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The Dodgeville Knights pulled of the unexpected Sunday, winning the Western Section Championship 4-3 over Ridgeway and earning a spot in the Home Talent League's round robin championship series.
The last time the Knights were in the end of the year series was 2006. They won the title that year with a thrilling 2-1 win over Fort Atkinson in 12 innings in the final game.
Ironically, it was the Ridgeway Cardinals who helped the Knights gain home field advantage throughout the Western Section play-offs. The Cardinals beat Wiota 2-1 in the first round then stunned three time defending champion Verona 7-4. Those wins made the Knights the top remaining seed heading into the last weekend of Western Section post season play.
The game did not disappoint. It featured a pitching duel between Ridgeway's giant killer Chris Thousand and the Knights staff of Danny Sullivan and Kyle Nelson.
Sullivan got the win with a strong seven innings before giving way to Nelson who got the save.
Sullivan struck out seven, walked three and spaced three hits. Ridgeway scored an unearned run off him in the sixth.
Nelson struck out one, walked two and gave up a pair of earned runs in the ninth.
The Knights took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second. Travis Elvert singled and eventually scored on a throwing error on an attempted double play.
Aaron Ayers followed Elvert with a single and scored on a balk.
Ridgeway cut the lead to one with a run in the sixth. Adam Halverson got to first on a throwing error, advanced on a walk and a single and scored on a hit by Josh Kitelinger.
The Knights took a 4-1 lead in the seventh. Karl Reynolds led off the inning with a single and moved up on a bunt by Ty Marklein. Sullivan knocked in a run with a single and Elvert's double brought in another.
Elvert finished 4x4 for the Knights and Marklein went 2x4.
Reynolds, Sullivan, Ayers and Tyler Hardyman each had one hit.
The game ended in a unconventional manner on a heads up play by the Knights.
Kitelinger walked with one out and gave way to pinch runner Weston Peterson. Miles Rolli then coaxed a two out walk. Tyler Peterson then found some green in the outfield and Knights right fielder Tanner Solberg had to lay out to stop it, allowing Weston Peterson to score.
Rolli got to third as Solberg returned the ball to Elvert but Tyler Peterson did not stop at second. With the ball in Elvert's hands, Rolli took off for the plate and the Knights opted to go after Peterson, eventually throwing him out at third to end the game.
The Cards had four hits, one a double by Kevin Oimoen and the rest singles by Tyler Peterson, Trevor Christianson and Kitelinger.
Thousand was forced to take the loss. He fanned five, walked three and gave up 10 hits. Two of the runs off him were earned.
The Knights host Southeast champ the Albion Tigers Sunday in the first round of the round robin. Game time is 1 p.m.
Members of the Dodgeville 1972 Home Talent League champions will be introduced before the game and Dick Stephens will represent them in throwing out the first ball.
There will be an admission charge for the game per league rules.
There will also be presentation of the colors and The National Anthem.
A full concessions stand will be in operation so no carry-ins please.