Kenosha, Wis. (Nick Witwer) – The Blue Ribbons, already the 2024 NEWBL champions, were hoping for more as they entered the final weekend of the regular season sitting a top the standings in the WSL. Going into a four-game series against Kenosha, with Lombard right on their tail, Green Bay would likely need to win 4/4 games to stay in first place.
In game one on Saturday, Green Bay would crack the scoreboard first with an RBI single from second baseman Griffin Summers. Green Bay added two more runs later in the inning off of an error before an RBI sacrifice bunt from third baseman Jake Petasek would put the Blue Ribbons up 4-0.
The Green Bay bats managed to stay hot in their half of the third inning scoring three more runs and increasing the lead to 7-0 off two sacrifice plays and an RBI single from designated hitter Payton Kohnle.
The Kenosha Kings proceeded to slowly crawl their way back into the game scoring twice in the bottom of the third and then adding one run in the Fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to make the score 7-5.
Looking to shut down the Kings comeback attempt, RBI singles from left fielder Brendan Willadsen and catcher Brady LaViolette would put the game out of reach, securing the 9-5 victory.
At the plate the Blue Ribbons finished game one with nine runs on eleven hits and earned five walks. On the mound, Owen Deprez got the start and the win by pitching for four and one third of an inning while allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with ten strikeouts. Benje Hencke finished the final two and two thirds of an inning and allowed just one run and struck out an additional four batters.
In game two on Saturday, it was the Kings who got out to the early lead, scoring two runs in the second and one run in the fourth. Green Bay would battle back in the fifth scoring two runs off of an error and an RBI single from Jake Petasek. With the score now 3-2, the Kings found a way to tack on two more runs leading to a 5-2 loss for the Blue Ribbons.
Offensively, Green Bay had just three hits with Petasek, James Bornick, and Carter Kallies all hitting singles. On the mound, Gavin Rusch, in a losing effort, pitched four and one third of an inning while allowing five runs and striking out five batters. Tanner Alsteen made a relief appearance and worked the final one and two thirds of an inning allowing no runs on just one hit.
Heading into Sunday, Green Bay now needed to win both games against Kenosha and get unlikely help from the Addison Braves on Monday for a chance to claim the WSL regular season title.
Game one on Sunday got off to a rough start with Kenosha putting up two runs right away in the bottom of the first. The Blue Ribbons would fail score any runs in response and only managed to get two hits in what was eventually a 5-0 loss.
Offensively, only Jake Petasek and Payton Kohnle had a hit for the Blue Ribbons. On the mound, Reece Piontek went all six innings allowing the five runs mention while also striking out nine batters and issuing only one walk.
Game two on Sunday started out much better for Green Bay as they would score first with two-run home run from Brendan Willadsen in the top of the first inning. From there the game would shift momentum as the Kings scored three runs in the second and two in the third to take a 5-2. Looking to get back into the game, rain would evidently have different plans as the game was postponed in the top of the fourth inning.
At the plate Willadsaen led the way with his home run in the first inning. On the mound, Austin Grube was given the start worked for three innings striking out one batter and allowing five runs.
Looking to go 4/4 on the weeknd, The Blue Ribbons went ½ with a rainout of the series finale. While a WSL regular season is unfortunately out of the picture, the Blue Ribbons still have championship aspirations as they look ahead to the Class A State Tournament.
Green Bay will play one tune-up game on Wednesday night against the Manitowoc Bandits at Joannes before heading to Beaumont Field in Burlington to attempt to win it all. The Blue Ribbons first game of the Class A State Tournament will be at 2:30 against the winner of Wednesday night’s game between the Sheboygan A’s and the West Allis Nationals.