Bandits lack the hits in loss

HOLMEN — The Baraboo American Legion baseball team was ready to show that it had turned a corner and was ready to make a postseason run.

The Bandits were on their way after four innings, then caved in for a 6-0 loss to Sauk Prairie, Thursday in the first round of the regional tournament in Holmen.

"I thought it was just a matter of time until we scored, but they kind of turned it around on us," Baraboo coach Craig Schlender said.

The Bandits (5-11) were two-hit by Sauk pitcher Sam Koening in the game. Koenig allowed a hit to Robbie Schultz with two outs in the second inning, then allowed the Bandits' second hit to Ethan Dosier with two outs in the fifth.

"He was not an overpowering pitcher. He threw a lot of offspeed. He had a fair fastball, but he was mixing it up quite a bit," Schlender said. "I guess I'd have to say that I was pleased with the way the team hit at times, but they still continued to not be able to put two or three hits together to get runners in."

Baraboo had five base runners during the game, with three of those coming in the fifth inning.

Schultz reached with one out on an error by the Sauk Prairie left fielder, then Jake Overlien popped out to third base.

With two outs, Dosier singled and Brady Olson drew a walk to load the bases. Jon Schlender flew out to center to end the threat.

The Bandits' other base runners came from Schultz' single in the second and an error off the bat of Mark Kowalke in the sixth.

Coach Schlender said the team was hitting the ball well at times though.

"The first half of the game, we probably hit the ball harder than we have the last few games," he said. "We had some line shots that were hit right at some infielders and outfielders. We just couldn't find a hole."

Baraboo played good defense had big time pitching performance from Jake Overlien to keep the score tied through four frames.

Overlien had a no-hitter through 4 1-3 innings but had gone deep into the count before walking No. 8 hitter Brandon Larson and having Austin Rehwinkel reach on an error.

On a 2-1 count, Koenig broke up the no-hitter with a two-run double.

Overlien ran into trouble in the sixth inning, and after getting the first two batters of the inning, he allowed five straight batters to hit or walk their way on base before Paul Luger relieved him.

"Jake pitched a good game all the way through, then once they scored, we just kind of fell apart a little bit," Craig Schlender said. "We had a couple of bobbled balls, and there were three errors, pretty much all in the sixth inning that broke things wide open."

Luger got out of the jam after coming in with a 2-0 count and finishing a walk to Travis Breunig and giving up another single.

"I've been happy with paul's performance whenever we've called on him," coach Schlender said.

The Bandits play a noon game today against either Onalaska or Reedsburg. To Craig Schlender, that's another chance for his team to put up enough runs to win a tournament game.

"I keep telling the players that hopefully they can put hits together for runs and to stay aggressive on the ball and hit the ball hard," he said. "It is frustrating because I thought with Overlien on the mound (Thursday) that we would have been able to beat Sauk."