Magic runs out for Iola-Scandinavia in state baseball semifinal
GRAND CHUTE - Iola-Scandinavia had every reason to believe senior Nick Hansen was ready to take his turn playing hero.
Carter Kurki had already delivered a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings in the Division 3 state semifinal with Laconia.
Bryce Huettner took his turn coming through in the clutch an inning later with an RBI groundout to send the game to a ninth inning.
So there was disbelief when Hansen's pop-up nestled into the glove of second baseman Trevin Henker to bring a disappointing end to the Iola-Scandinavia's season with a 5-4 loss in nine innings at Fox Cities Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Thunderbirds conclude their season at 17-7.
"It means everything to finish my career here with a great group of guys. It means the world to me," senior pitcher Seth Korb, who earned a no-decision with three innings of work. "We became a family over the year."
Iola-Scandinavia's postseason run was about much more than the first state appearance in school history.
A friend of the community, Marie Skowen has been battling cancer. She has been a huge part of the motivation that helped the T-Birds to get to this point and make history.
Wednesday was her birthday and she was in the stands rooting the team on.
The players and coaches wanted to bring home a state championship for Skowen, who is the grandmother to several players on the team, as much as anyone.
"I think a lot of the resolves these kids have is for (Skowen). They wanted to keep fighting for her," Iola-Scandinavia coach Pete Timdal said. "Our guys fought their butts off. The guys never quit. I'm proud of them."
Iola-Scandinavia had to wait a little longer than anticipated for its state tournament debut.
Severe weather forced the first pitch to be delayed two and a half hours after the estimated starting time.
Once the game started the T-Birds struggled to find the strike zone — a trio of pitchers combined to issue 10 walks. But it was a miscue in the field that ultimately led to their demise.
Trevin Henker scored from first base on a throwing error in the top of the ninth inning to give the Spartans the lead for the third time over the final four innings. Henker reached on a walk.
"We had trouble throwing strikes early. We struggled throwing strikes late," Timdal said. "It really hurts now. It's really going to hurt tomorrow. But once people step away and think about what happened this year, I think everyone will be proud."
The T-Birds will say good-bye to just three seniors, including Jayden Sivertson and Korb who each collected a pair of hits in an eight-hit attack.
Hansen rounds out the list of seniors who watched their careers in the orange and black uniform come to an end just one game short of playing for a gold trophy.
"Up until the last pitch everybody on our team was thinking we got this thing. We can do this and that's how we fought all year," Sivertson said.
With many key pieces on this historic team set to return next season, the future certainly looks bright for Iola-Scandinavia.
"It's been a heck of a ride. Being able to do this with my little brother (Justin), the first sport I was able to play with him, has been pretty cool." Sivertson said. "(The younger guys) just need to get in that (batting) cage and keep fielding balls."
Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282, or by email at ssswilliam@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill
WP - Bryce Engelhardt 2 IP, 2K, 3BB, Drew Gunnink 6 ⅔ IP, 2K, 1BB, Hunter Engelhardt ⅓ IP, 0K, 2BB. LP - Carter Kurki 1 IP, 0K, 1BB, Seth Korb 3 IP, 6K, 6BB, Connor Kurki 5 IP, 6K, 3BB. 2B - Laconia, Cormac Madigan.
Records: Iola-Scandinavia 17-7; Lanconia 13-11.
