Post 147, Rebels square off in regional opener
POST 147 LEGION BASEBALL
The Wisconsin American Legion baseball post-season at the senior level begins this week, which for Medford’s Post 147 team, features a four-team regional tournament in Merrill.
Medford, Rhinelander, Antigo and host Merrill will play in a double-elimination tournament with the winner earning a spot in the Class AA state tournament, which is being held in Fort Atkinson July 29-Aug. 2.
Medford (6-2 GNLC, 10-3 overall), who is fourth in the most recent state Class AA rankings, gets a tough opening test with second-ranked Rhinelander (8-0 GNLC, 18-3 overall) in its opening game Friday at 5 p.m. Antigo and Merrill will follow at 7:30 p.m.
Rhinelander beat Medford twice in Great Northern Legion Conference play this summer by scores of 5-1 and 12-2 on June 27 and 29.
From there, three games are scheduled for Saturday, including two elimination games that will narrow the field down to the two finalists for a championship game at noon on Sunday. However, another game may be needed Sunday if both finalists have one loss after the noon game.
Medford and Rhinelander met three teams in last year’s Class AA regional tournament, which the Rebels hosted. Medford won two of the three, including an 11-6 win in the winner-take-all third game, where Post 147 rallied from a 5-0 deficit by scoring 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Post 147 has qualified for state play three times in a row. Medford made it in Class A in 2018 and 2019. Last year was its first appearance in the Class AA state tournament, where it went 1-2 at Antigo.
Medford’s last three games on its regular- season schedule –– two with Mosinee and one at Merrill –– were canceled. In the latest Class AA state rankings, released Monday, Holmen (24-4), who beat Rhinelander twice in the Merrill tournament two weekends ago, holds the top spot.Seymour (11-4) is third and Beaver Dam (10-5) is ranked fifth. Onalaska (14-9), Shawano (10-5-1), Lomira-Theresa (9-4), Baraboo (10-3) and Ashwaubenon (10-7) also received votes.
The Stronger Version Fitness team of Brock Baumann, Adam Rodman, Shawn Zimmerlee and John Lange took second in the men’s division of the Golf Classic Fundraiser.
The mixed division in Black River Industries’ Golf Classic was won by the Bill’s Tire and Service team of Jim Lemke, Narda Lichtl, Justin Lemke and Kathy Lemke.SUBMITTED PHOTOS
The M&M’s group of Darryl Volk, Rom Moscoso, Val Gorichs and Jenn Knippel took second in the mixed division.
The Forward Bank team of Kate Metz, Ronette Lehman, Molly Knoll and Merrill Brunette won the women’s division in Black River Industries’ 18th annual Golf Classic Fundraiser.
