Wausau faces elimination after opening-round loss in state legion tournament
KIMBERLY – The Bulldogs are on the brink of elimination after an opening-round loss to Oshkosh in the Class AAA American Legion state baseball tournament in Kimberly
Wausau was held to three hits in the 10-1 setback and face either De Pere or Madison at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday needing a win to remain alive in the double-elimination tournament. The Bulldogs won four straight games to win the Region 2 championship last weekend in Plover after losing to Wisconsin Rapids on the second day of the tournament.
“It’s do-or-die. We have been here before,” said Wausau manager Tom Magnuson. “We came into (the tournament) knowing that all of these teams were good. (Oshkosh) got the hits today when they needed to and we didn’t. Three hits isn’t going to get it done against anyone.”
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The Bulldogs’ Sam Sippel hit a solo home run in the second inning to tie the game 1-1 after Oshkosh went ahead in the top half of the frame.
Oshkosh then took the lead for good with three runs in the third inning. Payton Nelson had two hits, including a double, and got on base three times. The Bulldogs had only one other baserunner outside of that against Oshkosh starter Josh Lieb, who threw a complete-game.
“We didn’t get a lot of good swings against him,” Magnuson said. “He was throwing a lot of breaking stuff and when we did square up, everything (the Bulldogs hits) seemed to be right at someone.”
Grant Hill took the loss for the Bulldogs as he pitched seven innings.
Oshkosh scored a run in the eighth inning and then broke the game open with five runs with two outs in the ninth.