Sturgeon Bay’s Braylon LaRoche (28) approaches home plate to score in Thursday’s Packerland Conference game at Kewaunee. Photo by Kevin Boneske.
The hopes of Sturgeon Bay’s boys baseball team to share this season’s Packerland Conference title vanished Thursday at Kewaunee.
The Clippers gave up a grand-slam home run to Waylon Delain in the opening inning and three runs in the fourth on a bases-clearing double by Alec Carlson when Sturgeon Bay ended up losing to the Storm, this year’s undefeated league champion, 11-2.
Clippers starting pitcher Ethan Kratcha worked the first two innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Sigmund Hansen tossed the final five innings in relief, allowing six runs, three earned, on eight hits with three walks and three hit batters while striking out three.
Both of Sturgeon Bay’s runs came in the second inning when Braylon LaRoche and Jack Higginbotham both scored and Bryce Plzak, who had one of the team’s four hits, drove in a run.
Kewaunee’s starting left-handed pitcher, Brett Paulsen, worked the first five innings and recorded the win, allowing two runs on three hits with five walks and a hit batter while striking out nine. Delain tossed the final two scoreless innings in relief, allowing a hit and striking out two.
The Clippers, who dropped to 5-2 in the Packerland and 10-9 overall, close out their conference schedule Friday at Sevastopol, prior to Tuesday’s non-league game at Mishicot and opening the WIAA Division 2 regional tournament May 29 as a No. 10 seed in a quarterfinal game at No. 7-seeded Marinette.