Win puts Franklin one step away from state tourney
Sabers top Cudahy, 7-4, in sectional semifinal
Cudahy — Franklin's goal of another WIAA state summer baseball tournament appearance is still alive.
After coming from behind to upend second-seeded Cudahy, 7-4, at Sheridan Park Saturday evening, the third-seeded Sabers advanced to the sectional finals, where they will play South Milwaukee at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Fourth-seeded South Milwaukee upset top-seeded Oak Creek, 5-4, at Franklin High School on Saturday to earn its way into the championship round.
If the Sabers (26-14) are victorious Sunday, it would be their second straight tournament berth, and their third in the last four years. The tournament begins Wednesday in Stevens Point.
Against Cudahy (25-16), Franklin fell behind 3-1 after the second inning, while Packers starting pitcher Joe Jagler was in complete control.
That is until the fifth inning, when the Sabers tagged the senior for three runs to take a one-run lead.
After Joel Kornhoff grounded out to start the inning, Adam Kaniewski and Trevor Theissen followed with singles. Evan Walton then popped out, but Lance Baretz kept the inning going after drawing a walk.
It appeared Jagler would get out of the bases loaded jam when he had the Sabers' next batter, Jay Dirienzo, in a 0-2 count.
But Dirienzo, a two-time first-team Greater Metro Conference selection, made Jagler pay for putting it right down the middle on the next pitch, as he cleared the bases with his three-RBI double that reached the right-field fence.
Cudahy coach Mike Lessard left Jagler in for the sixth inning, hoping the lefthander would find his rhythm. The Sabers, however, picked up right where they left off - scoring three more, which was more than enough for senior reliever Brandon Wiedenfeld.
After Theissen's single up the middle scored third baseman Marcus Schlemm with two outs, Walton gave the Sabers a four-run cushion at 7-3 when he nailed a two-RBI double that scored Kaniewski and Theissen.
The Packers added a run in the bottom of the sixth and had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Jagler struck out to end the game.
It was the fourth straight year Franklin has ended Cudahy's season in sectional play.
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