Coleman Brings State Title Home

In one of the wildest state championship games ever played, the Coleman Cougars brought home the gold trophy with a thrilling come-from-behind 20-11 win over Johnson Creek Thursday morning at Fox Cities Stadium.

The Division 4 championship victory extended Coleman’s winning streak to 28 in a row and capped the greatest baseball season in school history at 28-1.

“Winning state gives Coleman baseball a lot of credibility. We have been a good program for a lot of years with a number of very good players, but this takes us to a new level,” said Kent Casper, who just completed his 17th year as Coleman’s head coach in the program’s 20th season.

“We’ve been under pressure all year and dropping to Division 4, people thought this should be a cakewalk. It wasn’t and to be honest with you, I would have sooner stayed in D-3 as we played a number of very good teams in D-4. Like I told you earlier this year, losing that first game of the year to Freedom was a blessing in disguise. The team remained focused, won 28 in a row and state is quite a tribute to the work and dedication of these players.”

The 2012 state tournament was no cakewalk for the Cougars, who were making their third appearance in the WIAA baseball classic and seeking that elusive first title. Coleman socked out 13 hits to down Pittsville (19-7) in the semifinals 10-3 then overcame deficits of 5-0 and 11-4 to rally past Johnson Creek (21-7) for the title.

“This group of kids is incredible. Most of them have been a part of 3 straight state wrestling titles under my brother Kevin and now they can add baseball to their legacy. As a coach, I can now put my name next to Kevin on the board as a state champion. It is quite an honor and very, very humbling,” Casper added.

The marathon championship game, which took nearly 3 hours to play (2:48), saw plenty of records set and tied.

Coleman established a mark for most runs in a state tournament (30), game (20), batting average (.406), total hits 28 (15 in the finals), walks drawn one game (13) and tied a record with Johnson Creek for most errors in one game (7).

The Cougars had plenty of heroes in the title game, including the bottom of the order which totaled 7 hits and 8 runs scored.

Number nine hitter Trevor Seewald, who had his share of defensive troubles throughout the season, banged out 4 hits in 5 plate appearances, scored twice and drove in 2 runs. Seewald finished with 5 hits in 8 state at bats.

Trevor Bushmaker added 2 hits and 2 runs while number 8 swinger, Derek Marquardt, chipped in with a hit and 3 runs scored.

“The bottom of our order was huge and got the offense going. I was so proud of Seewald, had a tough error at state last year, but redeemed himself Thursday. Most teams have 4-5 hitters, but I believe we have good hitters up and down the lineup 1-9,” Casper said.

Mason Mergener, the co-MVP of the M-O Conference with brother Mike, proved to be a force on the mound and at the plate. Standing on the hill, Mergener registered pitching wins in both state games, giving up 5 hits over 7 total innings. With a bat in his hand, Mergener lashed 5 hits in 9 plate appearances, scored 3 runs and collected 6 RBIs, including 5 in the championship game.

“Mason got credit for both pitching wins, something you don’t see that often at state. He has been our workhorse all year and stepped up again when we needed him the most,” Casper commented.

Cougars Overcome Early

Deficits For 1st State Title

In an unbelievable championship clash, Coleman made Johnson Creek victim number 28 to claim the D-4 state title by a football-like score 20-11.

The Cougars overcame deficits of 5-0 in the first inning and 11-4 in the fourth before jamming home plate for 16 runs over the final three frames.

“I know the championship game wasn’t pretty, but at the end it sure looked good to our team. These kids never gave up. When we were down 5-0 and 11-4, I knew if we could just score a couple of runs things would get better. I stayed calm the whole time and just told the kids we are going to take pitches until I say differently. They did and showed lots of discipline even with a strike on the count. Down 11-4, I told the kids we still have 3 at bats left and lets make the most of them, ” Casper added.

Coleman followed Casper’s orders perfectly and scored 16 runs over the final 3 innings to capture the state title.

Title game jitters along with four fielding miscues on the usually reliable middle infielders, Mitch and Mike Mergener, resulted in 5 unearned runs and an early deficit.

“We had errors from two guys that usually don’t make them. I’m sure nerves were part of it, but the boys didn’t hang their heads. They just kept on battling,” Casper remarked.

After being held in check for two innings, Coleman finally gave its large contingent of fans something to cheer about in the third. Marquardt and Seewald lashed singles to right and Champagne walked to load the bases. Mike Mergener hit a sac fly to score Marquardt before Jake Engels ripped a two-run single down the rightfield line.

Coleman got even closer in the fourth when Lucas Markiewicz singled and Bushmaker walked. A wild pitch along with a throwing error by the catcher as Markiewicz advanced to third base produced the run.

As much momentum as Coleman built up, things went out the window in the fourth when Johnson Creek sent 11 batters to the plate and erupted for 6 runs for a seemingly comfortable 11-4 cushion.

Six hits and two more fielding miscues forced Coleman to replace starting pitcher Trevor Bushmaker with Mitch Mergener. Justin Emrath, John Kupsche, Ruger Roehl and Brad Trapp lashed RBI hits in the frame.

Down to their final 3 at bats, the Cougars answered. In a big way!

Coleman tallied 6 runs on 3 hits in the fifth inning. The rally was keyed by 6 walks, 3 passed balls and run scoring hits from Mitch Mergener, Bushmaker (2 RBIs) and Seewald.

When the inning ended, Coleman trailed 11-10.

“Once we started to close the gap, you could see our confidence building. Down 11-10 and with Johnson Creek running out of pitching, I looked in their dugout and saw heads were down and knew we were going to beat them. We still had plenty of pitching left, which helped,” Casper said.

Semifinal starting pitcher, Mason Mergener, got the call for the 5th and 6th innings and hurled a pair of scoreless frames.

“Bringing Mason in really worked out well. He set Johnson Creek down 1-2-3 in the 5th and gave up a single in the 6th. This got our kids excited and ready to roll on offense again,” Casper explained.

The Cougars responded in a big way to Mergener’s mound magic, adding 7 more runs in the 6th to take the lead for good.

Markiewicz drew a leadoff walk, Bushmaker doubled to left and Marquardt added a run scoring fielder’s choice grounder.

With the score tied at 11-all, Marquardt stole second then raced home with Bushmaker as Seewald sent a hot grounder past the shortstop. Champagne doubled in Seewald, Mike Mergener walked before brother Mason drove in two more runs with a single to left and a 15-11 edge.

Mason Mergener made his way to third base before scoring on a throwing error by the pitcher.

Owning the upper hand at 17-11, Coleman tacked on three insurance runs in the 7th on 3 hits. Seewald lashed a one-out single, Champagne doubled with Seewald scoring on a wild pitch. Mason Mergener took care of the final two runs with a single to leftfield for that 20-11 final score.

Needing just three outs to wrap up the title, Casper brought Mitch Mergener to the mound for the second time in the game. The senior didn’t disappoint his coach using a groundout to brother Mike at short, flyball to Champagne in left before second sacker Jake Engels gobbled up a grounder to throw out Clayton Uselman to end the game.

“The first time I brought Mitch in, I knew he would throw strikes and make Johnson Creek put the ball in play. At that stage of the game, we couldn’t afford to give them 5-6 outs per inning any more. In the 7th, Mitch did his job to perfection with a 1-2-3 inning,” Casper commented.

Coleman Pounds Out

13 Hits In 10-3 Victory

Over Pittsville In Semis

With their bats unloading 13 hits, the Cougars had no trouble taking care of Pittsville (19-7) in the semifinals Wednesday 10-3.

Coleman opened up a 5-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings then sealed the win with a 5-run outburst in the sixth.

“This was our first state win ever and got the baseball program over the hump. Our bats came alive, plus we got some good pitching and everything pretty much went our way. Mason did a great job through 5 innings and we were able to take him out and save two innings for the finals. Mitch gave up just 2 hits and no runs over the final two innings. It was a good team win and confidence builder,” Casper said.

Winning pitcher Mason Mergener aided his own cause with 3 hits, Bushmaker added two safeties while Champagne and Seewald scored two runs each.

Champagne set the tone in the opening inning for Coleman, beating out an infield single, stealing second, moving to third on Mason’s hit before scoring on a groundout by Engels.

The Cougars stretched the upper hand to 5-0 in the second frame with 4 unearned runs on 3 hits and two Pittsville errors. Markiewicz got things rolling by reaching on an error, Bushmaker and Marquardt singled before Seewald lashed a RBI grounder.

Champagne kept the inning alive when he got aboard on another error, Mike Mergener lofted a sac fly and Mason Mergener a RBI single.

Pittsville tallied two runs in the bottom of the second and one in the fourth to make it a 5-3 score.

Owning that slim lead, Coleman gained some breathing room with 5 runs on 7 hits in the sixth. With one out, Seewald singled to right and Champagne followed with a triple for a 6-3 lead.

The 3 Mergener brothers took care of the next two runs. Mike Mergener added a RBI single, Mason singled and the brothers raced home as Mitch unloaded a two-run single to center. Prior to Mitch coming to bat, Pittsville elected to intentionally walk Engels to set up a force play.

Bad move as Mitch made Pittsville regret the decision with his single to centerfield.

Markiewicz capped the uprising with a run scoring single to right.

“We emphasized not to pull the slow curveball, instead wait back and hit it to rightfield. The kids did that and we ended up with 6-7 hits to right. Everybody hit the ball and kept on putting it in play. That makes a huge difference in a game, especially at state,” Casper said.

Taking that 10-3 edge into the bottom of the 7th, Mitch Mergener used two pop ups along with a strikeout to end the game and preserve the win for brother Mason.

“This was our first-ever win at state and gave our kids some confidence. Like I told you throughout the season, pressure doesn’t get to these kids. They know how to win and what it takes to be a winner,” Casper added.

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