Central baseball needs two today for state tournament berth

Red Raiders squeaked out a 1-0 win over Holmen in regional final.

After a 1-0 win over Holmen, the Central High School baseball team finds itself two wins away from a state tournament berth.

The Division 1 section championship will be decided today from Copeland Park. Top-seeded Central takes on No. 4 Waunakee at 10 a.m. to get things started. Sixth-seeded Middleton and No. 2 Tomah after that. The winners of those two games will then play at 4 p.m. for a bid to the state tournament.

The Red Raiders feel somewhat lucky to even be in this position after that regional final win over Holmen last week.

“We didn’t hit very well against Holmen,” Central coach Joseph Branson said. “Only three hits and two of them were bunt hits. We need to do more at the plate.”

Actually, Branson may not be right there with ace Kyle Gilbertson on the mound. He boats a .73 ERA this season, so one run might just be enough.

Then again, Waunakee took out Onalaska 16-2 in five innings in its regional win.

OTHER GAMES
DIVISION 2
(1) Mount Horeb vs. (1) Prairie du Chien at Evansville, 11 a.m.
     Winner plays at 4:30 p.m.

DIVISION 3
(1) Aquinas vs. (2) Lancaster at Whitehall, noon
     Winner plays at 8 p.m.

DIVISION 4
(1) Independence/Gilmanton vs. (2) Royall, 11 a.m.
      Winner plays at 3:30 p.m.