Sox heading to State

After a weekend of Regionals, played at Osseo, the Cadott Red Sox Baseball team is on their way to State competition. Aug. 9 vs. Minocqua (W 11-10) Going into their first game of the Wisconsin Baseball Association playoffs as the No. 1 seed, Cadott faced the Wood Ducks, who were ranked No. 3. Although the Sox got on the board first, with four runs in the opening inning and three more in the fourth, Minocqua wasn’t going down without a fight. Because of bullpen woes for the Sox, the Ducks took over the lead in the eighth inning, going up 10-9, but Cadott had one last chance to regain control of the game, in their side of the inning. Logan Burzynski led off the bottom of the inning, with a single, then stole second base. Cole Bakkum then doubled, which allowed Burzynski to score and tie the game. “With two outs, Chad Kron came to bat and lined a double to the left field gap, to give the Red Sox the lead for good,” said manager Rick Danielson. Gio Basile was on the mound for Cadott, going five innings and allowing 4 hits, a run and striking out 7. Christian Schaller also took a turn, going two innings, and giving up a hit and 3 runs, while Jack Gabler gave up 2 hits and 6 runs. Zack Thiesse finished it out for the Sox, pitching two innings and allowing a lone hit. Offensively, Carter Hesselman and Burzynski each belted 4 hits, while Jack Redwine, Cole Perlberg and Bakkum each had 2, and Zac Merritt and Kron each chipped in with a hit. “Things got a little scary, when Minocqua took the lead, late in the game,” said Danielson. “Our hitters weren’t fazed. They put together some great at-bats in the eighth, to get us the lead back. That’s what good teams do.” Aug. 10 vs. Washburn (W 6-0) The next day, the Sox took on No. 2 Washburn, for the right to advance to State. This time around in the playoff bout, the Sharptails were no match for Cadott and the Sox walked away with a 6-0 shutout. “The guys played a great game today,” said Danielson. Thiesse was dominant on the mound, going eight innings, sending Cadott to their second consecutive State appearance, where they face their first foe, the Osseo Merchants, Friday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m., in Hayward. Bakkum and Kron each had 2 hits on the day, with Hesselman, Merrit, Perlberg and Sam Feck all adding a hit. “If we play like this next weekend, we will be tough to beat,” said Danielson.