BASEBALL: Bangor upended by Eleva-Strum in regional finals

The Bangor Cardinals came into this spring with the dream of working their way to Appleton for the state baseball tournament. An undefeated romp through the regular season (including a fifth straight Scenic Bluffs title) and a dominant win in their playoff opener served as evidence that they were capable of making that dream a reality.

However, Bangor was served a harsh reminder just how quickly those lofty ambitions can be dashed in the minefield that is playoff baseball.

No. 1 seed Bangor (18-1) suffered their first loss of the 2024 season via a 3-2 defeat at the hands of No. 5 seed Eleva-Strum (19-8) in a WIAA Division 4 regional final on Thursday, May 30 in Bangor.

Through three innings, neither team scored and Eleva-Strum had put on just one baserunner total. Bangor put runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the first, but were unable to cash in on the opportunity.

Eleva-Strum was the first team to get on the board thanks to sophomore first baseman Calvin Barneson's two-out single that drove in a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Senior pitcher/catcher Tyler Webb added an RBI single in the fifth inning to extend the visiting Cardinals' lead to 3-0.

Still trailing by three in the bottom of the sixth, Bangor finally made a move. Senior pitcher/third baseman Chase Horstman led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on junior third/second baseman Eli Tucker's groundout. Junior catcher Tyler Meyer followed with a single that moved Horstman to third, and he then scored on sophomore right fielder Bryce Anderson's sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the seventh, Meyer hit his 100-pitch limit for Eleva-Strum with runners at first and second and one away. Senior Jake Bjerke took over on the mound looking to close the door on Bangor. After retiring Horstman, Bjerke walked both Tucker and Meyer to bring home a run to make it a 3-2 game.

With two outs, the bases still loaded and both teams' seasons hanging in the balance, Bjerke struck out Anderson looking on a full count to allow Eleva-Strum to escape with the victory and a regional title by the skin of their teeth.

At the plate for Bangor, Meyer went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI, Horstman finished 2 for 4 with a run scored, and junior shortstop Bryce Peterson was 2 for 4 as well. Horstman pitched 5 2/3 innings in which he surrendered three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out seven. Bangor senior Nolan Michek went 1 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed one hit and one walk.

Webb got the win for Eleva-Strum by allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.

Bangor, who entered the postseason ranked No. 4 in the state in Division 4 in the final Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association poll, was denied a fifth straight regional championship and the chance to return to state after finishing as the D4 runner-up in 2022.

Eleva-Strum, ranked No. 14 in Division 4 in the final WBCA poll, advances to the sectional semifinals to face No. 2 seed Pittsville (23-3) on Tuesday, June 4 at 10 a.m. at Blair-Taylor High School. No. 2 seed Royall (17-4) and No. 4 seed De Soto (13-6) square off in the other semifinal at 1 p.m., then the two winners battle for a state tournament berth in the sectional final in Blair at 4 p.m.