As is typical for springtime in Wisconsin, it took some time for the weather to cooperate for the Sun Prairie East baseball program to start its 2024 season. The Cardinals had four games cancelled between Monday, April 1 and Friday, April 5. The rescheduling of one of those games, a home matchup against Big Eight conference rival Janesville Craig, served as the new season opener at East’s Summit Field on Saturday, April 6.
It didn’t disappoint. The matchup was dripping with intrigue even before the first pitch as the Cougars entered as the reigning Big Eight conference champions. Craig had thumped East a combined 24-7 last season on its way to the title. Saturday’s matchup was not only a chance to showcase the strengths of this season’s squad, it as a shot at revenge.
The game was defined by perseverance of a pair of sophomore Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh inning: pitcher/designated hitter Brady Stelzer and left fielder Van Vogler.
Stelzer had nearly lost his team the game from the pitching mound in the top of the same inning. He came in as the closer with a 4-3 lead, only to allow three hits and two runs scored as Janesville Craig came alive to take its first lead of the game.
In the bottom half, he redeemed himself. Seniors John Hadley VI and Isaac Wendler did their jobs to lead off the inning. Hadley VI scorched a single into center field and Wendler beat out a bunt back to the pitcher to put a pair of runners on the base path. Stelzer inched them closer, laying down a stellar bunt of his own to move Hadley VI to third base and Wendler to second.
After sophomore catcher Manny Abreu Socorro was intentionally walked, up walked Vogler. He had been replaced in left field earlier in the game. A challenging hit to his portion of the outfield dropped at his feet. At the plate, he went 0-2 with a strikeout before returning to the bench.
Sun Prairie East head coach Jack Marchese chose to put him back in the lineup for this final effort. The choice paid off. With the bases loaded and one out on the board, Vogler came out swinging. He launched a foul ball into right field before sailing a fair ball over the right fielder’s head. Hadley VI and Wendler both came in to score, confirming a walk-off 5-4 victory for the Cardinals.
“I really thank my coaches for giving me a second chance,” Vogler said. “I know I struggled early in the game, but they really trusted me in a big moment. They put the game in my hands and allowed me to prove myself. It feels great. A lot of chills and emotions come with doing it. It took perseverance from the whole team.”
Before Vogler and his pals could steal the show in the bottom of the seventh inning, the first six were all about East senior Drew Kavanaugh. He had a stellar game, both as the starting pitcher and third batter in the order for the Cardinals.
On the mound, Kavanaugh went six innings strong, allowing only four total hits with two walks and two earned runs. He silenced the Craig offense for the first three innings of the game before the Cougars snagged one earned run off him in the top of the fourth inning and another in the top of the fifth. He struck out four batters, as well.
He made up for those two eventual earned runs on the mound by knocking in a pair at the plate in the bottom of the first inning. The Cardinals started the game red-hot as senior center fielder Sam Ostrenga led off with a single up the gut, followed by a walk drawn by junior shortstop Max Glusick. Up walked Kavanaugh, who pounded a single into right field to score both.
He got some extra cushion from his offense in the bottom of the third inning, courtesy of Abreu Socorro. Hadley VI again put himself in position to score by stretching a shot to the left-center gap into a double. With two outs on the board, Abreu Socorro got the ball past Craig’s second baseman, buying time for Hadley VI to score with ease.
Craig made its impressive comeback attempt with well-placed bunts, clutch hits, a vital pitching change, and the swagger that comes with being the reigning conference champion. East showed it was improved from last season, relying on a pair of sophomores to save the day and start the season off with a win.
“I don’t think we played very well today, really,” East head coach Jack Marchese said. “Craig is a super well-coached team, and hats off to them for how they executed and kept fighting today. Nothing was easy for us. Late in the game, we executed like they did throughout the game when we needed to. I’m really proud of the guys for working hard today. That’s a really good team. What a first game for us.”
This coming week will be all about the Janesville schools for Sun Prairie East. First, the Cardinals will play their season series with Parker. They’ll host the Vikings on Monday, April 8 and head to their place on Thursday, April 11. East will return to Janesville the following day, Friday, April 12, for a rematch with Craig.
As if that wasn’t enough, Sun Prairie East’s rivalry series with Sun Prairie West will also begin in the same week. The Cardinals will make the short trip across town to face the Wolves on Saturday, April 13. They’ll have to wait until Saturday, April 20 to host the second edition of the matchup.
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