Second trip features more experienced squad
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Waterford Senior Legion head coach Jon Todryk has been with his group of players for the past four years.
He’s emphasized team play and team chemistry, leaving petty things like stats on the back burner.
The result has been two straight trips to the Wisconsin American Legion State tournament, a place Waterford lost in its only two games in 2014.
Now a team laced with seniors and a college freshman, Waterford is ready to show its 15-6 season is no fluke.
“We’ve really had a balanced team effort,” Todryk said. “We are getting good pitching and good defense.”
A year after playing AAA, the state’s largest Legion division, Waterford will drop down to AA.
Smaller competition doesn’t necessarily mean much, according to Todryk.
“The pitching at state is very, very good,” he said. “There’s a ton of talent up north.”
With defending champion Menasha leading the pack of seven northern Wisconsin teams and lone Waterford from the south, Todryk knows it will be a climb.
But he also knows his guys have the ability to win it all.
“If our bats get hot, we absolutely have the ability to get it done,” Todryk said. “We need good defense and pitching, and we must hit the ball. It’s gotta be a complete team effort.”
Waterford utilized plenty of team effort during last week’s regional tournament in Burlington.
On July 22, Dylan Malecki got the 4-2 win over rival Union Grove.
After an 11-0 lambasting of Fort Atkinson Thursday, Waterford found itself down 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh Friday against Burlington.
A Ben Folger RBI double scored Chris Saltzmann and sent things into extras.
But all Waterford needed was a couple at-bats to rattle Burlington pitcher Cal Tully.
Waterford reeled off four straight hits in the eighth, led by RBI hits from Ryan Kiedrowski, Hunsucker, Tyler Terrian and Saltzmann.
Waterford then had to play Union Grove again for the title because Burlington forfeited due to lack of players.
Malecki left the game up 5-3, and Folger saved the day with three strong innings.
Waterford scored five runs in the first two innings and finished its opponent with two in the fifth.
“It’s exciting and great for the kids,” Todryk said. “We need to try to control what we need to do.”
Burlington forced to forfeit
Burlington, a team that hosted last weekend’s regional tournament, had Waterford on the ropes at 8-7 in the seventh July 24, but the Trashers, led by pitchers Ben Golon and Cal Tully, imploded and allowed Waterford to rip off a five-run eighth.
The tournament was played at Beaumont Field, but Burlington was forced to forfeit after its loss with only eight players the rest of the tournament.
It was likely Burlington would’ve downed the Grove and faced Waterford for a rematch in Saturday’s championship.
Despite solid individual seasons from Dane Helnore, Bryan Sturtevant, Golon, Cal Tully, Liam Safar and Aaron Sturtevant among others, Burlington’s season ended abruptly at 10-3.
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