More on Memorial

Baseball can be a harsh game sometimes.

Eau Claire Memorial found that out the hard way at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.

Kenosha Bradford ended the Abes’ season in the WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinals behind a strong outing from pitcher Sam Schissel. The Red Devils won, 6-2.

“We pounded him early, but we just couldn’t hold them down,” Memorial coach Casey Eckardt said. “We’re sad it had to come to an end.”

Check for the game story at www.leadertelegram.com. Here’s a few tid bits that didn’t make it in:

*With Schissel dominating on the mound after the second inning, Memorial needed to play flawless defense. And while the Abes were only charged with two errors, there were several mental mistakes that kept innings alive for the Red Devils, who constantly kept the pressure on Memorial by putting the ball in play.

“We dodged bullets and dodged bullets and dodged bullets,” Eckardt said. “Sometimes that can come back and bite you.”

*This game was a rematch of the 1964 state championship game, won by Memorial. Bradford hadn’t been back since until this season. In 1964 there was only one Kenosha high school, which became Bradford.

*Eckardt made special mention of the seniors that may not get all the headlines — Cory Munden, John Stang, Jordan Walling and Brad Ruesch.

“They were a fun group at practice,” Eckardt said. “They brought energy every day and had a great attitude every day. They knew their role and were always ready, whether they were needed to pinch-hit or pinch-run. In today’s society, there are kids that if they aren’t starting or playing all the time, they go in the tank psychologically. From the best player down all the way to the 18th, they were all great team players.”

- John Casper Jr.