‘Bleach Boys’ go for the gold at state

Three state-ranked teams down, one to go.

While it’s a tall order for the unranked Kewaunee baseball team, that was their thought process heading into today’s noon WIAA Div. 3 state championship game against No. 1-ranked Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic Academy.

“We’re playing in the championship game,” said Kewaunee coach Dan Spranger. “We’re just going to control ourselves. Play good defense, have good pitching and some timely hitting, and give ourselves a shot.”

The Storm beat the state’s sixth-ranked team, Chilton, 1-0 in a sectional semifinal, then topped third-ranked Wittenberg-Birnamwood 6-5 to earn the team’s first-ever trip to the state tournament. On Tuesday, Kewaunee played giant-killer again, taking advantage of two walks and some Fennimore errors in a 5-3 win over the seventh-ranked Golden Eagles.

Kewaunee has played a regular season game at Fox Cities Stadium each of the past four years, and winning pitcher Brett Paulsen said that helped.

“I think I was more nervous for sectionals, just because I’d been here before,” said Paulsen, who struck out eight while allowing seven hits, one walk and three runs (two earned) in five innings.

Waylon Delain got the save, striking out two without giving up a hit or walk in two innings.

“I was exhausted,” Paulsen said. “We have guys that throw the ball just as well, and know what they’re doing. On a day like today, it was so hot, and emotions are running high. I was glad that they pulled me then.”

Said Spranger, “He was starting to lose velocity and wasn’t locating like he was the previous four innings, so we knew it was time.”

After a scoreless first three innings, senior catcher Ethan Paplham led off the fourth with a single, and with one out, Paulsen reached on a fielding error. That set the stage for senior Brady Pribek, who ripped a two-RBI triple to right center.

“For Brady with two strikes to hit the ball the other way and get it in the gap for the triple and two runs, that gave us the confidence that we’re here, and we belong here,” Spranger said.

In the fifth, the Storm added three more, all scored as unearned.

After walks to Micah Vanness and Paplham, junior Connor Kilgore hit a fly ball that kept carrying in the wind and got over the outstretched arm of the right fielder and rolled all the way to the wall. Vanness and Paphlam raced home and Kilgore got in as well after the right fielder’s relay throw didn’t connect with the second baseman.

“It happens,” said Spranger, thinking about the misplayed ball in right. “We’ve all been there at some point, having an opportunity and failing at it. It’s a horrible feeling. So what do you do afterwards? How do you recover? How do you get through it? It’s tough, but your teammates better be picking you up at that point. There’s nothing you can do. If that’s us, we’re saying, ‘You’re fine, you’ll get the next one, you’re ok.”

Watch the crucial play here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoUOLhU8e04

Kewaunee’s official line was four hits in 26 at-bats, with five runs, three walks and two RBI. Paplham, the leadoff batter, went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Paulsen got a fifth-inning single after Kilgore’s shot to right.

The Storm (18-5) plays the Lancers (22-7) at noon Thursday. Five of Kenosha St. Joseph’s losses were to Div. 1 schools, including two one-run games. They finished runner-up to Aquinas last year, and have been to state four of the past five years. Fennimore finished the season 25-4.

All of Kewaunee’s starters, and most of its reserves, bleached their hair after winning the sectional championship. Paulsen, who had long hair, also got it shaved.

“I feel more aerodynamic,” he said.

Win or lose, they’ll be carrying those lighter shades into the Kewaunee High School gym tonight with some new hardware for the trophy case.

Kewaunee 000 230 0 - 5

Fennimore 000 120 0 - 3