NEW GLARUS - The New Glarus baseball team was well-versed in facing sizable deficits early in games this season.
That was the good news for the Glarner Knights when they found themselves trailing Poynette by five runs after two innings Friday.
The even better news? Sophomore Tyler Molencamp was about to pitch five gutsy innings of no-hit relief to give New Glarus every opportunity to get back into Friday's Division 3 regional opener.
But there would be no rally this time, as Poynette's Kelsey DeBoer pitched out of a seventh-inning jam to finish the Pumas' 5-2 victory and end the 21-year run of New Glarus coach Warren Howard, who is retiring.
"I didn't start to feel (uneasy) until we got two strikes there when I was on third base (in the seventh) and I realized this could be the end," New Glarus senior Evan Hauge said. "Up until that point, it was 'We've got a shot.' We had a walkoff win just last week."
Things looked good for third-seeded New Glarus (8-14) in the seventh, when Molencamp and Hauge singled with no outs. The Pumas got the lead runner on Spencer Jones' fielder's choice, but Gabe Noyce walked to load the bases.
DeBoer then made the pitch of the game, getting Glarner Knights cleanup hitter Aaron Nimtz to pop up behind the plate. DeBoer ended the game with a strikeout, sending the sixth-seeded Pumas (4-19) to a regional semifinal contest Tuesday at Wisconsin Heights.
"It's a big win for us," Poynette coach Kraig Kalka said. "Thankfully our defense was able to hold and Kelsey was able to keep doing what he was doing all game. Getting the popup with the bases loaded and striking the last guy out to end the game, that's a big spot to be in."
It didn't look like there would be any nail-biting necessary in the New Glarus dugout after Poynette scored five runs against Glarner Knights sophomore Kyle Larson in the first two innings. The Pumas used three doubles to score two runs in the first, then plated three runs in the second with the help of a dropped ball in the outfield.
Molencamp relieved Larson to start the third inning and was outstanding. He issued three walks, hit two batters and recorded four strikeouts by mixing in a fastball with a steady diet of sliders and curveballs. Poynette only advanced one runner to third base against him, and that came on a Molencamp balk.
"I was pretty emotional. I was just giving it all I had," Molencamp said. "I obviously wanted to do good for Mr. Howard because it could be his last game. He's a pretty cool coach."
Said Howard: "Tyler came in and did a super job. In hindsight, I wish I would have started him. Kyle has been throwing so well, so I started him, but he didn't have it."
Hauge finished 3-for-4 with a double while Larson was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Howard thanked his final team. "They played hard all year long," he said.
"Eight wins is more than I would have expected," Hauge said. "Getting a (No.) 3 seed and getting a home game and ending it here ... it's bittersweet."
That was the good news for the Glarner Knights when they found themselves trailing Poynette by five runs after two innings Friday.
The even better news? Sophomore Tyler Molencamp was about to pitch five gutsy innings of no-hit relief to give New Glarus every opportunity to get back into Friday's Division 3 regional opener.
But there would be no rally this time, as Poynette's Kelsey DeBoer pitched out of a seventh-inning jam to finish the Pumas' 5-2 victory and end the 21-year run of New Glarus coach Warren Howard, who is retiring.
"I didn't start to feel (uneasy) until we got two strikes there when I was on third base (in the seventh) and I realized this could be the end," New Glarus senior Evan Hauge said. "Up until that point, it was 'We've got a shot.' We had a walkoff win just last week."
Things looked good for third-seeded New Glarus (8-14) in the seventh, when Molencamp and Hauge singled with no outs. The Pumas got the lead runner on Spencer Jones' fielder's choice, but Gabe Noyce walked to load the bases.
DeBoer then made the pitch of the game, getting Glarner Knights cleanup hitter Aaron Nimtz to pop up behind the plate. DeBoer ended the game with a strikeout, sending the sixth-seeded Pumas (4-19) to a regional semifinal contest Tuesday at Wisconsin Heights.
"It's a big win for us," Poynette coach Kraig Kalka said. "Thankfully our defense was able to hold and Kelsey was able to keep doing what he was doing all game. Getting the popup with the bases loaded and striking the last guy out to end the game, that's a big spot to be in."
It didn't look like there would be any nail-biting necessary in the New Glarus dugout after Poynette scored five runs against Glarner Knights sophomore Kyle Larson in the first two innings. The Pumas used three doubles to score two runs in the first, then plated three runs in the second with the help of a dropped ball in the outfield.
Molencamp relieved Larson to start the third inning and was outstanding. He issued three walks, hit two batters and recorded four strikeouts by mixing in a fastball with a steady diet of sliders and curveballs. Poynette only advanced one runner to third base against him, and that came on a Molencamp balk.
"I was pretty emotional. I was just giving it all I had," Molencamp said. "I obviously wanted to do good for Mr. Howard because it could be his last game. He's a pretty cool coach."
Said Howard: "Tyler came in and did a super job. In hindsight, I wish I would have started him. Kyle has been throwing so well, so I started him, but he didn't have it."
Hauge finished 3-for-4 with a double while Larson was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Howard thanked his final team. "They played hard all year long," he said.
"Eight wins is more than I would have expected," Hauge said. "Getting a (No.) 3 seed and getting a home game and ending it here ... it's bittersweet."
