State tournament preview: Cumberland vs. Aquinas
The state tournament begins on June 13 with the Division 1 quarterfinals and semifinals, followed by the semifinals for Divisions 2 through 4 on June 14. All four state championship games will take place on June 15. We're breaking down every quarterfinal and semifinal matchup. Next up: Cumberland vs. Aquinas in the Division 3 semifinals.
The rundown
Cumberland enters the state tournament with an 18-6 record and as the runner-up in the Heart O’North Conference. They’re making their first state tournament appearance since 1998, and are seeking their first-ever WIAA baseball state championship. They won their regional by defeating Luck/Frederic and Unity, and advanced through sectionals with wins over Chetek-Weyerhaeuser and Durand.
Aquinas is 19-10 coming into the state tournament. They finished in second place in the Mississippi Valley Conference, despite being a Division 3 team playing amongst many Division 1 schools. The Blugolds are at the state tournament for the second time in three years. They fell to Lake Country Lutheran in the 2015 Division 3 state championship game (one of the greatest title games played in recent memories). Their road to Appleton saw them beat Melrose-Mindoro, Neillsville, Lancaster and Wisconsin Heights.
Here’s a breakdown of the matchup based on the following categories: hitting, pitching, and base running. The teams are rated on a 100 point scale, with 100 being the best. There are a possible 45 points in both the hitting and pitching categories, and 10 in the base running category.
*Note: Stats listed for Cumberland do not include stats from sectionals.
Hitting
Cumberland: 33 points
Aquinas: 33 points
These two teams are very similar at the plate, statistically speaking. Cumberland hit .300 as a team this season, while Aquinas batted .299. The Beavers have six contributors batting over .300, compared to the four everyday Blugold starters hitting above that same mark. Kobe Berghammer and Jerrad Lindfors lead the Beavers with .381 batting averages. Berghammer had 11 extra-base hits entering sectional play, including three home runs. He drove in 23 runs. Outfielder Max Narges hits .362 for Cumberland, and Payton Rose has a .333 average. Reid Olson is hitting a hair above .300 at .304. The Beavers have a well-rounded lineup boasting a number of guys who can get a big hit.
The Blugolds have a number of strong bats in their lineup, led by Jess Ondell. The freshman is hitting .464 with 17 extra-base hits and 23 RBIs this year. Jake Savoldelli hits .357 and has bashed three home runs and knocked in 26 runs this year. Sean Dee has a .313 average with six doubles and a home run to go along with 18 RBIs. Catcher CJ Nolte is hitting .307, while John Savoldelli bats .280. As a team, Aquinas hit 60 extra-base hits.
Pitching
Cumberland: 35 points
Aquinas: 33 points
Cumberland has slightly better numbers on the mound than Aquinas. The Beavers have a team ERA of 1.96. Isaac Bucher has been the team’s ace this season. In 36.2 innings and nine starts, he posted a 5-2 record with a 2.13 ERA and 31 strikeouts. Reid Olson, Riley Bodsberg and Tyler Landsworth have been excellent secondary options for the Beavers. Olson has a 1.03 ERA in 34 innings, while Bodsberg posted a 0.56 ERA in 25.2 innings and Landworth managed a 2.66 ERA in 29 innings.
John Savoldelli is Aquinas’ go-to guy on the mound. He’s 8-2 in 68.1 innings with a 2.16 ERA, which is impressive considering the Division 1 competition Aquinas faces. Jess Ondell is 5-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 46 innings. Jake Savoldelli has been a solid No. 3 man, posting a 3.74 ERA in 28.1 innings.
Base running
Cumberland: 4 points
Aquinas: 6 points
Aquinas was more of a threat on the bases than Cumberland was this year. The Blugolds stole 59 bases this season and had three players with double digit steals. Brandon Merfeld led the team with 11 swipes, and Sean Dee and Ryan Ellingson both had 10. There were four other Blugolds with at least five steals. As a team, they were caught stealing on 22 percent of their attempts, which is higher than most teams at the state tournament.
The Beavers stole 39 bases entering sectionals, led by Max Narges’ seven steals. Payton Rose, was the only other player on the team to have at least five steals. The Beavers just didn’t steal as aggressively as the Blugolds this year.
The verdict
Cumberland: 72 out of 100 points
Aquinas: 72 out of 100 points
Cumberland and Aquinas are very evenly-matched when you simply look at the stats. Aquinas’ strength of schedule against Division 1 teams could make them better prepared than most teams to face the top teams in Division 3. That proved to be the case on their road to Appleton, where they outscored opponents 38-5. Still, Cumberland knocked off Unity, the No. 8 ranked team in Division 3, in the regional finals so they’re no stranger to tough competition either. Aquinas might enter the game as the favorite in a lot of people's eyes due to the aforementioned strength of schedule, but this has the makings of a good battle between two strong teams.
