Regional action begins next week
By Dan Truttschel
Sports Correspondent
A weekend trip to Wisconsin Rapids couldn’t have turned out any better for the East Troy Post 188 legion baseball team.
In a four-game stretch, East Troy outscored its opponents 39-13 and posted a 3-1 record to bring home the tournament title.
East Troy, which won its first three games of the weekend by a combined score of 37-2, improved to 7-9-2 overall.
Post 188 recorded victories of 13-2 over Appleton, 12-0 over Lake Geneva and 12-0 over Tomah. In the finale against Wisconsin Rapids, East Troy fell 11-3, but it already had clinched the overall title.
“It was a great weekend,” East Troy coach John Wick said. “These guys have been struggling all summer to get in a groove, and they sure found it in the Rapids.”
Wick said the offensive outburst all weekend was impressive, but there were other parts of his team’s play that were just as important.
“The defensive effort were really impressive,” he said. “Logan Parsons at shortstop, third and first made play after play. Will Iloncaie’s arm strength from short to first took away several potential infield hits. Evan Wick caught all four games, including three on Saturday.
“One of the nicest things about the weekend, other than winning the tournament, were the compliments we received on how the boys handled themselves on and off the field.”
Another offensive explosion and a no-hit effort by pitcher Josh Oswald highlighted the win over Tomah.
“Josh put on a show to win the championship,” Wick said. “Any time you get a no-hitter, it’s pretty special.
“The defense was just spectacular behind him, too. They made play after play and that drew praise from coaches and fans.”
East Troy took control with four runs in the first inning. Iloncaie drove in Ryan Olsen for the first run, followed by hits from Oswald, Jake Homan, Nick Bertschinger and Will Muench.
Post 188 built its lead to 11-0 after the third inning. Richard Hastings drove in two runs with a single, followed by a bases-loaded double by Oswald that chased home three more.
The tournament’s second game Saturday against Lake Geneva gave Post 188 a chance to avenge a loss to its nearby rival earlier this summer, and that’s just what East Troy did.
“I thought this (game) was going to be a hard one mentally,” Wick said. “The boys thought otherwise. They just attacked.”
Olsen. Logan Parsons, Iloncaie and Oswald combined to score nine runs in 13 at bats.
“That’s pretty amazing,” Wick said.
East Troy built a 6-0 lead before the game was suspended because of rain. Post 188 scored six runs when play resumed Sunday to end the game via the mercy rule.
Collecting hits in the big first inning were Parsons, Iloncaie, Oswald, Evan Wick, Bertschinger and Hastings.
The tournament opener proved to be a sign of things to come, as East Troy led 6-0 after the second inning and 9-0 after the third to cruise past Appleton.
“(The team) did a great job,” Wick said. “The only spot in the order that didn’t score was the winning pitcher. Everyone contributed. This was a fun way to start (the weekend).”
Homan picked up the win in the opener, as he allowed just one hit in four innings.
East Troy returned to action Tuesday against visiting Union Grove. Post 188 hosts the Kenosha Merchants Friday at 5:30, followed by its regular-season finale Sunday with a doubleheader at Elkhorn, beginning at 1 p.m.
The regional tournament begins Wednesday, July 23, and continues through July 25. More information on that event will run next week.
