E-S scores two late to top Whitehall

The defending state champions started the 2025 season with a 3-2 win over Whitehall on Friday.

Eleva-Strum scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead then held off the Norse in the bottom half of the inning. 

The Cardinals tied the game on a double by Brady Zimpel before Isaac Knutson hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Zimpel and giving the Cards the lead.

Whitehall threatened in the top of the seventh as Deacon Steig led off with a single. Brett Schorbahn added a single with one out. Will Youngbauer hit into a fielder’s choice, but runners moved to second and third with the heart of the order coming up. Mason Pientok made contact, but the Cardinals were able to catch the liner to end the game.

Whitehall took the lead on a single by Grayson Pronschinske in the top of the second. Riley Herman added an RBI single in the third to give the Norse a 2-0 advantage. 

E-S got on the board in the bottom of the third, but Whitehall kept the defending Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Champions in check for most of the game.

Pientok pitched the first four innings, holding the Cardinals to one hit while walking two and hitting two more. Herman took the loss, tossing the last two innings with one hit, one walk, and two runs allowed. Pientok struck out four batters and Herman had one. 

The Norse had six hits in the game with six different players each getting one, all were singles. 

Whitehall played at Melrose-Mindoro on Tuesday of this week and will host Augusta on Friday. The team plays at Independence/Gilmanton this coming Monday and will host Osseo-Fairchild next Thursday.