Tri-County News

Clippers make it to Final Four


Watertown’s Jadrien Keavy is safe at third, despite the protestations of Clippers third baseman Carson Geislinger; Keavy would be caught out in the next play, and he was unable to score. Staff photo by George Matua.

By Jean Doran Matua, Editor

The Watertown Red Devils had just defeated the Milroy Yankees, 10-0, at game time Sunday afternoon, Sept. 5, for the semifinal match-up. The Red Devils had three other wins under their belts in the tournament: 4-3 over Eagle Lake Expos, 8-1 over Avon Lakers, and 7-3 over Midway Snurdbirds.

Earlier in the day Sunday, the Watkins Clippers had defeated the St. Patrick Irish, 2-0.

The Red Devils jumped right in, scoring early in the first inning. Three more runs in the third would have been enough to win the game, but another 2 runs in the sixth sealed the deal.

The Clippers lagged behind the whole game. They scored 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and another in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough to catch up to the Red Devils who won, 6-3, to advance to the championship game on Monday.

The Sobieski Skis defeated Watertown Monday afternoon, 3-0 in 11 innings, to become 2021 State Champion.

All 8 of the Clippers’ hits were singles; Brendan Ashton and Nolan Geislinger each hit a pair.

Isaac Benesch (draftee from the St. Joseph Joes) is tagged with the loss. In his 2.1 innings on the mound, he struck out 2 and walked 1. Matt Geislinger finished the game, striking out 7.

Holt Hunziker earned the win for the Red Devils. He pitched 6.1 innings, striking out 3 and walking 1. Jonah Lewis pitched 2.2 innings, striking out 3.

Jake Anderly hit a triple and a single for the Red Devils. Ben Smith hit a double and two singles.

The Watkins Clippers had a first-game bye, entering the state tournament as Region 11C champions. They shut out the Princeton Panthers, 5-0. They shut out the St. Martin Martins in a no–hitter game, 3-0. They shut out the St. Patrick Irish, 2-0 in the Sweet Sixteen, earning them a spot in the Final Four.

Team manager Matt Geislinger took the mound for most of the Clippers’ time in the state tournament. He threw a total of 365 pitches in their four games of the 2021 tournament, and he earned Player of the Game against St. Patrick, and Co-Player of the Game (with Nolan Geislinger) against Princeton.

WATERTOWN AB R H BI

TOTALS 38 6 13 5

WATKINS AB R H BI

Nolan Geislinger 5 1 2 0

Lincoln Haugen 4 2 1 0

Kevin Kramer 3 0 1 1

Dan Berg 3 0 1 1

Brendan Ashton 4 0 2 0

Justin Tompson 4 0 1 0

Carter Block 3 0 0 0

  Heath Kramer 1 0 0 0

Carson Geislinger 3 0 0 0

Matt Geislinger 4 0 0 0

Isaac Benesch – – – –

TOTALS 34 3 8 2

Red Devils 1 0 3  0 0 2  0 0 0 6 13 2

Clippers 0 0 0  0 0 2  0 1 0 3   8 1

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