ARGYLE - Black Hawk sophomore pitcher Reesan Ruch gave the Warriors reason to believe they could pull off an upset of No. 1 seed Argyle in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Wednesday.
Argyle junior pitcher Riley Ostby and Ruch were locked in a pitcher's duel. Ruch stymied the Orioles, tossing a one-hitter through six innings. With one swing of the bat, Argyle sophomore Collin Argue spoiled the upset bid. Argue smashed a game-winning RBI double to center field to give the Orioles a thrilling 2-1 walk-off win over Black Hawk.
"We didn't play our game tonight," Argue said. "We came through when it mattered and pulled it out. I don't think we came ready. Guys were just kind of swinging for the fences thinking they could hit home runs off that guy (Ruch)."
With the win, Argyle (16-10) advances and will host Williams Bay in a regional championship game Friday.
Black Hawk (3-20) looked nothing like the team that entered the tournament with just two regular season wins. The Warriors matched the Orioles pitch-for-pitch. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second when Argyle senior Brock Bruehlman scored after a long pickle play in a rundown between third base and home plate.
The Warriors answered in the third. Black Hawk senior Troy Wellnitz singled to right leading off the third. Black Hawk freshman Jason Treuthardt then delivered a two-out, RBI single to tie the game at 1.
"I was especially happy with everyone," Black Hawk coach Colton Laird said. "We couldn't have went out in a better way. They played their hearts out."
Ruch pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked seven. Argyle was 1-for-8 hitting with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base.
Argyle coach Jeff Solberg, who coached Black Hawk last year, understands the Orioles dodged a scare.
"It's good to get a scare sometimes," Solberg said. "Then they realize they have to come ready to play next time. The longer they (Black Hawk) hung around the more confidence they got."
Solberg commended Ruch for his pitching performance.
"He threw well," Solberg said. "Any time you face a slower pitcher in any league everyone wants to hit the ball harder. We were pulling off the ball and hitting a lot of pop ups. We swung at bad pitches and in bad counts."
Black Hawk freshman Brody Milz started in center field, but twisted his ankle in the first and didn't return. Laird considered subbing him in at shortstop, but he was only allowed to put him back in at center.
"If he was going to go back in I had to put him in for Colin Novak in center and he was our only backup pitcher," Laird said. "It was too early in the game."
Argue was on base three of the four times he batted going 2-for-3 with a walk and one RBI. Treuthardt went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Warriors.
Ostby pitched a complete game to get the win. He gave up one run on three hits. Ostby struck out eight and walked two.
Before Argue's late-game heroics, Ostby laid down a sacrifice bunt in the seventh to move the winning run into scoring position.
"He (Ostby) is the one who kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh," Solberg said of Ostby's pitching.
"We wouldn't have got that run without Ostby getting that bunt down. I don't think I have had him bunt all year. For him to get that bunt down, that shows a lot about his character."
Solberg wasn't surprised to see one of his youngest starters in Argue come through in the clutch.
"He's only a sophomore, but Collin has been one of our best hitters all year, he said. "I have a lot of faith in him. He proved it in a big way that he could get a big hit for us."
Laird wants the Warriors to build off the game against Argyle.
"I think this game should show them that we can play with anyone," Laird said.
Argyle junior pitcher Riley Ostby and Ruch were locked in a pitcher's duel. Ruch stymied the Orioles, tossing a one-hitter through six innings. With one swing of the bat, Argyle sophomore Collin Argue spoiled the upset bid. Argue smashed a game-winning RBI double to center field to give the Orioles a thrilling 2-1 walk-off win over Black Hawk.
"We didn't play our game tonight," Argue said. "We came through when it mattered and pulled it out. I don't think we came ready. Guys were just kind of swinging for the fences thinking they could hit home runs off that guy (Ruch)."
With the win, Argyle (16-10) advances and will host Williams Bay in a regional championship game Friday.
Black Hawk (3-20) looked nothing like the team that entered the tournament with just two regular season wins. The Warriors matched the Orioles pitch-for-pitch. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second when Argyle senior Brock Bruehlman scored after a long pickle play in a rundown between third base and home plate.
The Warriors answered in the third. Black Hawk senior Troy Wellnitz singled to right leading off the third. Black Hawk freshman Jason Treuthardt then delivered a two-out, RBI single to tie the game at 1.
"I was especially happy with everyone," Black Hawk coach Colton Laird said. "We couldn't have went out in a better way. They played their hearts out."
Ruch pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked seven. Argyle was 1-for-8 hitting with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base.
Argyle coach Jeff Solberg, who coached Black Hawk last year, understands the Orioles dodged a scare.
"It's good to get a scare sometimes," Solberg said. "Then they realize they have to come ready to play next time. The longer they (Black Hawk) hung around the more confidence they got."
Solberg commended Ruch for his pitching performance.
"He threw well," Solberg said. "Any time you face a slower pitcher in any league everyone wants to hit the ball harder. We were pulling off the ball and hitting a lot of pop ups. We swung at bad pitches and in bad counts."
Black Hawk freshman Brody Milz started in center field, but twisted his ankle in the first and didn't return. Laird considered subbing him in at shortstop, but he was only allowed to put him back in at center.
"If he was going to go back in I had to put him in for Colin Novak in center and he was our only backup pitcher," Laird said. "It was too early in the game."
Argue was on base three of the four times he batted going 2-for-3 with a walk and one RBI. Treuthardt went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Warriors.
Ostby pitched a complete game to get the win. He gave up one run on three hits. Ostby struck out eight and walked two.
Before Argue's late-game heroics, Ostby laid down a sacrifice bunt in the seventh to move the winning run into scoring position.
"He (Ostby) is the one who kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh," Solberg said of Ostby's pitching.
"We wouldn't have got that run without Ostby getting that bunt down. I don't think I have had him bunt all year. For him to get that bunt down, that shows a lot about his character."
Solberg wasn't surprised to see one of his youngest starters in Argue come through in the clutch.
"He's only a sophomore, but Collin has been one of our best hitters all year, he said. "I have a lot of faith in him. He proved it in a big way that he could get a big hit for us."
Laird wants the Warriors to build off the game against Argyle.
"I think this game should show them that we can play with anyone," Laird said.
