West returning to state baseball
Waukesha West players celebrate the final out of their sectional-final victory over Muskego on Sunday. Photo By John Williams
For the sixth time in the past decade, the Waukesha West baseball team will make the visit to Stevens Point for the WIAA summer baseball tournament, rallying to defeat Muskego on Sunday in the sectional final, 8-4.
Originally scheduled for Friday, both semifinal games and the final at Muskego were pushed back a day after storms wreaked havoc on area fields.
After last-minute preparations, West hosted the relocated semifinal Saturday, needing another three-hour postponement before the start of the contest against Kettle Moraine. The Lasers scored twice in the first inning before West responded in a big way, taking an 8-2 victory.
One day later, Muskego held a 4-3 edge heading into the seventh before West pounded out five runs to take an 8-4 win. Aaron Jushka, who earned the victory on the hill the night before, homered leading off the frame to tie the game, and Brandon Berghoefer's RBI double gave the Wolverines the lead for good, with three insurance runs to follow.
Waukesha West last made the state voyage since 2007, losing in the first round to Arcadia in nine innings.
West was the last Waukesha school to win a game at state, reaching the semifinals in 2003. The Wolverines made four consecutive visits to the year-end showcase from 2002-05. No Waukesha team has ever reached the finals of the state summer baseball tournament.
The Wolverines (27-6) enjoyed a favorable draw, with upstart Germantown (14-16) as the first-round opponent Wednesday. Germantown defeated top-seeded Menomonee Falls in a thrilling sectional final, 2-1.
With a win, West would face either New Berlin West (25-10) or Franklin (27-14) on Saturday. West Bend West (33-2), sitting on the other half of the bracket, enters the field as a favorite to reach the title game later on Saturday.
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