Waterford could make deep playoff run
Inconsistency.
This ugly, five-syllable word that describes the ups and downs of a particular team is often the trademark of a young, inexperienced bunch.
Enter the 2015 Burlington Demons baseball team.
The talent is evident.
Pitchers Cal Tully, Jacob Lindemann and Aaron Mutter boast ERAs below 3.00, and Bryan Sturtevant, Luke Gannon, Dane Helnore and Mutter spark the club at the plate.
Mix in the speed of players like Zach Campbell and Tanner Strommen, and the Demons can beat just about anyone in a head-to-head matchup.
Consider only three of the aforementioned players are seniors, and it’s not a surprise that the Demons are hovering just above .500 at 12-11, just a few days away from the WIAA postseason, where they are a 6 seed and will host a Division 1 playoff game Tuesday, June 2 against No. 11 Racine Park.
Burlington’s least-favorite word, inconsistency, returned Wednesday night at UW-Whitewater, as the Demons kicked the ball around for six errors in a 7-5 loss to Wilmot in the team’s conference finale.
It’s been these kind of “What the heck?” games that have defined Burlington’s season, although there have been glowing bright spots.
Basically, the Demons were dormant in the season’s first month and stumbled to a 1-6 start.
Then, after a 4-7 April, Burlington has been solid in May with an 8-4 record, including a big victory over SLC champion Waterford, a sweep of Union Grove and good wins at Germantown and Whitefish Bay.
But, much like Wednesday’s clunker in Whitewater, the Demons dropped a 2-1 game to sub-.500 Elkhorn and seemed to not even show up in a 7-0 loss at rival Waterford, a game that was a true litmus test to see if these young athletes are for real.
Ignore my constructive criticism and sometimes harsh words, because I still believe in the Demons.
Cal Tully is one of the best athletes in the area, and his pitching keeps getting better.
Lindemann, only a sophomore, is an absolute beast that can throw in the high 80s and is sure to have a college career.
Mutter is an impressive power hitter and continues to improve his pitching.
Arms like Sturtevant and Campbell will be vital in the playoffs.
Though there’s been extreme ups and downs, the bats are dangerous.
From top to bottom, everyone can stroke the ball with ease. Guys like Mitch Klug, James Tully, Austin Baker, Evan Schlitz and Eric Behnke are nice pieces to complement the studs.
Burlington has everything you could ask for in a baseball team, including an outstanding coach in Scott Staude, but they must put it all together starting next week if they want to knock off a power like Tremper in the second round or even a consistent team like Waterford in the sectional.
“Tonight was frustrating,” Staude said after Wednesday’s loss. “We did not play well defensively. We played two good games on Saturday but could not sustain it. We have been very inconsistent this season.”
Let’s call the Demons’ sectional the Union Grove Sectional because the actual sectional will be a doubleheader extravaganza Tuesday, June 9 at Union Grove High School.
And if you guessed that Union Grove is in the sectional, you are correct. And there are plenty more familiar faces, as Southern Lakes Conference foes Lake Geneva Badger, Waterford, Wilmot and Westosha Central also join the sectional, one of eight in Division 1.
Burlington was 6-8 this season against potential sectional opponents, which breaks down to 0-6 against Kenosha County and 5-1 against Racine County.
Luckily, the Demons open with Park, a team they beat 7-0 back on May 6.
A win means a matchup with Kenosha Tremper, currently the 14th-ranked team in the Prep Baseball Report Power 25.
On April 17, Tremper defeated Burlington, 8-5, at UW-Whitewater, a game the Demons were in the entire time and could’ve won.
Tremper features two Division 1 players, but the Trojans have had some hiccups this season.
If Burlington can upset Tremper, a rubber match with Waterford awaits in sectionals. A sectional final against Kenosha Bradford would be the last stop before state. Bradford beat Burlington, 3-1, in a pitcher’s duel.
The Demons are certainly capable of getting hot, and you just never know what will happen in the postseason. Burlington’s pitching depth will help.
“If we pitch well and play defense like I know we can, we can compete with anybody in our sectional,” Staude said. “There’s no pressure at all. Play the game hard and the right way, and things usually work out. Hopefully we can be consistent and get on a roll here in the playoffs.”
BOLD PREDICTION: Burlington will upset Tremper and advance to sectionals.
Toppers happy to start fresh
It hasn’t been the most memorable season for Catholic Central head baseball coach Tom O’Connell.
The longtime Toppers skipper has helped lead his squad to a 45-5 postseason record since 2004.
Catholic Central constantly plays tough competition from bigger school during the season, and when the playoffs come, it feasts on weaker schools its own size.
But as a fan, it’s hard to look at this season’s 5-12 record and get too excited.
Thanks to its placement with smaller schools, however, Catholic Central is a 3 seed and will travel to No. 2 Oakfield.
So why should the Toppers be able to go into a hostile environment and knock off an 8-8 team?
“Catholic Central tradition,” said Toppers senior Nolan Girard, who is second on the team with a .375 batting average. “Coach O’Connell knows how to win.”
O’Connell said Wednesday that No. 3 was the best his team could expect.
He said after a season of injuries, things are starting to fall into place.
“We don’t have the volume at 10 yet, but we’re nearing it.”
Junior Ben Heiligenthal paces the club with a .432 batting average. Jake Webley and Austin Hayes are also hitting above .300.
Pitching has been this team’s Achille’s Heel all season.
Catholic Central has one starter, senior Kross Krueger, with an ERA below 5 (4.98), and the other three are in the 5s or above.
If this team is turning things around, like the coach and Girard are saying, I believe the boys in blue can advance to sectionals.
But reality tells me the Toppers have lost five straight, and they’ve only scored two runs per contest in their last four.
BOLD PREDICTION: Catholic Central will lose their second playoff game.
Wolverines a team of destiny?
Waterford is 18-4 and by far the best team in the area.
They have the area’s best pitcher, Dylan Malecki, a true No. 2 starter, Tony Ray, and a lineup chalk full of veterans that can beat you with the long ball and small ball.
Waterford won a gritty battle at rival Union Grove by moving guys station to station in its last at-bat.
Also, the Wolverines thumped Burlington with the help of a three-run bomb over the fence courtesy of slugger Ryan Jungbauer.
You name it, and Waterford can do it. The Wolverines can beat you in so many ways.
They swept every team in the Southern Lakes Conference except Burlington and Westosha Central, and Waterford is SLC champion, alone at the top.
The title is Waterford’s first conference title since the SLC assumed its current configuration in 2009. Waterford last reached state in 2010 and sectionals in 2011.
Although the Wolverines possess a victory over a state-ranked opponent, they did sweep Wilmot early in the season when the Panthers were ranked.
Just because no perennial powers were scheduled doesn’t mean Waterford isn’t every bit as good as its 18-4 mark.
Senior leadership is coming out of this team’s pores, with Trace Hunsucker, Ross Gunderson, Ryan Kiedrowski, Ryan Borchardt and Malecki guiding the guys.
Ryan Dietrich, Matt Wezyk, Chris Saltzmann and Tyler Terrian have provided big bats and solid defense as underclassmen.
Coach Lance Bestland has a very good, consistent team that should make some serious postseason noise with its No. 2 seed.
All it will take is a home victory over Racine Horlick, a team that beat Waterford 9-8, and the Wolverines will be fast-tracked into the sectional, a mere two wins from state.
Malecki is the real deal on the mound, as he only has one loss on the season.
Also, Ray is crafty on the mound and would be the ace on most teams.
BOLD PREDICTION: Waterford will advance to state.
Underdogs keep inching closer
A pair of tough losses to Westosha Central followed a pair of gut-wrenching defeats at the hands of SLC champion Waterford.
The 9-15 Broncos may be 2-8 in their last 10, but the Grove is due for a few breaks here and there after hanging tough with some stiff competition.
Union Grove opens at Badger, a team the Broncos beat this season.
But a second-round game against top-seeded Kenosha Bradford would be a tall task.
Anything can happen in the playoffs, though, as evidenced by Burlington’s opening-round loss to Horlick, a far inferior club, in the 2014 playoffs.
The Grove is very competitive and certainly capable of reaching the sectional, which will take place in Union Grove.
Just like Burlington, the Grove was upset in the first round last year at the hands of Badger. This season will offer a chance at sweet revenge.
In fact, Waterford was a higher seed that lost in the first round last year as well.
Zac Melendrez leads the Bronco attack with a .345 batting average, 26 RBIs and 10 doubles.
Blake Hansen is tops on the team with a .365 average.
Mason Rodriquez is hitting .344, and Joey Nilo-Lofton is at .338.
Pitching depth has been huge for the Grove. Three pitchers have ERAs at 3.41 or lower, led by Justin Schwark at 1.67 in 21 innings.
Interestingly, five Broncos have pitched 20 or more innings.
Ben Rossman has a 2.62 ERA. Also, Riley Placke is 2-2 with a 3.41 ERA.
Union Grove can play with anyone, so don’t be surprised if the Broncos shock some people.
BOLD PREDICTION: Union Grove will lose in the first round.
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