The Waupaca Lakemen are heading into the BABA playoffs on a winning note.
Waupaca will host Scandinavia at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, in a division semifinal matchup at Lakemen Field. The Lakemen finished second in the South-Central Division standings with a 10-4 mark, while the Vikings finished third with an 8-6 record.
The Lakemen wrapped up the regular season Sunday with an 8-1 win over Rosholt at the Scandinavia Corn Roast and also picked up recent wins over a pair of first-place BABA teams in Plover and Elderon.
Waupaca 8,
Rosholt 1
Jeff Riddle held the Renegades to three hits and an unearned run over seven innings.
Waupaca opened the scoring in the second inning, as Braden Kaminske led off with a double to left field, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Rocky Mondello’s single to right.
Rosholt tied the game in the third on a single, sacrifice bunt, passed ball and error.
Luke Behm gave the Lakemen the lead for good with a solo home run over the right field fence in the fourth inning. Waupaca added another run in the frame, as Kaminske walked, moved to third on a David Yeska single and scored on a Mondello groundout.
Waupaca tacked on three more runs in the fifth. Josh Peterson and Riddle singled and Jason Wanty was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Behm drove in a run with a single and courtesy runner Ethan Dayton scored on a wild pitch.
Andy Wanty bounced a single up the middle to score Jason Wanty, but Behm was gunned down at home on a throw from center field.
Waupaca scored another insurance run in the sixth, as Mondello and Riddle doubled. The final run came in Waupaca’s half of the ninth, as Dayton led off with a double and eventually scored on another wild pitch.
Riddle had three of Waupaca’s 13 hits, while Behm, Kaminske and Mondello added two each. Kaminske was credited with the save by holding the Renegades hitless and striking out four.
Waupaca 3,
Elderon 0
The WhiskeyJacks are heading into the BABA playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the North Division, but came up short against Waupaca Friday.
Waupaca scored twice in the third on four hits. Eric Brehmer led off with a single, moved to second on an error and scored on a Wes Austin single. Dane Larsen followed with a single down the line and Austin scored on Behm’s single to right field. The inning ended with the bases loaded.
Waupaca’s final run came in the fourth without a hit. Shawn Peskie and Zac Peterson drew walks and moved up a base on Brehmer’s sacrifice bunt before Peskie scored on an Austin groundout.
Andy Wanty held the WhiskeyJacks to five hits as the Lakemen improved to 18-10 on the season.
Waupaca 3,
Plover 2
A scoreless game with Plover resumed Wednesday, Aug. 4, with one out in the bottom of the second.
Mondello started the Lakemen off with a double and Austin singled. Mondello scored on a Kyle Douglas sacrifice fly.
Neither team scored again until the fifth. Riddle held Plover in check despite allowing two hits in the fourth.
Riddle led off the Lakemen half of the fifth with a walk and Dayton moved to second as a courtesy runner on a Jason Wanty bunt and scored on Behm’s double into the gap.
Plover tied the game in the eighth. Riddle gave up a one-out single to Shane Standifer and John Jasnovsky tied the game at 2-2 with a towering home run to left-center. However, Riddle didn’t allow another baserunner and retired the final four batters in order.
Waupaca won the game in the bottom of the ninth, as Douglas walked and Peskie went to second as a pinch runner on Riddle’s sacrifice bunt. Peskie advanced to third on a short passed ball before Jason Wanty was walked intentionally to set up a double play. Behm then bounced a hit up the middle. The shortstop cut the ball off, but couldn’t get Wanty on the force as Peskie touched home plate with the winning run.
Riddle scattered seven hits to get the win. He and Austin each had three of Waupaca’s 11 hits, while Behm added two.
NOTE: Lakemen fans are reminded that season tickets are no longer valid for playoff games.