GRAND CHUTE — A heartbreaking loss for central Wisconsin baseball fans as the Pittsville Panthers fall to Johnson Creek 6-2 in the WIAA boys baseball semifinals Tuesday, June 17, at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
The Panthers (18-7) took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kash Ostermann doubled and scored on Jameson Krueger's RBI single. Pittsville added another run in the sixth when Grant Rademan was hit by a pitch and came home on Friday's double.
But Johnson Creek capitalized on Pittsville errors to take control. The Bluejays scored two unearned runs in the fourth inning, then broke the game open with a four-run sixth highlighted by Dugg Hartwig's RBI single and Brady Fincutter's bases-loaded walk.
Pittsville made three errors in the fourth inning that led to both Johnson Creek runs. Tanner Herman singled and scored when shortstop committed a throwing error, allowing Aiden Smith to reach safely. Zach Holland also scored on the miscue.
The Panthers' season ended just short of the state championship game. It marked their first trip to the semifinals since 2006, when current head coach Justin Rayburn and assistants Casey Krohn and Sam Schwanebeck were players on that team.
Pittsville tied for the Central Wisconsin-South Conference championship with Pacelli during the regular season, splitting two games with their co-champions.
Johnson Creek advances to face the winner of the other semifinal game, either Edgar or Pacelli.
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