Legion players rally to win regional championship
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
A tough first two innings in last weekend’s 17U regional tournament title game in Beloit could have put the East Troy Legion Post 188 team’s back firmly against the wall.
But only if it let that happen – which East Troy refused to do.
East Troy overcame a 6-0 deficit and rallied back for a 9-7 victory to punch its ticket to this weekend’s 17U State Tournament at Plover. Post 188 (13-10 overall) defeated Hartland, 5-1, in the regional opener, followed by a 7-0 win over Stoughton.
The comeback Sunday was nothing short of amazing, East Troy coach Kelly Lehman said.
“Wow, just wow,” he said. “How do you describe being so close to being blown out early, clawing back, then being a strike away from losing and out of nowhere, winning? These kids just didn’t quit. It was amazing.”
Hartland scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning before East Troy could record an out. Trailing 6-0 after two innings, East Troy began to mount its comeback.
Post 188 got on the scoreboard with a single run in the third inning, followed by a four-run fourth inning that pulled it within a run.
A double by Mike Rosin scored Hunter Orlowski, followed by a two-run single by Roman Evans that drove in Rosin and Quinn Erdmann. Evans scored the inning’s fourth run on a wild pitch.
The teams traded runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth to leave Post 188 chasing a run heading into its final at bat.
And just for good measure, East Troy scored three – and all with two outs.
After two strikeouts, Orlowski was hit by an 0-2 pitch to start the rally. A throwing error put Orlowski on third, followed by an 0-2 single by Erdmann that knotted that score at 7-7.
A single by Rosin scored Erdmann with the go-ahead run, followed by an infield error that plated Evans.
Orlowski, who threw seven innings in relief, retired Hartland in order to seal the win. Orlowski allowed four hits, two earned runs, two walks and struck out four.
“Hunter hadn’t thrown more than three innings in any appearance this summer,” Lehman said. “What he did (Sunday) was incredible.”
Leading the offense were Rosin (four hits, three runs, two RBI), Erdmann (two hits, two runs, RBI), Evans (two hits, two runs, two RBI), Ben Gerber (three hits, two RBI), Wil Calcaterra (two hits) and Orlowski (two hits, two runs).
Next up for Post 188 is the state tournament today and a first-round matchup at 1 p.m. against West De Pere. Other teams in the field are Manitowoc, Oshkosh, Lake Geneva and Plover, along with two other yet-to-be-determined teams.
The double-elimination tournament continues through July 24.
“We want to keep playing well,” Lehman said. “Making the State Tournament is a bonus. They get to see what putting in the extra work does for them. For the rest of their lives, these kids will know and tell stories that they made it. That’s just awesome.”
The legion is seeking help to offset the cost of this weekend’s trip. Anyone interested in donating is asked to contact John Wick at etlegionbaseball@gmail.com.
Lehman pitches gem
East Troy jumped out quickly in the second game of the regional Saturday with a 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back in the 7-0 win over Stoughton.
Kyle Lehman pitched six hitless innings to pick up the victory. He allowed six walks and struck out nine before he gave way to Evans in the seventh, who allowed a hit and a walk in one inning.
“Kyle worked through a lot,” Kelly Lehman said. “It doesn’t show, but he didn’t have his best command early, but he battled extremely well. If you are working to find control, but throw a no-no through six, that’s impressive.”
Gerber provide the key hit in the four-run second inning, as he singled to drive in Dudkiewicz and Erdmann to give Post 188 a commanding 5-0 lead.
East Troy added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to slam the door shut.
Leaders included Erdmann (two hits, three runs), Gerber (two hits, three RBI), Kyle Nelson (two hits, run) and Dudkiewicz (two hits, run, RBI).
“Another great job at the plate, (with) Quinn, Ben, Kyle and Mac all getting a pair of hits, (and) Ben and Roman combining for five RBI,” Lehman said. “It’s just great to see everything paying off.”
East Troy cruises in opener
Post 188 began its regional tournament with a 5-1 win over Hartland on Friday. Post 188 scored once in the second, followed by a three-run fourth to take control.
Offensive leaders were Gerber (two hits, run), Andrew Gross (two hits, two runs, RBI), Lehman (two hits, two runs, RBI), Calcaterra (two hits, two RBI) and Orlowski (two hits, RBI).
“Andrew Gross crushed a couple of balls to spark us,” Lehman said. “That was huge. Overall, everybody had pretty good at bats. (It’s) always a quality win to beat that program.”
Rosin earned the win, as he pitched 6-1/3 innings, and allowed eight hits, an earned run, two walks and struck out five. Gerber fanned one in two-thirds of an inning.
“(It was) a gutsy job on the mound by Mike,” Lehman said. “He kept Arrowhead guessing all night and did a great job working ahead in the count.”
