By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
It’s hard to believe, but the summer Legion baseball schedule already is nearing the end.
And that means, it’s time for the East Troy Post 188 squad to kick things into high gear.
East Troy split a pair of games last week, as it continued to work toward making a little noise in the upcoming post-season tournament.
Post 188 defeated the Kenosha Rake 9-4 last Wednesday, which came on the heels of a 6-4 loss to the Rake two days earlier.
With the split, Post 188 stood at 4-4 heading into a road trip to Antigo for a tournament this weekend.
The rematch with Kenosha started slowly for East Troy, as the Rake used three straight hits and a walk off starter Will Iloncaie to build a 3-0 lead.
“Will had been dominant through the first couple innings,” East Troy manager John Wick said. “He missed a few spots, but responded (after that) incredibly well.”
East Troy rallied back in the top of the fourth inning to knot the game at 3-3.
Ryan Olsen led off with a single, and after the next two batters were retired, Logan parsons singled and Evan Wick recorded an RBI double to drive in Olsen.
Iloncaie then tied the game with a double to left centerfield to score Parsons and Wick to even the game.
From there, Iloncaie shut down Kenosha the next three innings, and in the seventh, Post 188 took control.
East Troy sent 11 batters to the plate, as Kenosha pitchers walked six to fuel the rally. Jason Dopke, Olsen, Dan O’Brien, Jacob Mast, Parsons and Wick all scored in the inning.
“Winning helps (things),” Wick said. “Will pitched a fabulous game, but the defense was pretty good behind him. The outfield was spot on, (Josh) Oswald was solid at first and (Nick) Bertschinger and Parsons made some highlight-reel plays.
“When you get the top three in the order, Logan, Evan and Will, on base 10 times during a game, good things will happen.”
In the opener last Monday, East Troy held a 3-0 lead after the second inning.
Parsons and Wick each singled with two outs, followed by a two-run double by Iloncaie that highlighted the inning.
But Kenosha rallied back in the fourth with two runs, followed by two more in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. East Troy knotted the score at 4-4 in the sixth on a double by Jon Ciriacks, who later scored to pull Post 188 back to even.
In the seventh, the Rake finally pushed the eventual winning runs across the plate.
The downside of the loss, Wick said, was 10 strikeouts from the middle of the lineup, but the positive came from Bertschinger’s effort on the mound.
“Nick is getting more consistent each time he takes the mound,” Wick said. “He gives us a chance to win in every game he throws.”
East Troy is back in action this weekend with a two-day tournament in Antigo. Post 188 is back home next Monday, July 13, to face Beloit at 5:45 p.m.
