Hensley, Stutzman provide late spark in rubber match
By Mike Ramczyk
Burlington Little League has become one of the most respected and feared baseball names in the state of Wisconsin.
The 12-year-old All-Stars have won five out of six state titles, and in June the first group to claim a state title became high school state champions.
Decades of baseball players laid a foundation for what has become an elite program.
But before the city’s boys of summer can challenge for the Little League World Series, they must face each other in the tournament that started it all – the Burlington Little League City Championship.
A best-of-3 series, Zarek Insurance battled Bear Realty to a split before the winner-take-all rubber match June 30 at the Hintz Baseball Complex in Burlington.
Zarek broke open a 4-4 tie with an Ashton Hensley two-run single, and pitcher Drew Stutzman shut the
door in the final two innings to give the team a 6-4 victory and the city championship.
“Winning the city championship is so special,” said Zarek coach David Gill. “The program is so respected in Wisconsin, and to be able to say we were able to compete against this top-notch competition and come out on top is definitely a moment I will remember forever.”
Throughout the series, Gill said he switched the pitching rotation around.
He started Mason Gill in the decisive game, though Mason generally pitches in relief. Both Mason Gill and Stutzman kept the Bear batters guessing with a mixture of speeds and pitches.
“I decided to go with Drew in the fourth inning and close with his fastball and changeup,” Coach Gill said. “They (Mason and Drew) had great command in game three.”
With the game tied 4-4 in the fifth inning, Zarek’s Jake Follis was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.
This set the stage for the left-handed batting Hensley, who smashed a groundball up the middle into center field to score the game-winning runs.
Stutzman registered several key strikeouts in the final two frames, and strong defense from Follis at shortstop and second baseman Evan Gill kept Bear off the scoreboard.
Stutzman helped his cause at the plate, socking a home run in the first inning.
Bear Realty was the No. 1 seed and finished with the best record in the regular season, but Zarek’s leadership pulled through.
“The Zarek team is fundamentally a very solid team,” Coach Gill said. “The older kids on the team were great leaders for the younger kids throughout the season. That leadership was present after the second game and guided us in game three.”
“It was two well-coached teams with dominant pitching and great team chemistry.”
Bear’s Jacob Needle pitched well with a powerful fastball but took the loss in game three.
David Gill, who also is the Burlington Little League Board president, said the 11/12 All-Stars open district play Monday in Burlington.
The goal is another trip to Indianapolis for regionals, which are televised live on ESPN.
Burlington has advanced to Indy five of the last six years, but the team is still searching for that elusive ticket to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.
“We will be competing against some of the best teams in Wisconsin,” David Gill said. “(Coaches) Craig Wiemer, Brent Sagedal and I are looking forward to getting the games going and watching some great baseball.”
This year’s 12-year-old All-Stars were a part of the 10/11 state title squad last summer.
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