Waupaca Clinches Championship Game Berth
Johnny Popham prepares to make a play for Waupaca. Photo by Spencer Flaten/Wisconsin Baseball Central.
GRAND CHUTE, Wis.--Waupaca defeated West Salem 6-3 in the Division 2 state semifinals. The Comets advanced to face Milwaukee Lutheran in Division 2 state final at 3 p.m. on Thursday with the win.
Waupaca got on the board first as Jacob Popham drew a walk and drove in a run to take a 1-0 lead. West Salem got two back in the 3rd on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error by Jason Ellie.
After 2 ½ innings, West Salem led 2-1. In the bottom half of the 3rd, Waupaca had the bases loaded with no outs. A double play interference call by the umpires put runners back on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs. Then Nate Meihak roped a ball to right center for a bases-clearing double.
Waupaca added two more in the 5th inning on a Walker Smith single that drove in one, but an error by the left fielder plated another run. That made the score 6-1.
West Salem loaded the bases in the 7th and had the tying run on 1st but could not get the timely hitting that they need and fell 6-3.
Jason Ellie pitched an excellent game for Waupaca, going all seven giving up nine hits, two earned runs and striking out 11 hitters.
