Burlington hosts first-place Wilmot in doubleheader
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Thanks to tornado-like conditions and torrential downpour Monday, the Burlington baseball team was rained out for Tuesday’s game at Wilmot.
The Demons are 11-4-1 and 6-2 in the Southern Lakes Conference through Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game was an opportunity to leapfrog the Panthers (5-1) for second place in the conference behind Westosha Central.
But the cancellation sets up one of the Demons’ favorite scenarios – a doubleheader.
Burlington has swept three double dips this season, taking care of Union Grove, Badger and Wisconsin Lutheran.
The Demons will take any advantage they can find, as Wilmot comes to town Friday night for a doubleheader for Fan Appreciation Night.
The Panthers (10-2) are ranked No. 4 in the state in Division 1 by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association.
Burlington coach Scott Staude knows Friday’s game will test the Demons, who are coming off a 16-1 loss last Friday night against state-ranked Kenosha Bradford.
“I want to see how we respond to a team that is ranked so high in the state,” Staude said. “Whenever we play Wilmot, it seems to be a big game. The rivalry with our teams has been extremely competitive. Both teams have good starting pitching and a solid lineup, which will make it a good series. It should be a good atmosphere considering it is our fan appreciation night as well.”
Game one is at 4:30 p.m., and it should feature Burlington ace Mark Wallace on the mound, with No. 2 starter Houston Cowan hurling in the night cap.
It should be a rowdy crowd for the home team. Fan Appreciation Night means prizes and raffles for fans throughout the night, and free hot dogs for Demon fans.
Longtime Burlington teacher and coach Steve Gerber will throw out the first pitch.
Some proceeds will go to the United Way of Western Racine County.
“Fan appreciation night is something that we started about 10 years ago,” Staude said. “It is a great way for us to give back to our loyal fans. The program purchases items to give away, and we also give out free hot dogs which is always a big hit. There have been years where we have had 400 people in attendance. We hope the crowd will be just as good this year, and we want to give them some good baseball games to watch.”
Wilmot, like Burlington, split with conference-leading Westosha Central.
A split with the Panthers would keep Burlington in the SLC title mix, but a sweep could make it a two-team race with Central and Burlington.
The Demons travel to Delavan-Darien (7-6) Tuesday, and the Comets come to Burlington next Thursday.
Burlington 4, Waterford 1
Last Thursday at Beaumont Field, the Demons got some much-needed revenge on the Wolverines, who crushed Burlington in Waterford two nights earlier.
Wallace drove in Cal Tully with a double in the third, and Aaron Mutter followed with an RBI double of his own.
Later in the inning, Tanner Strommen laid a perfect suicide squeeze down the first-base line to score Mutter.
The 3-0 lead was enough as Cowan was dealing in a complete-game victory.
Waterford cut the lead to 3-1 in the fifth, but Tully gave the Demons some insurance with an RBI single in the sixth that scored Mitch Klug.
Cowan was masterful on the mound, allowing only three hits and walking two while giving up no earned runs.
“Houston was effective because he was in command all night with his fastball,” Staude said. “He was getting ahead of hitters and that allowed him to use his off-speed pitches to his advantage. That was his most complete game all year, and I thought he get a fantastic job.”
The victory allowed Burlington to keep pace in the SLC.
“Thursday was a big bounce back game for us,” Staude said. “We faced a really good picture in Malecki on Tuesday, and we wanted to establish some early momentum in the game Thursday. Plus we wanted to stay in the conference title hunt and we did that.”
Wallace and Klug each led the Demons with two hits.
Each of Wallace’s hits eventually led to Demon runs.
“Mark has been a clutch hitter for us all season long,” Staude said. “It seems like whenever we need a big hit or someone to extend the inning after two outs, he always comes through. He is a senior, which makes it really special to watch because he’s been waiting his whole career for this opportunity.”
Kenosha Bradford 16, Burlington 1
Nothing went right in Friday night’s game at Beaumont Field.
Burlington fell behind, 7-0, after two innings and never recovered.
The Red Devils are ranked No. 7 in Division 1 by the WBCA.
Dane Helnore led the Demons with two hits, and Bennett Conrardy added a hit.
Bradford’s nine-run explosion in the fourth made it a five-inning affair.
“I was very disappointed with the way we came out,” Staude said. “I thought we were flat, and you can’t do that against a very good team like Bradford. I just think it was one of those games where we didn’t come out and play very well, and they played at the top of their game. And that happens in baseball sometimes. You just have to go get it the next day.”
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