STAYING ALIVE

Their season was on the brink. After a sensational three-month run, it appeared Sauk Prairie’s Home Talent League team was going to bow out in the second round of the Northern Section playoffs on a sweltering Sunday afternoon. Visiting Reedsburg, the No. 5 seed in the Section, struck for eight runs in the top of the sixth inning and grabbed an 8-4 lead over the top-seeded and host Twins. But Sauk Prairie did what it often does best — rally. The Twins answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and closed back within 8-6. Sauk Prairie then erupted for five runs in the bottom of the eighth en route to a thrilling 11-8 win. The Twins improved to 13-1 and will now host second-seeded Ashton (11-3) Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner of that game advances to the HTL Final Four. Reedsburg finished the year 9-5. “We showed a lot of grit throughout the roster to come from behind,” Sauk Prairie manager Lucas Koenig said. “We maintained our composure after making some miscues in the field. Our team did a great job sticking together and supporting each other.” Sauk Prairie starter Connor Leister rolled through the first five innings as the Twins built a 4-0 lead. But Reedsburg tagged Leister for five earned runs in the sixth, and reliever Sam Koenig gave up three unearned runs as the Pirates took control. The Twins didn’t blink, though, striking for two runs on the bottom of the sixth. Quinn Baier reached on an error to lead off the sixth, then Mike Jordahl singled to left putting runners on the corners. Sam Koenig followed with a bunt single that scored Baier, then with one out, Lucas Koenig doubled to left scoring Jordahl and pulling the Twins within 8-6. Sauk Prairie then had its most important rally of the year in the bottom of the eighth. Spencer Alisch, Lucas Koenig and Ben Lenerz all walked to open the inning and load the bases. After the next two Twins’ batters were retired, Chucky Schara had an enormous two-out, two-strike single to right that scored Alisch and pinch runner Kyle Breunig to tie the game, 8-8. Baier followed with a two-strike single to left that scored Lenerz and gave the Twins a 9-8 lead. Jordahl then gave Sauk Prairie some breathing room with a double to center that plated both Schara and Baier to give the Twins an 11-8 lead. Sam Koenig, who allowed just two base runners in the seventh and eighth innings combined, gave up back-to-back singles to start the ninth inning. But Koenig battled back and notched a strikeout, a groundout and pop out to finish off the Pirates. Koenig earned the win throwing 3 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out a pair. Leister, who started the game, worked 5 2/3 innings allowing five earned runs and seven hits. He struck out one Pirate and didn’t walk a batter. The Twins built an early lead and appeared like they might cruise to victory. Alisch had an RBI groundout in the first inning that scored Baier to make it 1-0. Then in the fourth, Ty Brisky had a leadoff triple and scored on an Alex Mayer single to make it 2-0. Mayer moved to second after a walk to Schara, then scored on Jordahl’s two-out single to center that made it 3-0. In the fifth, Alisch and Brisky both singled. Mayer’s one-out single then plated Alisch to make it 4-0. Reedsburg battled back with its huge sixth inning, before the Twins refused to die with their late rally. Mayer had a huge day at the plate going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Jordahl went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and a run scored. Brisky went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Schara had two RBIs and Alisch scored two runs. • Thursday Night League: The Twins scored 10 runs in the seventh inning and defeated Dodgeville, 11-10, in the regular season finale. Leo Joyce had a game-winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth to help the Twins complete their comeback. Sauk Prairie now faces Footville in the first round of the playoffs Thursday at 7:30 p.m.