The Manitowoc American Legion 16U baseball team continues to have life in the regional tournament.
Again, with their backs against the wall, the youngest Post 88 team took down Kaukauna yesterday 6-5.
The bats were working early for both teams, as Kaukauna came out of the gate with two runs each in the 1st and 2nd innings, while Manitowoc kept pace, plating four runs in the bottom of the 1st.
They would tack on two more in the 3rd when Jake Hilmer blasted a ball over the left-field wall.
Kaukauna would score one more run the next inning, but with Carter Neu coming on in relief, Post 88 would hold on for the win.
Hilmer would end the day with a pair of hits, while Nolan Lettenberger and Aaron Stephany would each double, as would Cam Shiltz, who also stole a pair of bases.
The job isn’t done for the 16U squad, as they now have to take out the yet-unbeaten Neenah squad in consecutive games.
The first game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m., with the potential game 2 scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
If they win both, Manitowoc will earn a trip to the state tournament, which is scheduled for this weekend in Baraboo.
Meanwhile, the battle begins today for the 19U Manitowoc American Legion baseball team as they kick off their regional tournament in Appleton.
Post 88 will be taking on Neenah in the Regional #4 Bracket.
The tournament is, like the 16U and 17U regionals, a double elimination style tournament, with Appleton Doubledays squaring off with Kaukauna and Appleton Legion facing Sheboygan.
Manitowoc is set to hit the field today at 7:30 p.m., with their second-round matchup sometime Wednesday evening.
The winner of this bracket will advance to the state tournament in Wisconsin Rapids, which will begin a week from today.
