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Grieving their teammate's death, an emotional Athens baseball team makes it to the state tournament

Mitchell A. Skurzewski
Wausau Daily Herald
The Athens baseball team surrounds assistant coach Dale Westfall on Tuesday after their sectional final win on Tuesday. Westfall's son Tucker, 15, a member of the baseball team, died in a UTV crash on Saturday.

WHITE LAKE - Tears streamed down the faces of the Athens baseball players, coaches, parents and fans and landed softly on the infield dirt. 

Javon Penney had just caught a flyball to record the final out in the White Lake Division 4 baseball sectional, and Athens players had sprinted out of the dugout to embrace their teammates. The stands emptied as spectators spilled onto the field to join in the hugs.

Tucker Westfall's No. 12 jersey, which hung on a fence in the dugout, waved in the breeze.

Tucker Westfall's jersey hangs in the Athens dugout during a WIAA Division 4 baseball sectional on Tuesday in White Lake.

The Bluejays defeated Wausaukee 10-0 in five innings to conclude a dominant day on the diamond Tuesday and wrap up a return trip to state. Earlier in the day, Athens crushed Pittsville 14-1 in five innings in the sectional semis. Athens now faces Ithaca on June 13 at 8 a.m. in a WIAA Division 4 state semifinal.

On Saturday, 15-year-old freshman player Tucker Westfall died in a UTV crash on a relative's farm two miles from Athens High School. His father, Dale, is an assistant coach on the Athens baseball team and Tucker's cousins, Marshall and Connor Westfall and Javon Penney, are key players for the Bluejays. 

The past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster for the Westfall family, the team and the Athens community. The tears were a mix of sadness, joy and raw emotion. The players surrounded Dale and hugged him and each other.

Tracy Westfall, mother of Tucker Westfall, hugs player Dakota Willemssen after the Athens baseball earned a state tournament trip at the White Lake Sectional on Tuesday. Tucker Westfall died in a UTV crash Saturday. His No. 12 jersey is in the foreground.

"I am just so proud of you guys," he told the team, his voice cracking with emotion. "You played so well." 

Dale Westfall's cousin and Marshall and Connor's dad, Rick, noted that he could sense Tucker's influence. "I think there were 10 players in the field today," he said.

Athens easily moved past Pittsville, scoring nine runs in the second inning, all after two outs. In the sectional final, Athens jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Wausaukee in the first inning with Seth Coker sending Marshall Westfall home on an RBI triple. Coker delivered another RBI triple in the third inning. Dakota Willemssen took care of the rest on the mound, tossing the shutout and taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning.

Saturday, the Bluejays went to head coach Bill Coker's house to be together after the team learned of Tucker's death. On Sunday, they went to Dale Westfall's house to pay respects and be there for the family.

Athens players pose with Tucker's jersey with the WIAA Division 4 sectional championship plaque on Tuesday in Whire Lake.

Bill Coker said he has never seen anything like this in his long coaching career.

"We got up here and players were sobbing," he said. "For us to come out and play our two best games of the year ... it's just amazing. These guys were determined to do this for Tuck and Dale, the Westfalls, us and the Athens community."

In the dugout, Athens hung Tucker's jersey and a picture of him. 

"It was just a hard couple of days," Marshall Westfall said. "I hope, I know, even if it's just for a few moments we gave the family some happiness."

After the game, Dale was the last person down the handshake line. He hugged every Athens player. His wife, Tracy, came out to hug every player after she jumped into Dale's arms. He raised the sectional trophy, but to everyone looking on it was as if Dale and the team were hoisting Tucker.

Tracy Westfall hugs an Athens baseball team member after the team won the White Lake sectional on Tuesday.

In addition to his parents, Tucker is survived by his 16-year-old brother, Tanner.

"Dale is such a pillar and cornerstone of the school and the community," coach Coker said. "If a kid wants to get something out of their locker (at odd hours), Dale is there. The kids just love him and that's what makes this even tougher. Not only did we love and like Tucker so much, we like and love Dale so much. Gosh, it's just tough. You feel the grief for losing Tucker but you feel the compassion for what the Westfall family is going through."

Coker said the past few days were difficult but that Wednesday would be the most emotionally challenging as funeral services for Tucker are taking place at Athens High School. 

Despite the tears, the Bluejays are elated to return to state after breaking a 35-year state tournament drought with a Division 4 championship last season. Athens is ready to do it again, this time for Tuck. 

Sophomore outfielder Javon Penney hugs Dale Westfall. Westfall's son Tucker died in a UTV crash on Saturday.

"Our big thing has been doing it together," senior Guyler Luther said. "This was a really big win for us, especially in that fashion. It just shows he's watching us. We're going to go get (another title) for Tuck. ... We really are."