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OSSEO – A wild play earned a walk-off win for Stratford and kept its season alive Sunday at the Wisconsin Class A American Legion Baseball State Tournament at Merchants Field.
A one-out single by Jaeger Ormond, followed by a popped up bunt left Stratford with two outs and the winning run on first base. With Alec Chapel up, Westby pitcher Devin Nedland threw a pitch and was called for a balk, but the pitch was live and Chapel lined the ball to left-center field.
During the confusion, the Westby centerfielder was slow to react to the ball and Ormond raced around the bases, scoring the winning run as Stratford earned a 2-1 victory in an elimination game.
Stratford (15-8) will play another elimination game Monday against Viroqua at 5 p.m.
Stratford took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning when Riley Spindler led off with a double. Jack Tubbs followed with a single and Spindler came into score on a groundout by Brady Berg.
The score held until the seventh as Stratford pitcher Drew Gage was stellar, going six innings while allowing two walks and three hits with six strikeouts.
After a Westby batter reached on an error to lead off the top of the seventh, Gage was taken out due to the 100-pitch count limit and replaced by Berg.
A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, and after gaining the second out on a force out at home, Gavin Larson singled to right to tie the game for Westby. Berg coaxed a groundout to limit the damage, setting up Stratford for the game-winning rally in the bottom of the frame.
Tubbs and Chapel each had two hits for Stratford, which finished with six in all.
Stratford 2, Westby 1
Westby 000 000 1 – 1 4 1
Stratford 100 000 1 – 2 6 2
WP: Brady Berg. LP: Devin Nedland.
SO: Nedland 7; Drew Gage (6 inn.) 6, Berg (1 inn.) 0. BB: Nedland 2; Gage 2, Berg 1.
Top hitters: W, Gavin Larson 2×4, RBI; Nedland 2B. S, Jack Tubbs 2×3; Riley Spindler 2B, run; Jaeger Ormond 1×3, run; Alec Chapel 2×3, 2 2Bs, RBI.
Records: Westby not reported; Stratford 15-8.
2024 Wisconsin Class A American Legion Baseball State Tournament
Aug. 2-6, at Osseo
Double Elimination
Friday, Aug. 2
Game 1: Lomira 2, Little Chute 1 (8 inn.)
Game 2: Viroqua 11, Westby 1
Game 3: Stratford 5, Baldwin 0
Game 4: Fond du Lac Springs 4, Osseo 1
Saturday, Aug. 3
Game 5: Little Chute 15, Baldwin 0
Game 6: Westby 17, Osseo 5
Game 7: Lomira 10, Stratford 0
Game 8: Viroqua 5, Fond du Lac Springs 2
Sunday, Aug. 4
Game 9: Stratford 2, Westby 1
Game 10: Fond du Lac Springs 1, Little Chute 0
Game 11: Lomira 12, Viroqua 2
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Game 12: Stratford vs. Viroqua, 2 p.m.
Game 13: Fond du Lac Springs vs. Lomira, 4:30 p.m.
If Lomira wins Game 13
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Lomira, 7 p.m.
Game 15: Repeat if Game 12 winner wins Game 14, TBA
If Springs loses Game 13
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Fond du Lac Springs, 7 p.m.
Game 15: Lomira vs. Game 14 winner, TBA