ARGYLE - Justin Crotty made sure Argyle would stay in the hunt for a Final Four appearance in the Home Talent League playoffs after he combined on a five-hit shutout to lead the Beavers to a 6-0 win over Blanchardville in the semifinals of the Western Section playoffs Sunday, Aug. 11.
Argyle (13-4) will play at No. 1 seed Verona for the Western Section championship Sunday, Aug. 18 with a chance to advance to the Final Four round-robin championship tournament for the first time since 1986 when Dick Schliem was the manager.
"It's a great opportunity to play Verona for something big we haven't had lately," said Argyle's Lee Bohlman, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
The Beavers jumped on Blanchardville ace pitcher Michael Pleimling batting around the order in a five-run first inning. Pleimling entered the second-round playoff game with a 5-0 mark. He uncharacteristically walked seven including three in the first when he struggled to find the strike zone. He walked Argyle's Andy Bohlman. On a comebacker, he threw to second, but Bohlman beat the play at third. He then walked Dylan Schwitz and Cory Stamm lined an RBI single to center. Lee Bohlman then came through with a two-run single to left and Tyler Ritschard lined a two-run single to left to give the Beavers a 5-0 lead.
"We needed to tell ourselves that we could beat him (Pleimling)," Argyle player-manager Travis Erickson said of the big first. "It was important to send a message. It didn't matter if it was the first game of the season or the second-round of the playoffs. We knew it was going to be a pitching battle for two weeks. If there was any pressure, it was on them (pitchers)."
Crotty handled the high-pressure situations just fine. The Bullets had a golden scoring opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs in the second. Crotty bore down and struck out Tanner Kleppe, Kyle Lane and Milton Kurschner to end the bases-loaded threat. Blanchardville went 0-for-7 hitting with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base. Crotty pitched seven shutout innings to get the win. He gave up just four hits and struck out seven. Argyle's Jarret Bauman tossed two shutout innings in relief.
"It shifted the momentum back our way," Erickson said of Crotty striking out the side to get out of a bases loaded jam in the second.
Blanchardville manager Eric Straehl praised Crotty for his pitching performance.
"Crotty pitched really well and our guys didn't," Straehl said. "Everyone in town was excited that we made it this far and we were too. Someone has to win and lose. Argyle took it today."
The Beavers made some stellar plays defensively. The Beavers turned a double play in the fifth. Crotty picked off Trevor Theobald at first base in the sixth and Ritschard threw out Kurschner trying to steal in the seventh.
"We had guys on we just weren't able to take advantage," Straehl said. "We ran ourselves out of a couple of innings."
The Beavers committed just one error and stranded 13 runners on base.
"Our defense played well all day," Erickson said. "We had no letdowns defensively."
The Beavers were aggressive running into some scoring opportunities stealing seven bases. Argyle's Lukas Kolasch had three stolen bases.
"We are not a power hitting team," Bohlman said. "Any time we can get an extra base without bunting and giving up an out, it's critical for us. Any time you can steal a base it will help separate you from other teams."
The Beavers had 10 hits. Ritschard went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Schwitz went 2-for 4 and Lance Rossing was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Lee Bohlman knew the importance of not squandering an early scoring opportunity against Pleimling who is one of the top pitchers in the Western Section.
"If you jump on him (Pleimling) early it will help because he will settle down," Bohlman said. "That is not what we wanted."
Pleimling pitched four innings and gave up six runs on seven hits. He only surrendered one run after a rocky start. Dave Cleary tossed four shutout innings in relief.
Bohlman is excited to get another rematch against Verona and former teammate Ben Wallace who is expected to pitch against the Beavers Sunday.
"In all honesty, I want an opportunity to play Verona again in a big game," Bohlman said. "It's always nice to face Ben. We know how he pitches and he knows how we hit."
Argyle (13-4) will play at No. 1 seed Verona for the Western Section championship Sunday, Aug. 18 with a chance to advance to the Final Four round-robin championship tournament for the first time since 1986 when Dick Schliem was the manager.
"It's a great opportunity to play Verona for something big we haven't had lately," said Argyle's Lee Bohlman, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
The Beavers jumped on Blanchardville ace pitcher Michael Pleimling batting around the order in a five-run first inning. Pleimling entered the second-round playoff game with a 5-0 mark. He uncharacteristically walked seven including three in the first when he struggled to find the strike zone. He walked Argyle's Andy Bohlman. On a comebacker, he threw to second, but Bohlman beat the play at third. He then walked Dylan Schwitz and Cory Stamm lined an RBI single to center. Lee Bohlman then came through with a two-run single to left and Tyler Ritschard lined a two-run single to left to give the Beavers a 5-0 lead.
"We needed to tell ourselves that we could beat him (Pleimling)," Argyle player-manager Travis Erickson said of the big first. "It was important to send a message. It didn't matter if it was the first game of the season or the second-round of the playoffs. We knew it was going to be a pitching battle for two weeks. If there was any pressure, it was on them (pitchers)."
Crotty handled the high-pressure situations just fine. The Bullets had a golden scoring opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs in the second. Crotty bore down and struck out Tanner Kleppe, Kyle Lane and Milton Kurschner to end the bases-loaded threat. Blanchardville went 0-for-7 hitting with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base. Crotty pitched seven shutout innings to get the win. He gave up just four hits and struck out seven. Argyle's Jarret Bauman tossed two shutout innings in relief.
"It shifted the momentum back our way," Erickson said of Crotty striking out the side to get out of a bases loaded jam in the second.
Blanchardville manager Eric Straehl praised Crotty for his pitching performance.
"Crotty pitched really well and our guys didn't," Straehl said. "Everyone in town was excited that we made it this far and we were too. Someone has to win and lose. Argyle took it today."
The Beavers made some stellar plays defensively. The Beavers turned a double play in the fifth. Crotty picked off Trevor Theobald at first base in the sixth and Ritschard threw out Kurschner trying to steal in the seventh.
"We had guys on we just weren't able to take advantage," Straehl said. "We ran ourselves out of a couple of innings."
The Beavers committed just one error and stranded 13 runners on base.
"Our defense played well all day," Erickson said. "We had no letdowns defensively."
The Beavers were aggressive running into some scoring opportunities stealing seven bases. Argyle's Lukas Kolasch had three stolen bases.
"We are not a power hitting team," Bohlman said. "Any time we can get an extra base without bunting and giving up an out, it's critical for us. Any time you can steal a base it will help separate you from other teams."
The Beavers had 10 hits. Ritschard went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Schwitz went 2-for 4 and Lance Rossing was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Lee Bohlman knew the importance of not squandering an early scoring opportunity against Pleimling who is one of the top pitchers in the Western Section.
"If you jump on him (Pleimling) early it will help because he will settle down," Bohlman said. "That is not what we wanted."
Pleimling pitched four innings and gave up six runs on seven hits. He only surrendered one run after a rocky start. Dave Cleary tossed four shutout innings in relief.
Bohlman is excited to get another rematch against Verona and former teammate Ben Wallace who is expected to pitch against the Beavers Sunday.
"In all honesty, I want an opportunity to play Verona again in a big game," Bohlman said. "It's always nice to face Ben. We know how he pitches and he knows how we hit."
