Wildcats clinch DC title share with two wins

The Blair-Taylor baseball team clinched at least a tie for the Dairyland Conference title with two wins last week.

The team was set to go for the outright crown at home against defending champion and current second-place team, Eleva-Strum, on Monday of this week. If E-S were to win, it would tie B-T at the top of the standings. The Wildcats defeated the Cardinals earlier this season and came away with two wins last week, beating Melrose-Mindoro, 4-3, and Alma Center Lincoln, 14-2.

The Wildcats earned the third seed in its Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association bracket and will open tournament play at home against (14) Greenwood. The winner of that game will play the winner of the game between (11) ACL and (6) Port Edwards this coming Tuesday with the regional final set for next Wednesday. 

B-T 4 Mel-Min 3

The Wildcats scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth and held on for the win.

The Mustangs tied the game with two runs in the top of the fifth. They began the inning with three straight hits before Brady Thompson issued a walk with the bases loaded. B-T coach Jesse Lien turned to ace Tavian Shramek at that point. Shramek struck out both of the batters he faced, but the tying run scored on a balk.

Peyton Kelly gave the team life in the bottom of the fifth when he tripled to center field with one out. Kelly scored on an error with two outs to put his team ahead.

Shramek walked the leadoff batter in the sixth, but got the next three out. He struck out three in the seventh to clinch the win.

B-T took the lead in the second when Kyle Jahr singled to score Kelly. After Mel-Min tied the game in the top of the fourth, Travis Pettis and Shramek hit consecutive doubles to bring home two runs. 

Shramek and Kelly both had two hits for B-T, which had eight total in the game. Shramek struck out seven batters in 2.2 innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Thompson struck out four, allowing three walks and six hits. 

B-T 14 AC Lincoln 2

The Wildcats scored five in the second and five more in the third to break the game open.

B-T took a 2-0 lead when two runs scored on an error in the bottom of the first. Kole Trapp, Austin Thompson, Jackson Shramek and Ryan Flynn all hit RBI singles in the second before another run scored on a groundout, making the score 7-0.

The Hornets scored two runs in the top of the third, but B-T got both back on a single by Michael Waldera. Flynn and Brady Thompson added RBI hits to put B-T ahead by 10 runs at the end of the third.

Jackson Shramek added an RBI single in the fourth and another run scored on a sacrifice fly. Shramek had three of B-T’s 10 hits in the game. Flynn added two hits while Brady Thompson batted in three runs.

Tavian Shramek got the start and the win, striking out five in two innings before being replaced by Jackson Shramek. Anthony Oldendorf and Peyton Kelly also took the mound as the four B-T pitchers held the Hornets to four hits and one walk, while striking out 10.