two-run double to plate Schmidt and Zack Sousek.
After Grant Wainio walked Grove to start the sixth inning, he was lifted for Brendan Cummings, who retired two hitters before allowing a run-scoring double to Halling.
A leadoff home run by Witt in the seventh inning and a 45-minute weather delay made matters worse for Shawano. After a mix of hit batters, walks and base hits, seven additional runs scored to put the Patriots away 14-4.
Wainio took the loss for Shawano. He went five innings and allowed six runs on eight hits and four walks. He struck out four.
Kristof and Henning led the Patriots with two hits apiece.
“Their pitcher threw a lot of fastballs and got ahead of us,” Gillis said.
Henning, Sousek, Nate Laude and Tasa Grignon were named to the all-tournament team for Shawano.
Henning also was crowned the tournament batting champion after hitting .632 with three doubles, three triples and two home runs.
