LAKE MILLS — Aidan Berg homered and pitched a six-hitter with seven strikeouts as Lakeside Lutheran’s baseball team beat visiting Columbus 8-0 to clinch a share of the Capitol North title, the program’s first since 2012, on Monday.
Berg’s three-run blast to center field in the first inning actually came on April 18, when soggy conditions forced a postponement.
The sides regathered with the Warriors up 3-0 in the bottom third inning and runners on first and second. Lakeside strung together four run-scoring hits in a five-batter stretch to build a big edge.
Brothers Crandon Dwyer and Thomas Dwyer produced consecutive RBI singles to make it 5-0, followed by a run-scoring double off the bat of Cooper Brakmanis. With two away, Tyler Chopp singled home a pair with a knock up the middle.
“That was a lot of fun, our energy was good, our focus was good and we were ready to play right away,” Lakeside Lutheran baseball coach Jake Ziel said. “Our kids have worked extremely hard since the last time we played Columbus, and I think we showed today just how far we have come.
“I’m extremely proud of the hard work these kids have put in and they earned a share of the title today because of that.”
Berg walked just two, throwing 66 of his 102 pitches for strikes for the Warriors (18-5, 6-2 in conference).
“Aidan ended up tossing a seven-inning shutout across the two games,” Ziel said. “He has just been terrific on the mound all year for us, and today was no different. He loves the game, loves to compete and we feel confident any time he has the ball for us.”
Lakeside, on its Senior Night, also earned a 4-3 win over Delavan-Darien in eight innings.
Haydenn Schoenherr doubled home a pair of runs in the Lakeside third. He came around on Billy Gibson’s single to make it 3-0.
The Comets (14-7) got within a run on Jacob Huff’s two-run double in the fifth and then tied it up with no outs in the seventh when Neil Janssen was hit by a bases-loaded pitch. Lakeside reliever Jackson Opperman struck out Conner Wallman next before getting Haaken Hovestol to line into a double play to end the threat.
Chopp singled to lead off the Warriors eighth and took second on Nolan Meis’ sacrifice bunt. Thomas Dwyer plated Chopp for the walk-off run with a base knock to center.
“What Thomas has done for our offense this season has been special,” Ziel said. “Coming off a shoulder injury during football, I was not sure what we would get from him, if anything at all. What we are getting from him right now has changed our offense.”
Meis started and pitched four shutout innings of two-hit ball with four strikeouts. Opperman, who pitched three no-hit frames, earned the decision, allowing a run while striking out three and walking four.
“Nolan pitched a great four innings for us,” Ziel said. “Jackson ended up getting his varsity win in relief. Jackson battled through some early struggles, but dug deep and got some big outs for us in some tough spots. Matthew Krueger made a terrific inning-ending double play in the seventh with the bases loaded.”
“Shoutout to our six seniors (Chopp, Krueger, Schoenherr, Crandon Dwyer, Berg and Logan Schwab) for all of their hard work and dedication. This is a terrific group of Christian men that I feel privileged to have coached.”
Lakeside is the fourth seed in its Division 2 bracket and hosts 13th-seeded Luther Prep in a regional quarterfinal on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
LAKESIDE 8, COLUMBUS 0
Columbus 000 000 0 — 0 6 1
Lakeside 305 000 x — 8 6 0
Leading hitters — C: Towne 2x3, Mobry (2B); LL: Brakmanis 2x3 (2B), Berg (HR).
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — C: Towne L; 2-2-5-5-5-2, Allain 4-4-3-3-0-1; LL: Berg W; 7-6-0-0-2-7.
LAKESIDE 4, DELAVAN-DARIEN 3 (8)
Delavan 000 020 10 — 3 3 1
Lakeside 030 000 01 — 4 6 0
Leading hitters — D-D: N. Janssen 2x3, Huff (2B); LL: T. Dwyer 2x3, Gibson 2x3, Schoenherr (2B).
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — D-D: Horton 4-3-3-3-3-0, Huff L; 3.1-3-1-1-0-2; LL: Meis 4-2-0-0-2-4, Brakmanis 1-1-2-2-3-1, Opperman W; 3-0-1-1-4-3.
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