The Upsala Bluejays swept the Flensburg Falcons on Saturday in a best-2-out-of-3 series to advance to the upcoming Region 9C Tournament next weekend in Pierz . The Bluejays will go into the Tournament as the #5 seed. Upsala took Game 1 decisively by a 12-2 score in 7 innings and then completed the sweep with an 8-1 win in Game 2.
Game 1
The Falcons took an early lead in the top of the 1st when Reece Hubbard walked and then stole 2nd. After a strikeout, Kurt Crosby doubled with 1 out, scoring Hubbard to put Flensburg ahead 1-0.
Upsala took the lead in the bottom of the 1st on walks to Justin Cichon, Brandon Welinski and CJ Clear. Jack Primus delivered a sacrifice fly to center fielder Dan Kokett to make it 1-1., then Jaxon Bartkowicz singled to drive in Brandon Welinski and it was 2-1.
In the bottom of the 4th, Brock Cichon led off with a single, Justin Cichon then was hit by a pitch from Spencer Friese and Bryce Binek reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Brandon Welinski’s ground ball was then misplayed for another error as Brock Cichon scored to make it 3-1. After a force out at home for the 1st out, Bryce Binek scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1 and then Jack Primus hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Welinski to put Upsala up 5-1.
In the bottom of the 5th, Upsala added another run when Brock Cichon singled home Hunter Moore to make it 6-1 after 5 innings.
The Bluejays then broke the game open in the bottom of the 6th when Jack Primus led off with a single and then stole 2nd. Jaxon Bartkowicz then walked as well to put 2 men on for Jeremy Mugg, who smashed a 3-run Homer to left to give Upsala a 9-1 lead. After a Hunter Moore ground out, Brock Cichon walked and Justin Cichon was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved both guys up a base and then an error on the play brought in Brock Cichon. Bryce Binek then had an rbi single, plating Justin Cichon to make it 11-1. Brandon Welinski walked, and Jack Primus came through with a 2-out rbi single, scoring Bryce Binek to make it 12-1.
In the top of the 7th, the Falcons got a 1-out single from Luke Fenske and a 2-out walk to Reece Hubbard. An rbi single by Sam Primus scored Fenske to make the final score 12-2.
Flensburg 2 5 5 – 2 7 innings
Upsala 12 9 0 – 12
WP: Brock Cichon 6.0IP 1 run 3 hits 8k 2bb 1hp
Isaac Gapinski 1.0IP 1 run 2 hits 2k 1bb
LP: Spencer Friese 4.0IP 5 runs 4 hits 1k 6bb 1hp
Eli Epling 2.0IP 7 runs 5 hits 1k 4bb 1hp
Bluejays:
Justin Cichon 0-1 bb, 2hp, 2 runs
Bryce Binek 1-4 bb, rbi, 2 runs
Brandon Welinski 0-2 3bb, sb, rbi, 2 runs
CJ Clear 0-4 bb
Jack Primus 2-3 sac fly (2), sb(2), 3 rbi, run
Jaxon Bartkowicz 1-3 2bb, sb, rbi, run
Jeremy Mugg 2-3 Hr, bb, 3 rbi, run
Hunter Moore 0-4 run
Brock Cichon 3-3 bb, rbi, 2 runs
– Isaac Gapinski 0-0
Falcons:
Reece Hubbard 1-2 2bb, sb (2), run
Sam Primus 1-3 bb, sb (2), rbi
Kurt Crosby 1-3 2B, rbi
Spencer Friese 0-2 hp
Eli Epling 1-3
Peter Knopik 0-3
Dan Kokett 0-3
Luke Fenske 1-3 run
Kaleb Primus 0-2
– Nick Kokett 0-1
Game 2
Game 2 was scoreless through the first 3 innings as starters Dan Kokett for Flensburg and CJ Clear for Upsala were pitching well. Upsala broke through in the top of the 4th when CJ Clear led off with a double and Jack Primus brought him home with a 2-run blast to left. Jaxon Bartkowicz then singled and stole 2nd and went to 3rd on a throwing error. He then scored on a Hunter Moore sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
In the top of the 6th, Jaxon Bartkowicz doubled with 1 out, then he moved to 3rd on a fly out to right. Hunter Moore then doubled to center to bring in Bartkowicz and make it 4-0.
Flensburg got on the board in the bottom of the 7th when Eli Epling walked, Peter Knopik reached base on an error and then Epling scored on an error and it was 4-1 after 7 innings.
Cohl Clear led off the top of the 9th with a single, then with 1 out, pinch-hitter Travis Barthel singled as well. A walk to Brandon Welinski loaded the bases, the CJ Clear’s sacrifice fly scored Cohl Clear to make it 5-1. Jack Primus added to his big game with a 2-run single, bringing in both Barthel and Welinski to make it 7-1 as Primus went to 2nd on the throw home. Jaxon Bartkowicz then put the final run on the board with an rib single and Upsala led 8-1.
With Bryce Binek on the mound to pitch the bottom of the 9th, he got a strikeout of Peter Knopik, but then hit pinch-hitter Nick Kokett and walked Luke Fenske. Kaleb Primus went down on strikes for the 2nd out and the Binek ended the game by fanning Reece Hubbard to complete the 8-1 win and the sweep.
Upsala 8 11 3 – 8
Flensburg 1 3 2 – 1
WP: CJ Clear 7.0IP 1 run 2 hits 12k 1bb 1hp
Bryce Binek 2.0IP 0 runs 1 hit 4k 2bb 1hp
LP: Dan Kokett 8.2IP 8 runs 10 hits 5k 4bb 1hp
Peter Knopik 0.1IP 0 runs 1 hit 0k 0bb
Bluejays:
Justin Cichon 0-4
– Brady Burggraff 0-1
Bryce Binek 0-3 bb
– Travis Barthel 1-1 run
Brandon Welinski 0-3 2bb, sb(2), run
CJ Clear 1-4 2B, bb, sb, rbi, run
Jack Primus 2-5 Hr, sb, 4 rbi, 2 runs
Jaxon Bartkowicz 3-5 2B, sb, rbi, 2 runs
Jeremy Mugg 1-5
Hunter Moore 1-3 sac fly, 2 rbi
Brock Cichon 1-2 hp
– Cohl Clear 1-1 run
Falcons:
Reece Hubbard 1-5
Sam Primus 0-4 sb
Kurt Crosby 1-2 bb, hp
Spencer Friese 1-4
Eli Epling 0-3 bb, run
Peter Knopik 0-4
Dan Kokett 0-2
– Nick Kokett 0-0 hp
Luke Fenske 0-3 bb
Kaleb Primus 0-4