Madison Impact Win Great Lakes Regional Opener
Photo credit: Jim Pliner
The Madison Impact picked up a crucial 7-3 victory over Troy (Ohio) in their opening game of the American Legion Great Lakes Regional behind a solid pitching performance from Sam Lund.
The recently crowned state champion Impact guaranteed themselves at least two more games in the regional and freedom from an early elimination game with the win.
A Legion team from Wisconsin has not won a national regional since Janesville did it back in 1989. Last year, Plover (who is in the field again this year) made it to the final round before being eliminated. Madison will hope to make history this year, and they gave themselves a quality start with their win on Wednesday.
Troy got on the board in the top of the 1st inning after Cody Harsman hit an RBI single to right field. However, after the opening salvo had been fired, Lund settled in and slowed down the Ohio state runner-up.
Madison responded with two runs in the bottom of the 1st to claim the lead. Kian O’Brien led off the frame with a double and was later driven in by an RBI double by Chad Herbst. Andrew Pliner plated Herbst with an RBI single in the next at bat to make the score 2-1.
Herbst added to his RBI tally in the bottom of the 3rd with an RBI groundout and extended the Impact’s lead to 3-1. Troy knotted things up at three runs apiece in the top of the 4th thanks to a 2 RBI single by Zachary Kirby.
The Impact seized control of the game in the bottom of the 4th and 5th innings. They scored a run on an error in the 4th to break the tie and put up a three-spot in the 5th to break the game open. Jordan Carlson and Kigen Mares both had RBI singles in the 5th.
Lund pitched all nine innings for Madison and allowed just one earned run. He scattered seven hits and struck out six to get the win. Herbst and Mares both finished 2-for-4 at the plate for the Impact.
Madison will play the winner of the game between Rockport (Indiana) and Alton (Illinois) tomorrow night at approximately 7:30.
