Ithaca Returns to Title Game
Ithaca infielder Luke Oelke prepares for a throw. Photo by Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central.
GRAND CHUTE, Wis.--The Ithaca Bulldogs defeated Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran in the Division 4 state semifinals, 6-2, to return to the state title game for the second consecutive year.
Despite eight total runs being scored, hits were at a premium in the contest. The Bulldogs managed four hits, while the Blazers only tallied three.
Jacob Huebsch was the main reason for the Blazers' struggles. The right handed pitcher tossed a complete game with 12 Ks to propel his team to the championship game.
The Blazers took an early 1-0 lead after Jed McClellan hit an RBI triple in the first inning to plate the first run of the game.
Ithaca responded with two runs in the second, highlighted by an RBI single by Joey Clary.
The Bulldogs pushed three runs across in the third, including an RBI double by Ross Ghastin. They scored another in the fifth on an RBI walk by Ryan Granger.
N.E.W. Lutheran scored the final run of the game in the sixth on an Ithaca error.
Tanner Natzke finished the game 2-for-2 for the Blazers with a triple. Ghastin finished 1-for-2 with a double for Ithaca.
The Bulldogs will face either Pepin/Alma or Rib Lake in the Division 4 title game on Thursday morning.
