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West Salem roars into championship


West Salem closer Braxton Ghelfi roars after striking out the last batter of the game (Wisconsin Baseball Central).

GRAND CHUTE – After two years of heartbreak in the semifinals, West Salem will finally play for a Division 2 state championship thanks to a 5-3 win over Beloit Turner on Wednesday night.

Alex Jeranek spun a gem on the mound to hold the Trojans’ bats quiet for most of the game, which was enough for the Panthers to hold on for the win.

West Salem, on the other hand, had no trouble getting the offense going. The Panthers slugged nine hits in the win.

The Coulee Conference champions jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. An RBI fielder’s choice, RBI single by Austin Kennedy and a wild pitch all brought runs in to score for the Panthers.

West Salem added another run in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI single by Nick Schultz.

Turner started to rally a little bit in the fifth inning. Hunter Waldsmith drew a bases loaded walk, and Sam Behm hit into a fielder’s choice for an RBI.

With its lead cut to two runs, West Salem responded with a run in the sixth on a double squeeze play. Schultz set down the bunt and scored a runner from third base, but the runner from second was caught out at the plate.

Facing its final three outs of the season, Turner put runners on first and third thanks to a double by Mitch Seager and a walk by Waldsmith. Behm laced a single to center field to make the score 5-3. He advanced to second base on a throw to third, putting the tying run in scoring position.

However, West Salem closer Braxton Ghelfi came up with a big strikeout to end the game with the tying run left out on base.

The Panthers had Jeranek to thank for silencing one of the top offenses in Division 2. He pitched six innings of two-hit baseball and struck out eight in a masterclass performance.

Trevor Kastenschmidt led West Salem with two hits. Schultz finished with two RBIs.

Seager went 1-for-3 with a double and a well-struck line out to the outfield for Turner. Waldsmith drew three walks.

West Salem (23-4) will face either Mosinee or Waupun in the state championship game at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Turner ended the year with a 25-4 record and as the champion of the Rock Valley South Conference.

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