Bluejays are state champions in baseball

Thursday, June 14, 2007 12:50 PM CDT

GRAND CHUTE - Johnson Creek won its first ever state baseball championship today, defeating Abbotsford 10-4 at the WIAA Division 4 State Baseball Tournament at Fox Cities Stadium.

Johnson Creek opened the scoring in the first with an unearned run. Alan Mares drew a leadoff walk and later scored on an error on a ground ball hit by Jordan Frey.

Johnson Creek (22-3 overall) gave one back to Abbotsford (17-4) in the bottom of the first to pull even. Jamie Soyk singled with two outs, stole second and scored on two throwing errors on the play and it was 1-1.

Johnson Creek came right back and reclaimed the lead in the second. Mitch McCaffery led off with a bunt single ahead of a single to right by Wes Trapp putting runners on first and second. Adam Kircher followed with an RBI single to center before Mares then hit into a double play for the first two outs. Tyler Frey came through with a two-out double to left, scoring Trapp, and it was 3-1.

After a scoreless third, McCaffery walked to open the fourth. Trapp tried to sacrifice McCaffery over, but an error allowed Trapp to reach and put runners on second and third. Kircher followed with a two-run single to left and the Bluejays were up 5-1.

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Abbotsford chased Bluejay starter Josh Braunschweig in the fourth by stringing together three hits, including an RBI single by Clint Ewert, to get within 5-2. Jordan Frey came on in relief and got the final two outs to get out of the inning.

Braunschweig did not figure in the decision but gave the Bluejays 3 1/3 valuable innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and three walks. Jordan Frey went the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs in the sixth to pick up the victory.

Johnson Creek pushed its lead back to four runs with an unearned tally in the top of the fifth. Jordan Frey reached base when the Abbotsford first baseman dropped a pop-out. Frey later scored when Jay Pirkel hit an RBI triple down the right field line.

The Bluejays put it away with three more runs in the sixth as eight batters hit in the inning. Tyler Frey singled to left to open the inning. Jacob Oestreicher then surprised the Abbotsford defense with a bunt up the third base line and beat the play. Jordan Frey followed with a chop single over third to drive in Tyler Frey and it was 7-2.

With two outs, Todd Jedrzejewski hit a ground ball to the Abbotsford shortstop who threw the ball away, allowing two runs to score, and it was 9-2. McCaffery came up next and recorded the Bluejays' 13th hit of the game to put runners on the corners. With McCaffery trying to steal, the Abbotsford catcher's throw went for the Falcons' sixth error of the game, allowing Jedrzejewski to score and make it 10-2.

Abbotsford rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth but could get no closer than 10-4.

For detailed coverage, see Friday's Watertown Daily Times sports section.