Appleton Doubledays Legion baseball pulls out one-run win over Appleton Post 38
By Dustin Riese
For AppletonSportsPage.com
MENASHA – In what was the first of two regular-season American Legion baseball meetings this season, the Appleton Doubledays faced off against rival Appleton Post 38 with bragging rights on the line on Monday at Koslo Park.
When all was said and done, it was the Doubledays coming through late as they rallied from an early-game deficit to take the lead before holding off Post 38 for a 9-8 win. The Doubledays benefitted from a six-run fourth inning to give them the lead as they showed plenty of toughness in this win.
“Tonight, we showed great resilience as a team,” Doubledays coach JP Prestigiacomo said. “We are proud of the comeback, but we definitely have some wrinkles to iron out.”
Making the start for the Doubledays (5-1) was Ethan Winkler, who was finally cleared to pitch after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The left-hander got off to a strong start with a flawless first before a leadoff double in the bottom of the first helped set up the game’s first run with the Doubledays taking a 1-0 lead off a double steal.
It was in the second inning when Ethan Winkler began to struggle as he is still trying to fine-tune his mechanics on the mound. After walking Levi Watts in the first inning, Winkler proceeded to walk three of the first four batters he faced in the second before exiting the game and being replaced by Mason Winkler.
Normally a catcher by trade, Mason gave the Doubledays five huge innings on the mound as he walked one and struck out five. He was charged with five runs, although only one of those runs were earned, as his final line isn’t all that bad.
Mason Peterson came through with a double as Post 38 went up 2-1. It was the first of two extra-base hits for Post 38 in the second with Reed Flick adding a two-out double later in the inning to push the lead to 4-1. A costly error allowed Watts to reach and capped off a five-run second that had the Doubledays looking up 5-1.
Those were the only runs of the game until the fourth as Mason Winkler and Post 38 pitcher Logan Hudson started to settle in after shaky starts. When it came to Hudson, the right-hander allowed a first-inning run before settling in to retire seven of the next eight hitters he faced. The fourth is when things went south for him as Cade Prestigiacomo opened things up with a single before advancing to second on a Lincoln Thede single.
Following a walk to load the bases, Dan Dieck kept the line moving as his single made this a 5-2 game with the bases still loaded. Another single from Matt Bixler pulled the Doubledays within two before a Rylan Winker double tied things up as the Doubledays’ offense was humming. Following a costly error that put the Doubledays back on top 6-5, Mason Winkler closed out the massive six-run fourth inning with an RBI fielder’s choice as the Doubledays were now in front 7-5.
Just as quickly as Post 38 gave up the lead, they were battling back as a lead-off error to begin the fifth helped open the floodgates for another big inning. A pair of groundouts followed that error, including one from Jack Kangas to push a run home and make it 7-6. From that point on it was some two-out magic by Post 38 as a trio of singles, including an RBI knock from Owen Wick, tied the game at 7-7.
With things still tied entering the bottom of the sixth, the Doubledays patient approach at the plate was the difference as a hit by pitch and two walks kept the pressure on only to have Prestigiacomo come through with the go-ahead knock to put the Doubledays on top for good 8-7. They would add to their lead later in the inning on a passed ball.
“Offensively, our team has been missing our No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in the lineup so it was great to have those two back tonight,” JP Prestigiacomo said. “Both were all-conference players this season and they produced for us when it mattered.”
Looking to hold onto their late lead, the Doubledays didn’t make things easy as a leadoff error to begin the seventh set things up for the Post 38 offense. Following a groundout that moved Kangus to second, Brennan Otto came up clutch with a huge hit as his RBI single pulled Post 38 to within 9-8. That was as close as things would get as Cade Prestigiacomo retired the final two hitters he faced to secure the 9-8 win.
“We are still working out some kinks on defense and trying to figure out our offensive lineup,” JP Prestigiacomo said. “We have 17 rostered players on our team and we are kind of taking a hockey shift approach to try and get everyone some playing time. As the playoffs approach, that will tighten up to be more competitive.”
Post 38, which won four-straight games over the weekend to take first at the Black River Falls Tournament, are now 6-6 heading into July.
“The Doubledays have a great squad,” Post 38 coach Brian Hudson said. “In the end they were able to get the timely hit when it counted. I’m proud of the way we competed. Our squad is trending in the right direction so it’s going to be a fun final few weeks of the season.”
Both teams are back in action Tuesday as Post 38 hosts the Green Bay Hornets and the Doubledays play at Kaukauna.
Doubledays 9, Post 38 8
Appleton Post 38 050 020 1 – 8 6 1
Appleton Doubledays 100 602 x – 9 8 3
WP: Mason Winkler. LP: Logan Hudson. SV: Cade Prestigiacomo.
SO: Hudson (3 inn.) 4, Brayden Campbell (2 2/3 inn.) 2, Levi Watts (1/3 inn.) 0; Ethan Winkler (1 1/3 inn.) 1, M. Winkler (5 inn.) 5, Prestigiacomo (2/3 inn.) 1. BB: Hudson 3, Campbell 1, Watts 2; E. Winkler 4, M. Winkler 1, Prestigiacomo 0.
Top hitters: A38, Reed Flick 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Brennan Otto 2×3, RBI; Mason Peterson 2 RBI. AD, Prestigiacomo 2×4, RBI; Lincoln Thede 2×2; Rylan Winkler 2B, 2 RBI; Ethan Winkler 2B.
Records: Appleton Post 38 6-6; Appleton Doubledays 5-1.