A’s Clinch First Wisconsin State League Championship Since 2000

For the first time in 26 years, the Sheboygan A’s are Wisconsin State League champions.

The A’s completed an 11-7 victory over the Kenosha Kings on Thursday night in a game that began on June 21 before being suspended by rain. With the win, Sheboygan secured its first WSL title since 2000 and the fourth league championship in franchise history since the Wisconsin State League was founded in 1970. The A’s are also the only remaining charter member of the league.

“This was truly a team,” Sheboygan manager Tim Moyer said. “With all the injuries, we could have packed things in, but they just found ways to win. I had some lineups that I never would have imagined when the season started—catchers and pitchers in the outfield, catchers in the infield. I wish Jacob and Riley would have been healthy to enjoy it. Our pitching was fantastic. I love these guys. Two more things to win!”

When play resumed Thursday evening in Burlington, Sheboygan carried a 7-4 lead into the top of the third inning after building the advantage before the June 21 rain delay.

Kenosha quickly made things interesting after play resumed. Harrison Garrett singled before Ryne Lesnik connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the third, trimming Sheboygan’s lead to 7-6.

The A’s answered immediately in the fourth.

Harry Steldt and Jimmy Juergensen opened the inning with singles before Hudson Wagner was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brad Rindfleisch was then hit by a pitch to force home a run, Cal Casper lifted a sacrifice fly, and Nick Tenny drove in another with a fielder’s choice as Sheboygan stretched its advantage to 10-6.

Kenosha picked up a run in the fifth on Dvante Glenn’s sacrifice fly, but Jason Bunton prevented any further damage and retired seven of the final eight hitters he faced.

The A’s added an insurance run in the seventh when Chase Hanselman doubled into right-center and later scored on George Hoss’ RBI single, pushing the lead back to four.

Bunton closed out the seventh with a strikeout, touching off the celebration as the A’s officially claimed the Wisconsin State League championship.

Bunton earned the victory with five innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three. Bryce Lovisa started the game back on June 21, working the first two innings before the weather halted play.

Because the contest spanned more than five weeks, several offensive highlights came before the rain delay. On June 21, the A’s erupted for seven runs in the first inning, highlighted by Alex Ames’ bases-clearing double. That early outburst gave Sheboygan the cushion it needed to withstand Kenosha’s comeback attempt when the game resumed.

Steldt finished 3-for-4 to lead Sheboygan’s nine-hit attack. Ames drove in three runs, while Hoss collected an RBI and scored once. Juergensen reached base four times with a hit, two walks and a hit batter.

The A’s will compete in the Wisconsin State League Tournament this weekend in Oshkosh. The annual round-robin event features the league’s Wisconsin-based teams and serves as the conclusion of the WSL schedule, while Addison and Lombard compete in the NABF World Series.

Sheboygan then turns its attention to the Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League Championship Series against Menasha. Game 1 is Monday in Menasha before the series shifts to Wildwood Park for Game 2 on Tuesday. The A’s are offering free general admission to fans, while seats remain available, on a first-come, first-serve basis Tuesday, and are encouraging fans to bring donation items or cash contributions to support the Menasha tornado relief effort. A list of needed items is available through the Volunteer Fox Cities Facebook page.