Laconia punches ticket to state final in extra inning thriller
Laconia's Jake Beattie (3) and Collin Weisnicht (4) sprint to celebrate with the team after recording the final out of the game (Wisconsin Baseball Central).
GRAND CHUTE – Teams that finish the regular season with a 7-11 record aren’t supposed to make it to the state championship game.
Don’t tell that to Laconia, because the Spartans won’t believe you. They’re living proof that it can happen.
Laconia advanced to the Division 3 state championship game with a thrilling 5-4 win over Iola-Scandinavia in the semifinals on Wednesday night.
The Spartans blew two late leads, but the third time proved to be the charm for the Cinderella team. They’re riding that charm straight to the state title game on an improbable run.
Laconia took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Andy Abler.
The Thunderbirds responded with two runs in the third. Seth Korb had an RBI single and Carter Kurki grounded out for an RBI.
Laconia scored on a balk to tie the game in the fourth inning. They added another run in the sixth on an RBI double by Cormac Madigan.
Down to their final out in the seventh, the Thunderbirds tied the game on an RBI single by Carter Kurki.
The Spartans regained the lead in the eighth thanks to an RBI single by Seth Gosse smacked up the middle.
Iola-Scandinavia again stared elimination in the eye and survived in the bottom of the inning. Bryce Huettner grounded out for an RBI with a runner on third.
Laconia scored the winning run in the ninth when a bunt was thrown into right field.
The Thunderbirds loaded the bases and threatened to win the game, let alone tie it. However, Laconia pitcher Bryce Engelhardt dug deep and ended the game by inducing a groundout.
Abler and Brady Madigan both had two hits for Laconia. Korb and Jayden Sivertson had two hits apiece for the Thunderbirds.
Laconia (14-10) will face Aquinas in the Division 3 state championship game at noon on Thursday.
Iola-Scandinavia ends the year with a 17-7 record.
