Muskego foils Whitnall's postseason efforts again
Warriors' Borek pitches a complete game for 8-2 win over the Falcons
Whitnall's hope for avenging last year's season-ending loss to Muskego evaporated Saturday when the Warriors' Cole Borek pitched his team to a sectional semifinal victory.
The Warriors (29-7), behind a complete game from Borek, defeated Whitnall, 8-2, at Muskego High School to eliminate the Falcons for the second consecutive year in sectional play. Borek cruised through seven innings, only allowing seven Falcon hits while striking out four.
Whitnall, which toppled Muskego during the regular season, 7-6, ends its season at 19-15.
"I try to give my team some energy every time they come to bat," Borek said. "Today was like any other day. I gave my team a great chance to win by giving it my best."
Whitnall senior Brock McGinn took the loss after allowing four runs through the first two innings. McGinn, who struck out one and walked one in his fiving innings of work, settled down after that by not allowing another run the next three innings.
But Muskego put the game out of reach when they erupted for four runs in the sixth inning off relief pitcher Nolyn White.
White was the winning pitcher in the team's 5-2 regional final victory over Waukesha North on July 20.
White was effective at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a run scored, and Luke Mentkowski (3-for-4) scored the team's other run.
Otherwise, the Whitnall offense was absent thanks in large part to Borek.
However, Muskego coach Mike Schramek said this kind of performance is nothing new for Borek, who has been the team's ace the past two seasons.
"Including today, this is Cole's 19th complete game in the past two years," Schramek said. "He's our innings eater. It's just what he does."
Backing up Borek's performance on the mound was a solid offensive performance by the Warriors hitters. As a team, the Warriors pounded out 16 hits against the two Whitnall pitchers.
The Warriors, who lost the next day in the sectional finals to Waukesha West, were led by senior right fielder Mike Robinson and junior center fielder Adam Schulz. Robinson went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Schulz went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Every Warriors batter had a hit in the game.
The Warriors were also exceptionally good at taking pitches. They only drew three walks, but on numerous occasions Warriors' hitters worked the count full, forcing the Whitnall pitchers to throw many extra pitches.
"That's what we teach our kids to do," Schramek said. "They know what they're looking for when they go up to the plate."
This loss for Whitnall comes a year after Muskego defeated the Falcons, 15-13, in an intense, 10-innnig sectional final.
The Falcons were confident entering the game, but after the six-run loss, they are still searching for their first WIAA state tournament appearance since 2001.
Whitnall graduates 12 seniors from a team that was ranked in the top 10 in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll.
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