ALBANY - The Albany baseball team used the long ball to help launch the Comets to a 6-3 WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal win Tuesday over Juda.
Four of Albany's five hits were home runs. Albany senior Brandon Pfeuti went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI to lead the Comets.
Albany also received home runs from Mike Elmer and Adam Zurlfuh.
"The guys hit the ball hard tonight," Albany coach Brian Dahl said.
Albany senior Tyler Bauman pitched a complete game to get the win. He gave up three runs on four hits. Bauman walked six and struck out three.
The Panthers' three hits came from Kyle Nyman, Jacob Ramos and Steve West.
Juda had the bases loaded with no outs in the fourth inning, but could only push across one run. After Juda botched a suicide squeeze, the Comets threw out two runners on pickle plays.
"Defensively, I was happy with our guys," Dahl said. "We had a lot of huge defensive plays."
Ramos pitched six innings and gave up six runs on five hits. He struck out seven and walked two. The Comets advance to play Burlington Catholic Central in a regional final today.
"The sad thing is Juda is a very good team," Dahl said. "They are very well coached. It's too bad they had their season end. My guys did what they had to do."
Catholic Central 5, Monticello 1
BURLINGTON - The Ponies' season came to an end in the WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Tuesday.
Senior Brandon Holz struck out two batters and allowed eight hits and three earned runs in six innings for Monticello.
Catholic Central scored two runs in the first inning, as Rex Morrow hit a two-run home run off Holz.
"That's not what you like to see right away when you're on the road," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "It was a good game, but that home run was a bit of a back breaker."
The Ponies fought hard, and loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth. Mike Elzen singled in a run, but Monticello's next three hitters struck out to end the threat.
"Had we put a ball or two in play, it could have easily been 2-2, or 3-2 or better. Ending the inning with only one run put the momentum in their hands," Pinnow said.
Catholic Central scored three runs in the fifth, two unearned after three singles and an error.
"That didn't help," Pinnow said. "But we had our opportunities to take some control, we just didn't get it done."
Monticello finished the season 7-11. Jacob Marty and Cole Henning had Monticello's only other hits.
WIAA Division 3 Regional Semifinal
Mineral Point 4, Darlington 0
MINERAL POINT - Taylor Wiegel took the loss on the mound Tuesday for the Redbirds, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and five walks, while striking out five in six innings.
Mineral Point (20-3), which has been routinely at the top of the state rankings, scored a run in the second inning, and three more in the sixth for insurance.
Darlington (9-9) only could muster two hits against Mineral Point pitchers Bobby Noland and Bo Doney. The Redbirds struck out seven times, but did manage to earn eight walks.
Four of Albany's five hits were home runs. Albany senior Brandon Pfeuti went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI to lead the Comets.
Albany also received home runs from Mike Elmer and Adam Zurlfuh.
"The guys hit the ball hard tonight," Albany coach Brian Dahl said.
Albany senior Tyler Bauman pitched a complete game to get the win. He gave up three runs on four hits. Bauman walked six and struck out three.
The Panthers' three hits came from Kyle Nyman, Jacob Ramos and Steve West.
Juda had the bases loaded with no outs in the fourth inning, but could only push across one run. After Juda botched a suicide squeeze, the Comets threw out two runners on pickle plays.
"Defensively, I was happy with our guys," Dahl said. "We had a lot of huge defensive plays."
Ramos pitched six innings and gave up six runs on five hits. He struck out seven and walked two. The Comets advance to play Burlington Catholic Central in a regional final today.
"The sad thing is Juda is a very good team," Dahl said. "They are very well coached. It's too bad they had their season end. My guys did what they had to do."
Catholic Central 5, Monticello 1
BURLINGTON - The Ponies' season came to an end in the WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Tuesday.
Senior Brandon Holz struck out two batters and allowed eight hits and three earned runs in six innings for Monticello.
Catholic Central scored two runs in the first inning, as Rex Morrow hit a two-run home run off Holz.
"That's not what you like to see right away when you're on the road," Monticello coach Jason Pinnow said. "It was a good game, but that home run was a bit of a back breaker."
The Ponies fought hard, and loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth. Mike Elzen singled in a run, but Monticello's next three hitters struck out to end the threat.
"Had we put a ball or two in play, it could have easily been 2-2, or 3-2 or better. Ending the inning with only one run put the momentum in their hands," Pinnow said.
Catholic Central scored three runs in the fifth, two unearned after three singles and an error.
"That didn't help," Pinnow said. "But we had our opportunities to take some control, we just didn't get it done."
Monticello finished the season 7-11. Jacob Marty and Cole Henning had Monticello's only other hits.
WIAA Division 3 Regional Semifinal
Mineral Point 4, Darlington 0
MINERAL POINT - Taylor Wiegel took the loss on the mound Tuesday for the Redbirds, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and five walks, while striking out five in six innings.
Mineral Point (20-3), which has been routinely at the top of the state rankings, scored a run in the second inning, and three more in the sixth for insurance.
Darlington (9-9) only could muster two hits against Mineral Point pitchers Bobby Noland and Bo Doney. The Redbirds struck out seven times, but did manage to earn eight walks.
