SLC CHAMPIONSHIP
Burlington bests Waterford for 6th conference crown in school history
By Mike Ramczyk
Scott Staude beamed with pride like a father who just saw his son take his first steps.
It was that kind of emotion that seeped from the veteran coach’s mannerisms moments after his Burlington varsity baseball team beat visiting Waterford, 5-2, Thursday night in a de facto Southern Lakes Conference championship game at Ginger Beaumont Field.
Spectators called it the largest crowd for a high school baseball in field history, as Burlington and Waterford fans saturated the stands, concessions area and first and third-base lines.
Burlington completed a two-game season series sweep against its rival Waterford, which won the SLC title last year.
After the game, Staude said this team is “special,” and he said the team’s depth is what makes it so dangerous.
While most teams have a few strong hitters at the top of the order, Staude said the Demons are solid from batters one through nine, and anybody can go off for a big game. He also credited the pitching staff for its depth and versatility.
“Our balance is really strong,” Staude said. “We don’t strike out a lot. They have a high slugging and on-base percentage. We haven’t struck out in three games.”
“Our ’05 team (last state tournament team) came on strong at the end. This team is a lot like our 2010 team (25-2, advanced to sectionals). Balanced lineup, heavy pitching at the top, it’s very similar. Pitching depth is what separates us. We have a killer instinct on this team. They love to hit, they love to play, they’re gym rats, they’re field rats. When they’re not playing baseball, they’re watching baseball. It’s fun to be around.”
The Demons captured their first Southern Lakes Conference title since 2010, when Burlington was 25-2 and produced four Division 1 college players.
Waterford (12-2 SLC) finished one game behind Burlington (13-1) in the standings.
Burlington earned a No. 3 seed in a WIAA Division 1 regional, which opens Thursday, June 2 at Beaumont Field in Burlington at 4:30 p.m. The Demons will face the winner of (6) Westosha Central – (11) Racine Case.
Waterford is the No. 4 seed in the same sectional and will host (5) Kenosha Bradford/Reuther or (12) Racine Park at the same time.
Winona State University recruit Aaron Mutter, a senior pitcher, went the distance on the mound, allowing two runs in the sixth inning.
With the bases loaded and two outs, a Waterford batter beat out an infield single, which cut the Burlington lead to 5-2. The next batter hit almost an identical dribbler down the third-base line, but third baseman Dale Damon charged full speed, bare-handed the baseball and fired in first base in one motion, barely retiring the runner.
Damon’s extraordinary effort prevented a 5-3 score with the bases loaded and the potential for much more damage.
Aaron Sturdevant broke open a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third inning. After a wild pitch advanced the Burlington runners into scoring position, the junior catcher banged a deep line drive to the fence in right-center, and Damon and Bryan Sturdevant scored.
Then, Cal Tully’s triple to center scored Aaron Sturdevant.
The next inning, Mutter and Damon each added an RBI.
Bryan Sturdevant finished 3-for-4, and Zach Campbell added two hits.
Mutter scattered six hits and struck out five.
Waterford No. 1 pitcher Tony Ray allowed five earned runs in six innings. He gave up 11 hits and walked one.
As a team, Burlington did not strike out at the plate.
“I feel like we’re playing great baseball right now,” Staude said. “Let’s start the tournament. Let’s play.”
Burlington 6, Kenosha Tremper 4
The Demons improved to 18-4 overall with a victory over the visiting Trojans Friday, May 20.
Tremper, seeded No. 3 in Burlington’s regional, which begins next week, got to within 6-4 with a three-run fifth.
But Cal Tully closed the door, pitching the final 2-1/3 innings and yielding only two hits and striking out three.
Damon, Campbell and Bryan Sturdevant each collected three hits.
Campbell (4IP, 4 hits, 0 ER) earned the victory.
Tremper is ranked 12th in the state in Division 1 in the latest WBCA poll. Burlington is No. 15, and Waterford is No. 16.
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