GRAND CHUTE — In Pacelli’s second-consecutive trip to the WIAA state baseball tournament, their offense came alive early in their record-setting 14-2 semifinal win over Edgar Tuesday.
Tomas Uemura broke the WIAA’s state tournament record for single-game triples across all divisions with three as the Cardinals exploded for one of the most productive batting outings in all of the tournament, peeling off eight-runs in the second inning.
It started in the first when Edgar walked Pacelli’s leadoff hitter Malise Beduhn.
Pacelli capitalized when Lucas Haemmerle singled into center field to drive in Beduhn for the go-ahead run. Tomas Uemura then hammered his first RBI triple to the back of the wall to give Pacelli a two-run lead.
Pacelli senior pitcher Keltin Opper was stout for the Cardinals after walking Edgar’s leadoff hitter. He went the distance, notching his final out on his 101st pitch. In the second, Edgar’s Gavin Mauer answered Pacelli’s early onslaught with a lead-off single on the Cardinals lefty, but Opper stranded him.
Leyton Schuett helped Edgar’s offense get going in the third, driving in two runs with a single into left field.
A part of the eight-run, seven-hit inning, Uemura helped stretch the Cardinals lead with another RBI triple, then notched his record-breaking triple in the bottom of the third.
Haemmerle had a perfect day at-bat with three hits, three runs and five RBIs. Uemura’s record-setting day concluded with three hits, two runs and three RBIs.
Overall, the Cardinals tallied 13 total hits in their five-inning win over the Wildcats and will look to bring that momentum on Thursday for all the marbles.
Pacelli will compete for the Division 4 state championship against Johnson Creek Thursday at 9:05 a.m.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at alfred.smith@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Uemura makes WIAA tournament history, Pacelli clinches 1st championship berth in 22 years
Reporting by Alfred Smith III, Wausau Daily Herald / Wausau Daily Herald
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