MADISON — With a pair of three-run innings, the North-West defeated the East-Southeast 11-4 in the Home Talent Baseball League All-Star game on Friday, Aug. 11 at the Madison Mallard’s Duck Pond. The game was called in the eighth inning due to lightning.

Kylo Barker (Argyle), Jayden Johnson (Argyle), Ben Conway (Wiota) and Everett Johnson (Blanchardville) represented area teams.

“It was a privilege to be selected to play with some of the best players around,” Jayden Johnson said.

In the bottom of the first, Tressin Kussmaul (Belleville) lined a single and stole second. He came around to score — giving the North-West a 1-0 lead — on an RBI single from Trey Schulte (Arena). 

The East-Southeast tied the game in the next frame with an unearned run. Trace Kirchberg (Columbus) reached on an error and scored on a single from Carson Holin (Sun Prairie). Another unearned run in the top of the third gave the East-Southeast a 2-1 lead, as Eric Veneges (Stoughton) scored on a single from Adam Bortz (Rio).

Back-to-back three-run innings gave the North-West a 7-2 lead, one it didn’t relinquish. In the bottom of the third, Jayden Johnson, Kussmaul and Alt reached via walk, setting up Everett Johnson for a two-RBI double. Schulte collected another RBI on a groundout. In the fourth, three more walks plagued the East-Southeast pitching staff. Hits from Alt and Easton Zempfel (Middleton) extended the North-West’s lead to 7-2.

After a one-run fifth, the North-West scored a pair of runs in the sixth. Aaron Heubsch (Muscoda) drove in Carter Christianson (Ridgeway) on an RBI single and Jarrett Fuegger (Waunakee) hit a sacrifice fly. The North-West’s final run came via fiedler’s choice. 

The East-Southeast managed two runs in the top of the eighth before the rain hit. Andres Moreno (Cottage Grove) lined an RBI single and the North-West pitching staff walked across a run with bases loaded.

Barker pitched one inning and struck out one batter. Conway also pitched an inning, giving up an unearned run on two hits. At the plate, Jayden Johnson scored a run, while Everett Johnson went 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

In playoffs, Jefferson defeated Cambridge 5-2 to take the Southeast, Monona topped DeForest 7-3 for the East, Verona bested Shullsburg-Benton 9-4 winning the West, and Waunakee beat Sauk Prairie 6-3 in the North.

The championship series begins 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20. Verona hosts Jefferson, and Monona travels to Waunakee.