After losing their first game of the tournament, the Stevens Point 14-year-old team rebounded to take second place in the State Babe Ruth Tournament held in Tomah.
Point beat Tomah 13-3 in their second game. The game was shortened to five innings by the 10 run rule. Jeff Herzog led the 17-hit attack with four hits, including a double. Justin Pezewski added three hits. Chipping in with two hits apiece were Eric Schipferling, Adam Sandstrom, Randy Printz and Jake LaRonge. Schipferling picked up the win with three innings of no-hit ball. Herzog finished up with two innings in relief.
Stevens Point topped Eau Claire in its next game, 7-6. Point led 4-1 after five innings only to see Eau Claire score five runs in the sixth for a 6-4 lead. But Stevens Point came back with three in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.
Jeremy Fritsch, who had three hits, tied the game with a two-out, two run single. Brandon Eckendorf then drove in the game-winner.
Schipferling and Herzog both had two hits, including a double, for Point.
Stevens Point then defeated Heart of the North 12-8. Point scored eight runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead and held on for the win. Justin Pezewski started and pitched five innings to get the win. Herzog threw two innings in relief. Getting two hits for Point were Pezewski, Schipferling, Eckendorf and Ryan Blomlie.
In the semifinals, Point beat Janesville 7-2. Stevens Point trailed 1-0 but scored six runs in the fourth inning. Getting two hits were Eckendorf, Herzog and Printz. Herzog and Schipferling pitched for Point, with Herzog picking up the win.
Now in the finals, Point would have to defeat Appleton twice in the double elimination tournament. Appleton scored three runs, one earned, in the first and went on to win the state championship, 4-3.
Point came back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The game then turned into a pitchers duel, with each team only scoring one more run.
Stevens Point scored a run in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run on second base when the game ended.
Schipferling threw the first five innings and took the loss, while Pezewski finished up with two innings in relief.
Schipferling and Pezewski each had two hits for Point and Herzog added a double.
Stevens Point finished the season with a 16-6 record.