GILLETT, WI- For the first time in school history, the Bonduel Baseball team is heading to State after a 6-0 win over St. Mary Catholic in the Division 3 Sectional Finals.
“It’s the best feeling I have ever had in my life,” Coach Don Gruenewald said. “We have been in the Sectional Finals in the 2000’s and could never kick the door down.”
The Bears scored two runs in the second and two runs in the third innings to take control. Strong defense and solid pitching was key to keeping the Zephyrs off the score board.
Cade Johnson and Brodie Hartmann combined for the four hit shutout.
Johnson was lifted in the fifth inning after running out of pitches. Cade threw in relief in the Semifinal game earlier in the day, earning the win in that game, and also earned the win in the finals.
“Our pitching has been top notch all season,”Gruenwald said. “We have multiple guys we can rely on.”
In the Championship game Easton Reinke had two hits. “It feels really really good,” Reinke said. “The moment kept getting bigger and bigger and it was great. We have the pitching, defense and offense to do some damage.”
Karson Stoss also had two hits, drive in two runs and had some key catches in the outfield. “He had two game winning hits earlier in the tournament and he has always been a good defender.”
“I love tracking down balls and catching them,” Stoss said. “If you throw me a ball, I’m going to hit it.”
Colin Margolofsky traveled to Gillett for the Championship game after spending the morning golfing in the WIAA State Tournament for Bonduel earlier in the day.
“It was awesome, and my mom was able to get me here after golf, it was unbelievable.”
The team was glad he made it as he a double in the fourth inning that allowed him to score.
“We were in contact with Colin all day long to see what he was going to be capable of doing, and he got here just in time.
“Now Mark and I can go watch the tournament too because we said we were not going to go watch it until we qualified.”
Coach Don Gruenewald, Karson Stoss and Easton Reinke talk about the Sectional Championship
Earlier in the day, Brodie Hartman drove in two runs with a single in the 6th inning which led Bonduel to a 2-1 win over Auburndale.
The Eagle took a 1-0 lead in the fourth after a lead off triple. Bonduel started the sixth with a lead off single by Cade Johnson, who eventually got scarified to third by the next two batters. With two outs, Auburndale intentionally walked Noah Weier and decided to let him steal second. Hartmann delivered with the hit that scored both runs and Cade Johnson closed the door in the 7th with a 1-2-3 inning.
Bonduel scattered four hits in the game while giving up three.
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