MIDDLETON — The Holmen High School baseball team was able to put the tying run on base in the top of the seventh inning, but Middleton recorded the out it needed to complete a 3-2 victory in a WIAA Division 1 regional championship game on Thursday.
The fifth-seeded Vikings (17-8) scored both of their runs on the top of the first inning but couldn’t overcome a three-run third inning by the fourth-seeded Cardinals (19-8).
Third baseman Landon Kelly hit a two-out single in the seventh, but Middleton’s Brody Kalscheur finished off a complete game by striking out the final hitter.
Holmen scored its first-inning runs on a home run from right fielder Joe Meeter and sacrifice fly from center fielder Mason Flury. Flury’s fly ball scored shortstop Nolan Mashak, who followed up Meeter’s home run with a triple.
Mashak was 3 for 3 and also doubled with two outs in the third inning but was stranded there.
The Vikings also put the first two runners of the sixth inning with a Meeter walk and Mashak single, but the next three batters were retired in order.
Bennett Schild pitched a complete-game three-hitter for Holmen. He struck out four, walked four and yielded two earned runs.
Madison Memorial 6, Onalaska 0
MADISON — The Hilltoppers (14-10) were knocked out by the top seed while being limited to three hits.
The Spartans scored one run in the first inning and two more in the second to put some pressure on Onalaska.
The Hilltoppers put two runners on with walks in the second inning and loaded the bases with two singles and a walk in the fourth but didn’t score in either situation.
First baseman Carson Zinnecker led off the fourth with a single to left field, and third baseman Carter DeLong followed an out with a single to right.
Hunter Morse walked, but two strikeouts ended the threat.
Left fielder Ian Kowal also singled for the Hilltoppers.
