Pointers defeat Blackhawks in sectional final
The top seeded Prairie du Chien baseball team came within one win of going to the state tournament, but came up short, 8-2, to second seeded Mineral Point in a WIAA Division 3 Sectional final at Copeland Park in La Crosse Tuesday evening.
The Blackhawks were down 8-0 when they came to bat in the top of the seventh. They were able to get 2 runs in the inning due to some timely hits and walks, but their fine season came to an end as they finished with an 18-2-1 record.
The Blackhawks were regional champions and conference champions with a 10-0 record in the SWC.
The Pointers improved to 17-4 on the season. They were 11-2 in the SWAL, finishing second to Fennimore. Mineral Point defeated top seeded Wisconsin Heights 4-3 in the sectional semifinal.
In the sectional final, the Pointers scored 3 runs in the first inning, 3 in the fourth and 2 in the bottom of the sixth.
Mineral Point had 11 hits in the contest and committed no errors. Prairie had 7 hits and committed 2 errors.
Cory Check was 2x3 for the Blackhawks.
Check took the loss. He gave up 7 hits while striking out 4 and walking 3 in 3 2/3 innings. Dylan Coleman gave up 4 hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Prairie du Chien reached the sectional final by beating top seeded Osseo-Fairchild in the sectional opener 6-2. Osseo-Fairchild finished its season with a 15-7 record.
The Blackhawks took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on a 2-run single by Drake Coleman and an RBI single by Gavin Gillitzer.
Prairie added 3 runs in the fourth inning on a triple by Tyler Smock that scored 2 runs and a single by Gillitzer that drove in 1 run.
Gillitzer gained the complete game victory. He gave up 6 hits while striking out 8 and walking 3 in seven innings.