Kenosha Beats A’s in Playoff Opener, 3-2 in 11

In a game that a busful of Sheboygan A’s may never forget, the Kenosha Kings recorded a 3-2 win in 11 innings to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three playoff for the 2012 championship of the Langsdorf League of Southeastern Wisconsin.

Game two is Thursday night in Sheboygan. A’s manager Kyle Trewyn is calling on Ben Stanczyk to even the series and force a third game which would be played Saturday in Kenosha.

Tuesday’s game was nearly flawless until the 11th inning when two Kenosha errors offered the A’s an opportunity to take the lead and when two Sheboygan throwing errors and a wild pitch gave the victory to the Kings.

Kenosha opened scoring in the second when John Hasser singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Kyle Frye’s base hit. The A’s tied it in the third when Cole Heili singled, advanced on a sacrifice by Dan Salzbrenner and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Kenosha took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Andrew Highland’s RBI single and then both pitchers, Brandon Winfield for Sheboygan and Randy Johnson for Kenosha, put up zeroes until the eighth when the A’s tied the game.

Salzbrenner singled and got to second when the ball was misplayed in the outfieid. Pinch runner Bobby Musil went to third on Jon Capasso’s infield hit and scored on Trevor Theissen’s infield out.

Winfield and Johnson continued their battle until John Snelton replaced Johnson to open the 10th.

Then came the decisive 11th.

Theissen got on via an error. After a strikeout, he stole second. With one out, Harry Steldt launched a fly to deep right. Theissen had to hold, fearing the ball might be caught, and got a late start when the ball bounded out of the hands of Freye. Trewyn elected to force the issue and waved Theissen to the plate. He was an easy out and the threat ended without a run.

In the bottom of the 11th, a pair of throwing errors put two runners on. After Billy Johnson stole third, Mark Cibrario was intentionally walked to load the bases. Here Winfield, who until then was magnificent, threw a wild pitch and the game was over.

Snelton got the win in relief. Johnson left after striking out 14 in his nine innings of work. Winfield fanned seven in his 10 innings.

Chad Langley had two of the A’s six hits.

The A’s go into Thursday’s game with a 31-24 overall record.

“I don’t know if I have ever been more proud of an A’s team than I was of the team on the field Tuesday night,” A’s General Manager Denny Moyer said. “Those kids really battled – especially Winnie (Winfield). Losing that game after the battle they put up is really a downer. They were devastated after the game. If they can regroup after this disappointment, they will really go down as a special group.”