GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – Stratford (21-2) defeated Boyceville (19-4) 7-5 in the Division 3 semifinals of the State Baseball Tournament at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium Wednesday.
The Tigers plated four runs in the first inning fueled by run-scoring singles by Dawson Moen and Riley Bauman, and a two-run double by Mac Licciardi. Boyceville tied the game with three runs on three hits in the second inning and another in the third inning.
Stratford broke a 4-4 tie with three runs in the fifth inning. After a pair of walks, Riley Bauman belted a run-scoring double, and Licciardi drove in his third run of the game with a single to highlight the scoring. After the Bulldogs scored a run in the fifth inning, Chandler Schmidt came on in relief of Lance Heidmann to hold the Tigers’ lead.
Eli Drexler, Schmidt, Bauman and Licciardi each collected two hits in the game for the Tigers. Heidmmann was the winning pitcher, and Schmidt earned the saved.
Walker Retz had three hits for the Bulldogs, and Jaden Reisimer and Connor Sempf each collected two hits to lead the Boyceville at the plate.
After a six-hour rain delay, Markesan (22-5) no-hit Ozaukee (12-7) 10-0 in five innings in the second semifinal.
Shane Ryan tossed the first no-hitter in the State Tournament since Jameson Lavery of Parkview did it back in 2012. He also starred at the plate for the Hornets, producing the big blow in an eight-run third inning, clubbing an RBI triple. Markesan collected six hits in the inning that was aided by two Ozaukee errors.
The Hornets added two more runs in the fourth inning on a steal of home by Tristan Dillie and the second of two RBI singles in the game by Ethan Augustynowicz. Every Markesan player to make a plate appearance in the game had at least one hit in the game to highlight the 12-hit Hornet assault.
Ryan struck out 12 batters and walked three in the game. He worked his way out of a jam in second inning. The Warriors had runners on second and third base with one out, but Ryan struck out the next two hitters to escape the inning unscathed.