The 2019 Rosholt High School baseball team won the CWC South Crown with a 10-2 record. (John Kemmeter photo)

By John Kemmeter

With the outright Central Wisconsin Conference (CWC) South Title at stake, the Rosholt High School baseball team won 3-1 over Pacelli Catholic High School at Brooks Field in Rosholt Monday, May 20, to claim the Conference Championship.

Rosholt and Pacelli entered the conference finale tied at the top of the CWC South standings at 9-2.

Rosholt (14-3-1) struck first, as senor Isaac Groshek hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.

Pacelli (18-7) had the bases loaded in each of the first two innings but came up empty against Rosholt freshman pitcher Blade Niewiadomski, and finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning.

Freshman Brycen Cashin drew a walk from Rosholt senior Tony Kropidlowski to lead off the fifth, then stole second base, before he scored on a two-out RBI single from freshman Drew Kedrowicz to pull the Cardinals within 2-1.

Rosholt answered in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Groshek led off with a single, then stole second and advanced to third on an error on the play, while Blade Niewiadomski followed with a RBI single to make it 3-1.

Senior Nate Helms had a single to start the top of the seventh inning for Pacelli, but Rosholt sophomore Nathan Lemanczyk retired the next three batters to close out the 3-1 victory for the Hornets and claim the Conference Title.

Kedrowicz and senior Zach Zimmerman both went 2-for-3 to lead the offense for Pacelli, while Zimmerman took the loss after he allowed two earned runs on five hits, struck out three and walked two in six innings.

Groshek went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Hornets’ offense. Tony Kropidlowski picked up the win in relief after he struck out six, walked two and allowed one run on two hits in three innings; while Blade Niewiadomski struck out six, walked four and allowed two hits in three shutout innings; and Lemanczyk struck out one in the seventh to record the save.

The win gave Rosholt the CWC South Title outright with a 10-2 record in the final conference standings, followed by Pacelli (9-3), Wild Rose (8-4), Almond-Bancroft (7-5) and Pittsville (6-6).