The Clintonville Diamond Cats beat Menominee to capture the North Division American Legion baseball title, going undefeated in divisional play while compiling an 11-1 record in league play.
The team also beat Green Lake, but fell to Shawano in their final regular-season home game July 20.
Clintonville 8, Green Lake 4
Nick Hogen had a big day at the plate with three hits, including a double. Turner Doornink hit a towering home run in the third inning and the Diamond Cats’ lead grew to 8-1 heading into the fourth.
Parker Mindel threw a complete game, striking out nine batters and allowing two runs.
Jake Van Allen, Hunter Vollmer and Damon Lorge had a hit for Clintonville.
Clintonville 11, Menominee 1
Clintonville led 8-0 after two innings and never looked back.
The Diamond Cats pounded out 14 hits, as Vollmer had three; Mindel, Turner Doornink, Hogen, Jansen VanDaalwyk and Zac Riemer added two; and Van Allen had a double.
Doornink and VanDaalwyk combined to throw a four-hitter, giving up one earned run.
Shawano 9, Clintonville 4
Eight errors doomed the Diamond Cats in a loss to Shawano.
Hogen took the loss on the mound, allowing two hits, three runs (one earned) and one walk while striking out one.
Clintonville approached the game with a “pitcher-by-committee” plan to save their arms for regional play this week.
Shawano got on the board early with two runs in the first inning and three in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Shawano added three in the sixth and one in the seventh, while Clintonville scored once in the fourth, once in the fifth and twice in the seventh.
Van Allen had two hits and scored a run for Clintonville, while Doornink had two hits, including a double and an RBI.
VanDaalwyk had one hit, one RBI, and was hit by a pitch. Jaden Doornink added one hit and one RBI.
Clintonville opened regional play July 23 against Weyauwega-Fremont. Regional tournament games will be played through the weekend in Marion. Participating teams in the double-elimination are Clintonville, Weyauwega-Fremont, Marion/Tigerton, Oconto, Bonduel, Menominee and Manawa.