Wildcats hold off Lancers
The Blair-Taylor baseball team held on for the 8-6 win after Eau Claire Immanuel rallied late.
The Wildcats scored the first seven runs in the game and led by that margin entering the bottom of the sixth inning. But that’s when things got interesting as the Lancers put up five runs.
ECI hit two RBI doubles in the inning, the second of which brought in two runs that made the score 7-5. They also took advantage of two B-T errors, a walk and a hit batter to make the game competitive.
Travis Pettis lined an RBI single to center in the seventh, bringing home Tavian Shramek and giving B-T an additional insurance run.
The Lancers threatened again in the bottom of the seventh. Two walks and a hit loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly brought home a run. With the tying run on base, Ty Tranberg got a grounder back to him and threw to first for the game-ending out.
Tranberg pitched the final two innings after a strong start by Shramek. Only one of the six runs charged to Tranberg was earned as he allowed three hits and three walks, while striking out one. Shramek pitched five innings, allowing one hit and striking out 10 without a walk in the win.
Shramek also scored four runs for B-T while going three-for-three at the plate. He scored the first run as he led off the third with a double and came home on an error. Two more runs scored on wild pitches that inning as B-T went ahead, 3-0.
Shramek reached on an error in the fourth and scored on a single by Austin Thompson. Kole Trapp singled in another run later in the inning. Shramek led off the sixth with a single and scored on a hit by Pettis.
Pettis had two hits and two RBIs in the game, while Peyton Kelly also had two hits.
The win put B-T at 11-7-1 on the season before Tuesday’s game against Pepin/Alma, the last scheduled contest of the regular season.
B-T is scheduled to begin Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament play this coming Tuesday. B-T is the third seed in its bracket and will host the winner of the game between (11) Plum City/Elmwood and (6) Cashton. The regional final will be held next Wednesday with B-T likely playing at (2) Royall.
