Preble Stifles Middleton in State Quarterfinals
Griffin Summers flips the ball to Connor Lemmens to turn a double play for Preble in the state quarterfinals. Photo by Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central
GRAND CHUTE, Wis.—The Green Bay Preble Hornets advanced to the Division 1 state semifinals for the first time in program history with a 4-2 win over Middleton in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The Hornets used a solid performance from senior pitcher Caleb Schoenholz and some timely fashion to beat their opponents from the Madison area.
Schoenholz tossed a complete game four-hitter to propel Preble to victory. He allowed only four baserunners all game.
Jayden Adrians gave Preble the lead in the top of the 2nd with an RBI double down the right field line. Griffin Summers doubled the lead later in the frame with an RBI single.
A sacrifice fly by Jarrett Scheelk stretched Preble’s lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning.
Middleton cut the lead down to two runs when Nolan Kelliher hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth to get the Cardinals on the board. They trimmed the lead again in the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Zach Shipley.
The Hornets added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Schoenholz helped out his own cause with an RBI single to make the score 4-2.
Nolan Kouba drew a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the seventh with Middleton down by two, but the Hornets eventually turned a double play to seal the win.
Ryan Dougherty paced the Preble offense with a 3-for-4 performance. Brennan Schmitt was 1-for-3 with a double for Middleton.
