Eleven-run inning propels Jefferson

GRAND CHUTE - Last week Jefferson advanced to the state tournament by scoring 11 times in a 10-run victory in the sectional final.

Wednesday the Eagles advanced to the state championship game with the help of an 11-run inning in a 14-2, five-inning victory over Mosinee in the semifinals of the WIAA Division 2 state tournament at Fox Cities Stadium.

Jefferson (19-9) will face Waupun at 3:05 p.m. Thursday.

The Eagles had eight hits and took advantage of three errors in their big inning, and senior Ian Drays lashed a a three-run home run. The third baseman finished the day 3 for 3 with four .

The 11-run inning is one of the largest in WIAA tournament history. The effort ranks second in Division 2 behind the 15-run performance by Prescott in 1994. That’s the most for any division. Jefferson’s total is behind Wisconsin Heights, which scored 13 runs in Division 3 in 1989, and Eau Claire Memorial, which scored 12 runs in an inning in 1961 tournament game.

Waupun 6, Ellsworth 3: Down, 3-1, the Warriors (24-2) struck three times in the bottom of the fourth and added two insurance runs in the sixth.

Two errors to start the fourth sparked the inning. Sophomore Carter Hargerink drove in the first run of the inning. Sophomore Brayden Sanders followed with a two-run single that gave the Warriors the lead. This will be their second straight appearance in the final. They were the runner-up last year.

Ellsworth finished 16-7.

DIVISION 4

Athens 3, Ithaca 1: The defending champion (20-2) scored three times in the top of the sixth to advance.

Thorp 6, Johnson Creek 5: The Cardinals (14-10) scored twice in the top of the seventh to reach their first state final.