August 13, 2015 at 2:32 p.m.
For the Knights its on to Verona Sunday
That loss sent the Knights to a seventh seed in the Western Section play-offs and set up a return date with Wiota last Sunday.
The Knights had to work through four starters not available for the game and with a patched up line-up to eliminate Wiota 5-3 and set up a date with the top seeded Verona Cavaliers Sunday in the play-off's second round.
Wiota got on the board with a run in the second. Alec Treuthardt put down a bunt and outraced the throw for a single then stole second. Brad Schliem bunted him to third and Jay Haldiman scored him with a grounder to second.
The Knights tied it in the fifth. Tony DeMuth and Kristian Haag both outwaited Solberg for walks and Mark Ludwig singled to plate DeMuth.
Wiota scored two in the sixth. Casey Schroeder doubled to lead off the inning and took third on Rooney Janecke's bunt. Merrill Brunson walked before a double by Solberg sent in Schroeder. Brunson took third on the play and scored on a pass ball.
Nic Pierick then worked out of it and tacked on a scoreless seventh before Austin Yager took over.
The Knights took control of the game with a four run eighth. Ludwig and Tanner Solberg both singled and Travis Elvert greeted reliever Alec Treuthardt with a sac bunt. Ian Streeter singled to cut the lead to one and Yager's infield bouncer tied it. Rbi singles by Bill Hellmann and Tony DeMuth sent the Knights to a 5-3 lead when they knocked in Streeter and Jay Linder who also singled and put the outcome in the hands of Yager.
Yager loaded the bases in the eighth with a single and a pair of hit batters but he found his groove and kept the Indians off the board. He then finished the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout, a fly to right that Tad Spurley turned into an out with a fine running catch and a fly to left that Bill Hellmann hauled in for the final out.
Ludwig was 3x4 with a double to pace the Knights' 10 hit attack. Streeter and Hellmann were both 2x4. Tanner Solberg, Hellmann and DeMuth rounded out the attack.
Pierick was the winning pitcher. He struck out five and walked one while giving up five hits and three runs. Yager finished with giving up a hit and striking out three for the save.
Sunday's opponent, Verona, eliminated Ridgeway 10-0.
In the other games Hollandale beat Shullsburg/Benton 5-2 and Mount Horeb/Pine Bluff eased past Blanchardville 12-2 and will meet at Hollandale Sunday.
