Portage puts down Panthers title hopes in 8-3 win, Panthers take second in first state trip

• Ellsworth's Dan Giese

Right fielder Dan Giese gets under the ball to make the outfield fly catch.

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GRAND CHUTE - Despite outhitting Portage 9-8, Ellsworth was behind the Warriors in two just as important stats, errors and runs. The Panthers lost 8-3 in the Division 2 championship game of the WIAA State Tournament Thursday afternoon at Fox Cities Stadium.

Like they did in their semifinal game the night before, Portage jumped out to a big early lead at 6-0 and forces Ellsworth to play catch-up the rest of the way.

EHS certainly tried. They plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth off of Dan Giese's RBI-single and bad throw by the Warriors. But Portage moved further out thanks to several critical mistakes in the sixth inning which saw Portage plate two runs with two outs. Ellsworth had four errors in the game.

Ellsworth scored a run in the bottom half of the sixth off of Brandon Voelker's RBI-sacrifice but stranded two base runners in that inning and in their last at bats.

"We had a lot of hits but the clutch ones that score runs," EHS head coach Steve Block said. "And we made too many mistakes and gave out too many free passes to win. But even though it wasn't our best effort, we still gave all the effort we had to stay in the ballgame and have a chance throughout. I'm proud of the kids for that and coming home with something from the first-ever trip for Ellsworth at state baseball."

The Panthers finish the regular season 20-6 overall.

Tags: prep baseball, sports, prep, ellsworth