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Heartbreak in regional finals for the Hoppers

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The Prairie du Chien American Legion varsity baseball team was heartbroken just shy of the Class A State Tournament, in a 12-6 loss to Fennimore, Monday night, in Coon Valley.

Prairie du Chien trailed all game, but climbed to a 4-3 deficit by the end of the fourth inning. Fennimore bounced back with a five-run fifth and three-run seventh to set up the win and knock the Hoppers out of the running for state this coming weekend in Osseo.

This was a hard loss for a gutsy group of young men who made a great name for themselves this season. 

In regional play last weekend, the Hoppers started off the tournament Friday, July 20, with a close 2-1 loss to Viroqua. Viroqua was the first to score, recording one run in the second inning. In the fourth, Drake Coleman drove in a run, evening the playing field. But, in the sixth, Viroqua scored a second run, holding the Hoppers for the rest of the game to take the win.

Gavin Gillitzer pitched for the Hoppers, garnering three strikeouts and walking two. Gillitzer was 2x3 and Drake Coleman was 3x3.

However, on Saturday, July 21, the Hoppers decided it was time to change the story, beating North Crawford 8-0. Prairie du Chien got things off to a good start, scoring one in the first inning, six in the third and another in the sixth. This loss eliminated North Crawford from the tournament.

Four Hopper pitchers took the mound for the game including Ryan McGrath, Jacob Joy, Dylan Coleman and Clayton DuCharme. Drake Coleman was 2x3; Cory Check was 4x4, recording three doubles; and Grant Martin was 2x3 and recorded a double. 

The streak continued onto Sunday, July 22, when the Hoppers faced off against Viroqua yet again, this time, beating them 8-2. Prairie du Chien started strong, scoring three runs in the first. Viroqua attempted to answer with two runs in the second, but the game belonged to the Hoppers who recorded three more runs in the fourth and two in the sixth. With the loss, Viroqua was eliminated from the tournament.

Striking out two and walking four, Check pitched a complete game for the Hoppers. In the game, Gillitzer was 2x4; Jon Dyer was 2x4 and recorded a triple; Drake Coleman was 2x4; Dylan Coleman recorded a double; and Martin was 2x4.

Later on Sunday, Prairie du Chien also squared off with Westby/Coon Valley, earning a 9-3 win. The Hoppers bats were alive at the beginning of the game, as they scored four runs in the first inning alone, and then three more in the second. Westby/Coon Valley attempted an answer in the third, gaining two runs. In the fifth, the Hoppers scored their eighth run. Prairie du Chien and Westby/Coon Valley each scored one in the sixth, solidifying Westby/Coon Valley’s loss and eliminating them from tournament play.

McGrath fired in pitches for five full innings and a third of the sixth. He totaled seven strikeouts and three walks. Dylan Coleman finished the game as the relief pitcher.

In the game, the Hoppers slammed the ball, garnering 18 hits combined in the game. Gillitzer was 3x5, recording a double; Dyer was 3x5; Drake Coleman was 2x4, recording two doubles; Check was 2x4; Martin was 3x3, recording two doubles; and Andrew Waller was 2x3.

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