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Eagles Repeat as Packerland Baseball Champions

For the second year in a row, Southern Door is the outright Packerland Conference champion in baseball. The Eagles, who went a perfect 8-0 this season in conference play, clinched the Packerland title May 19 with an 11-9 victory in eight innings at Oconto.

The lead switched hands leading up to the extra frame. Southern Door pulled in front in the top of the sixth when Tyler Neinas singled to drive in two runs. After Oconto regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles tied the game at 8-8 in the seventh inning on a two-run homer from Jack Peterson. The Blue Devils were unable to score in the bottom of the frame, and the game went into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Neinas walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Derik Schinktgen, and later scored on an error when Jared Hawkey batted. Peterson then hit another home run to extend Southern Door’s lead to 11-8. Oconto plated a run in the bottom of the eighth but then left the bases loaded as the Eagles held on to win.

Peterson – who batted 5-6 and drove in four runs with a double and two home runs – reached base six times.

Christian Counard went 2-4 at the plate, with Neinas adding 2 RBI for the Eagles. Southern Door’s Charlie Neinas recorded the pitching victory.

SD 12, NEW Lutheran 2

The Eagles wrapped up their conference schedule at home May 20 with a 12-2 victory over NEW Lutheran in six innings.

Southern Door, which scored half of its runs in the bottom of the first, was led at the plate by Jaden Diller, who batted 3-3 with two doubles. Counard went 2-4 with 3 RBI, and Taylor Schaefer batted 2-3. Drew Daoust pitched all six innings in recording the victory, allowing only one hit while striking out six.

The Eagles, who received the No. 1 seed and an opening-round bye in their WIAA Division 3 Regional, will open the tournament at home May 31 when they host the winner between No. 4-seeded Brillion and No. 5-seeded Manitowoc Lutheran.