Germantown Baseball
In a stacked summer baseball sectional featuring two State-ranked teams and two honorable mentions in the latest WBCA polls, it was sixth-seeded Germantown who pulled off some impressive upsets last week. The Warhawks will advance to just their second ever State quarterfinal and first since 1986, also earning this week's Splash of the Week.
Tyler Thicke, an Indiana recruit who is coming off Tommy John surgery, earned a pair of complete-game victories for Germantown on its regional trek, including a 4-3 win over 3-seed Hamilton and a 2-1 victory over top seed and third-ranked Menomonee Falls in the regional final. The Warhawks also won Saturday's regional semifinal game against Slinger in another one-run decision, 3-2 in eight innings.
"We got past Sussex and then we got that win over Slinger and then it was my time again," Thicke said on the GermantownNow Web site. "A game I was actually dreading. I was hoping we'd make it, but I wasn't sure how I'd handle it. I was actually thinking, if we'd make it to state that would be fantastic, but that if we just got this far (sectional finals), that that would be great finish for us... I was also thinking that this is is my second full game in a week (after none all year in careful respect to his recovery process). I was going on three days rest and the extra day we got (due to the rain delay from Friday) was a big help."
Germantown's six total runs given up in three games was also a big improvement from the regular season, as they found just enough offense to squeak out the trio of victories. Sophomore Jimmy Doedens picked a good time to smack his first homerun of the season in the form of a two-out, two-run homer in the third inning as G-town hung on for the sectional title.
The Warhawks, boasting the only losing record in the State tournament field at 14-16, will face other upset-minded squad Waukesha West (see below) in the semifinals at Bukolt Park in Stevens Point Wednesday.
Honorable Mention
Paul Jesperson, Merrill Boys Basketball: Jesperson has dazzled recruiters all summer at camps and AAU tournaments, in particular a college coach close to home. The Merrill senior announced he will be going to the University of Virginia to play for former UW assistant and Washington State head coach Tony Bennett, as the first Atlantic Coast Conference recruit from Wisconsin in quite some time. “It came down what program I trusted the most,” Jesperson said at a press conference last week. “Even though they’ve had a tough stretch of late, I believe in Virginia and I believe in coach Bennett. I know we will get it done there, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Waukesha West Baseball: The Wolverines knocked off sectional host, top-seeded and second-State ranked Muskego Sunday in a sectional final to advance to the State summer quarterfinals. Waukesha West used a 5-run top of the seventh to shock the Warriors 8-4 in qualifying for its sixth State tournament in the past decade.
The Splash of the Week is sponsored by PlayInTheDells.com. It highlights the player, coach or team that has "made a splash" in the world of high school sports. Coming out of nowhere to do something great, going above and beyond the call of duty, etc. Basically making something big happen and having the ripples of the accomplishment resonate throughout your sport. Please contact us to nominate your hometown heroes today!
Tag(s): News Archive
