Red Sox playoff run gets snagged by the Fishing Fish
Taking part in their first Wisconsin Baseball Association (WBA) playoff game since 1985, the Cadott Red Sox were at River Falls, Aug. 11, facing off with the home team Fighting Fish. River Falls, the defending WBA State champions, were ranked No. 1, while Cadott came in as the 24th seed.
The Sox knew it would be tough against River Falls, but were ready to play, after having a great season, with a 1010 Chippewa River Baseball League (CRBL) record and an overall record of 19-12.
Neither team scored in the opening innings, but River Falls got on the board in the third with a run, then added three more. By the sixth inning, it was Cadott’s turn to put two runs on the board, but that would be it for the Sox.
The Fish knocked in five more runs in the remaining innings, to take a 9-2 victory.
Jonah Hanson and Ely Johnson led for the Sox, with doubles. Although they hoped to knock off the top-seeded team, Cadott didn’t let the loss get to them and came out hot the next day (Aug. 12), over the 25th seeded Glidden Orioles.
Glidden got on the board first, with a run in the third inning, but Cadott answered back with a run of their own. Neither team scored in the fourth, then the Sox kicked it into gear, scoring four runs in the fifth, another in the sixth and four more in the eighth inning, to claim a 10-1 win.
Zack Thiesse went all nine innings, striking out 9 batters, while on the offensive side, the Sox ended with 13 hits. Henry Wilkinson finished the day with a double, 2 walks and 3 runs batted in (RBI).
Chad Kron scored 2 runs, with a double and 3 RBI, while Hanson had 2 runs to his credit, along with a double, 2 walks and 2 RBI. Sam Feck also scored 2 runs, as did Ethan Bartels.
In order for the Sox to advance to the next round of the WBA playoffs, Glidden then had to come up with a win over River Falls the following day. Unfortunately, the Fighting Fish proved too much for the Orioles and the Red Sox saw their season come to an end.
Hanson led for the team this year, with 21 hits, followed by Cole Bakkum, with 19, while Johnson got on base 11 times through walks. Hanson also notched 6 doubles and Kron came away with a triple, and Logan Burzynski led with a 417 batting average.
Wilkinson ended the year with an earned run average (ERA) of 1.77.
Cadott also saw more wins this season in league play, than in the previous six years, thanks to not only the talented roster, but from the players’ hard work and dedication. If the core group returns for the next CRBL season, the Red Sox team and fanbase have a bright future.
“It’s been a great year,” said manager Rick Danielson.
(To the right) In just his first year with the Cadott Red Sox, right-handed hurler Henry Wilkinson had a season earned run average of only 1.77, and was named Rookie of the Year in the Chippewa River Baseball League.
