Citizen Staff/James Wold
Horicon pitcher Devin Heintz allowed two earned runs but Post 157 fell to Marathon Tuesday for its first loss at state.
BROWNSVILLE — Horicon coach Quinn Heintz knew with Sunday's victory over Viroqua that Tuesday's game wasn't going to be a do-or-die situation for his team.
But with a stunning 4-1 loss to Marathon, Post 157 will now have to face a winner-take-all game against Clintonville at 5 p.m. today for the Class A Legion state championship. Clintonville downed Marathon, 4-0, later Tuesday afternoon.
"We weren't in a rhythm today," coach Heintz said. "We played with the cruise control on and had no energy in the dugout.
"But we're still in good shape because we had a game to lose if needed."
Horicon (21-4) could not do much against Marathon southpaw Cody Hanke or righthander Tyler Hamann. Outside of Mike Michalovitz, who was a perfect 3-for-3, Post 157 managed just two doubles from Nick Scharpf and Shaanan Donegon.
"Offensively, we were not in a rhythm," coach Heintz said. "We looked slow with the bats."
Coach Heintz attributed some of the rust to the postponement of the game from Monday. He added that his team had to take batting practice in Mayville because of work being done on their own field.
But Horicon pitcher Devin Heintz gave Post 157 a chance for victory due to his work on the mound. The righthander scattered six hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four.
"Devin pitched a great game," coach Heintz said. "We didn't help him out with our bats."
Marthon blew the game open on Horicon in the bottom of the fifth inning. Josh Ahles led off with a single and was sacrificed to second.
Bobby Blume then singled to put runners at the corners. Tyler Seubert reached on catchers interference by Horicon's Mason Deibert to load the bases
After a run-scoring single by David Schreier, a potential double play ground ball went underneath Horicon shortstop Aaron Samplawski to bring home two more runs.
Post 157 tried to rally in the sixth and did get an RBI double from Scharpf but could not do any more damage.
Despite the loss, coach Heintz was still upbeat about his team's chances.
"If you would have told me before the tournament that we would have a one-game scenario for a state title and we could pitch our ace (Lance Heintz), I would take it," coach Heintz said.
MARATHON 4, HORICON 1
Horicon 000 001 0 - 1 5 2
Marathon 000 130 x - 4 6 1
WP: Hanke (5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)
LP: D. Heintz (6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
S: Hamann (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K)
Leading hitters: H - Michalovitz 3-3; Scharpf 2B; Donegon 2B. M - Hamann 2-3, 2B.