Fifth-ranked Legion ready for regional

• Brandon Schmidt

River Falls American Legion third baseman Brandon Schmidt charges a ground ball hit by Clint Kempf of the Fighting Fish before throwing Kempf out at first base in the first inning of the annual “Battle of the Bats” exhibition game between the two teams Monday at the high school field. The Fighting Fish won 9-2. Bob Burrows photos

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The River Falls American Legion Post 121 baseball team split its final two games of the regular season last week, defeating Lakeville, Minn., 10-6 before falling to Eau Claire, 3-2, in 10 innings.

Monday night, the Legion tuned up for this week’s regional tournament by playing the River Falls Fighting Fish in the fourth annual “Battle of the Bats” exhibition game. Former high school and Legion star Brian Giebel hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning as the Fish posted a 9-2 victory.

The River Falls Legion team takes a record of 15-3 into Thursday night’s regional opener against New Richmond in Menomonie. River Falls is ranked fifth in the latest Wisconsin American Legion AA poll.

Last Thursday at Eau Claire, Jack Herum pitched all 10 innings in a 3-2 loss to the host team. Herum allowed just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking four. Eau Claire won the game with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

“Jack gave us everything we could possibly ask for on the mound today against a traditionally strong Eau Claire team,” River Falls coach Ryan Bishop said. “We left the bases loaded in the sixth and then again with only one out in the eighth. We had our chances to push the winning run across and we just didn’t execute like we needed to.”

Both River Falls’ runs came with two outs in the third when Josh Halling tripled, Brad Erdrich walked and both scored on a double by Colin Pechacek. Halling and Pechacek both had two hits in the game.

Last Tuesday at Lakeville, Minn., J.P. Feyereisen drove in four runs and Pechacek went the distance on the mound in a 10-6 River Falls victory.

Bishop said Monday’s exhibition game against the Fighting Fish was a perfect way to tune up for the regional tournament. Jake Kerr and Zach Hunter had two hits apiece for the Legion while five different pitchers saw action on the mound.

“Aside from the heat it was great to be on the field with so many current and former Wildcats,” Bishop said about playing the Fish. “This is always a very special night for me regardless of the outcome. The Fish have been such a positive addition to River Falls baseball and our community as a whole. The only thing that could make this night any better is playing under the lights on a new city field.”

Tags: sports, proam, baseball