Pitching is key to Lakers' success

Kewaunee County Lakers coach John Bray believes that with the young team he has this year, winning will all come down to his pitchers.

But in Tuesday night's game against Wrightstown, it was all about the big bats. The Lakers won 12-2 with Jordan Jorgensen driving in four runs to power the Lakers to victory. Nathan Yagodinski earned the victory on the mound.

The Lakers team is stacked with Luxemburg players this year, with only one sophomore from Kewaunee, Cody Bultman.

But he has three all-conference players, including Nathan Giachino, Austin Tlachac and Kyle Routhieaux..

In the team's first two games against Sheboygan on June 10, Tlachac had two hits with a double and the team won both games, 4-1 and 5-2. 

Nathan Giachino pitched the first game and Ian Doell pitched the second.

"It's a year to mix and match," Bray said.

 Last year, the Lakes lost in the regionals after compiling a 20-10 record.

This year, Bray is determined that the Lakers  make it to the state playoffs, which will be held in Baraboo.

Bray is In his ninth year coaching the Lakers and his second year as Luxemburg-Casco High School's varsity baseball coach.

This year, the high school team ended the season with a 15-10 record, 11-7 in the North Eastern Conference, and lost in the WIAA regionals.

"The Legion play is much more laid back," said Bray.  "We pretty much just show up and play."

Most of his players have so much going on in the summer that it is hard to schedule practices.

"It is  three to four days of play compared to six during the school year," he said.

The Lakers will be hosting the regionals for the Fox Valley League-East Division in Luxemburg July 21-24 and Bray said he is looking forward to the challenge.

He said that the hardest part of League play is that the rules keeping changing every few years.

"It's hard to get the guys in the game as subs," he said.  "But basically we are just out here to have fun."

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Pitching is key to Lakers' success