Kewaskum A’s capture Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic title with 8-4 championship victory over West Bend | By Craig Larsen

June 30, 2025 – West Bend, Wi – The West Bend Spirits’ remarkable run through the Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic came to a heartbreaking end Sunday afternoon, as they fell to the Kewaskum A’s 8-4 in the championship game at Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field in a contest that featured 24 hits and a dramatic momentum shift.

Playing their fifth game in less than 48 hours under grueling conditions that saw field temperatures recorded at 128 degrees between the back-to-back games, the Spirits watched a four-run lead evaporate against a relentless Kewaskum offensive attack that produced 16 hits to claim the tournament crown.

“We were like your car riding on the brink of empty for four innings,” said Spirits manager Willie Mueller, dejection and exhaustion evident in his voice as he watched the A’s celebrate their championship near home plate. “But eventually you’re going to run out. They made us pay, that’s all that’s to it.”

The championship game began as a continuation of the Spirits’ tournament magic. West Bend jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage in the second inning when Camden Hoier ripped a double to center field, advancing Adam Lucas to third base. Colyn Lessila followed with a clutch two-run single up the middle, bringing home both runners and giving the Spirits faithful hope for another tournament upset.

West Bend extended their lead to 4-1 through three innings, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and timely hitting that has become their hallmark. In the third, Quinn Zills scored on a wild pitch from A’s starter Nick Rosenthal, and Alex Pluta delivered an RBI single to right field that scored Hoier for what appeared to be a commanding advantage.

But Kewaskum, led by tournament co-MVPs Ethan Krueger and Nolan Vincent, showed the championship mettle that would ultimately carry them to the title. The A’s got back into the contest when Jared Chesak launched a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit to 4-3 and energizing their dugout.

“That home run by Chesak really woke them up,” Mueller observed. “You could see the momentum starting to shift right there. Credit to their guys – they built a roster for this, playing tournaments all over the country, playing 40 games a summer. They just had more left in the tank for whatever reason.”

The turning point came in the fifth inning when Mueller made the decision to bring in Tayton Herron for his season debut. The left-handed reliever, making his first appearance of the year after replacing the gutsy starter Caleb Horvath, faced the unenviable task of protecting a slim lead against a hot-hitting Kewaskum lineup.

“Caleb gave us absolutely everything he had in the tank through four innings under these brutal circumstances,” Mueller explained. “He caught all seven innings in the first game today. He battled hard and kept us in the game. As for Tayton, it’s never easy making your season debut in a big game, but that’s the situation we were in. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. I still have total faith in Tayton, he knows it, and I’ll hand him the ball again here soon.”

Herron surrendered the tying run in the fifth when Sean Gregorius lined a single to center field, scoring Krueger. Brad Young followed with an RBI double to left field that gave Kewaskum their first lead of the game at 5-4, a deficit the exhausted Spirits would never overcome.

The sixth inning proved to be the knockout punch, as the A’s sent 10 batters to the plate and scored three more runs to break the game open. The rally featured five consecutive hits, including RBI singles from Krueger, Chesak, and Gregorius that turned a close championship contest into a comfortable victory.

“They just kept putting good swings on pitches,” Mueller said of Kewaskum’s offensive explosion. “Moses, Krueger, Chesak, rinse and repeat – their whole lineup was locked in. When a team gets hot like that there’s not much you can do.”

The A’s offensive statistics tell the story of complete dominance at the plate when it mattered most. Jared Chesak led the charge with a perfect 3-for-3 day, including the pivotal home run and two RBIs. Sean Gregorius matched Chesak’s hit total, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk to pace the championship attack. Sam Moses also collected three hits to support the balanced offensive effort that overwhelmed the Spirits.

Tournament Co-MVP Ethan Krueger was a menace at the plate today and throughout the tournament, collecting three hits and driving in a run in the championship game while hitting three home runs for the tournament.

For West Bend, the offensive bright spots were limited but meaningful in their championship effort. Hoier reached base three times, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk despite the sweltering conditions. Lessila finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Pluta and Zills each contributed a hit and run scored.

“Our guys competed their hearts out all weekend long,” Mueller reflected. “Playing five games in less than 48 hours, including back-to-back games in what…a 128-degree field temperature with no air flow and not a cloud in the sky, takes everything out of you. But we just couldn’t string together enough outs when we needed them in the final innings.”

The pitching story told two different tales for West Bend in the championship. Horvath kept the Spirits competitive through four innings under the brutal heat, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out five batters. His gutsy performance through 81 pitches showed the kind of championship heart that got the Spirits to this point.

But Herron’s season debut proved challenging – five runs allowed on 11 hits over just two innings in his first action of the year. The southpaw faced 19 batters in the championship pressure cooker, unable to get the weak contact needed to escape trouble.

“We had 3 kids make their season pitching debuts this weekend and won 2 of them,” Mueller analyzed. “What people won’t realize is that we had to play a game in this tournament that counted for Land O’ Lakes play, then play arguably the best team in the state the past decade in Hartford, and then play two Northeast Wisconsin Baseball powers in Appleton and Greenville. Excuse me, if I am pretty proud of my guys.”

Tournament co-MVP Nolan Vincent was nearly untouchable in relief for the champions, throwing four shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out four to earn the victory and help secure the Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic title. The right-hander completely shut down the Spirits’ offense after entering in the fourth inning, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced in championship fashion.

“Vincent came in, controlled tempo knowing we were spent, and pumped strike after strike,” Mueller acknowledged. “Both he and Krueger were deserving co-MVPs of this tournament. Congrats to them.”

A’s starter Nick Rosenthal battled through three innings of the championship game despite allowing seven hits and four runs. The veteran showed championship experience by limiting the damage when West Bend threatened, stranding five runners on base during his stint.

“I’m incredibly proud of what this team accomplished in this tournament,” Mueller said as Spirits players walked to their parked cars along Silverbrook Drive after the championship game. “We gave everything we had, and probably a little bit more than we should’ve. But the effort both on and off the field this weekend is appreciated by all involved.”

The A’s head home as Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic champions, their title secured by the outstanding performances of co-MVPs Ethan Krueger and Nolan Vincent and a balanced offensive attack that proved unstoppable when it mattered most.

Tournament Success Built on Community Support

As the dust settled on another successful Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic, Mueller took time to recognize the army of volunteers and supporters who made the tournament possible under challenging conditions.

“First and foremost, we need to thank the City of West Bend for their continued support and partnership in hosting this tournament,” Mueller said. “The Parks and Recreation Department kept the field and the entire complex looking immaculate in this heat – not one complaint.”

Mueller was especially grateful for the tournament’s volunteer staff who worked tirelessly through the scorching temperatures. “Our volunteers running concessions – Bill Schubert, John McNeil, Howard Henrich, John Rozek, and Kelly Vincent – worked long hours in a hot box with no AC. They kept food and beverages flowing. Chris Zills ran the press box, handled the scoreboard, and managed the music while helping Craig with logistics. They were out there in the same brutal heat we were, and they never complained. This tournament doesn’t happen without them.”

The umpiring crew also earned Mueller’s praise for their professionalism throughout the grueling weekend schedule. “The umpires called a fantastic tournament under incredibly difficult conditions. They kept the games moving, made the tough calls, and maintained control when emotions ran high. That’s not easy to do in this heat. Kevin Vincent doesn’t get enough credit for what he does for local baseball. Kevin worked 10 games in the tournament, all while managing umpire issues in his regular leagues. He and Craig spent Kevin’s entire break yesterday reviewing video of a home plate collision in a league game. That’s dedication.”

Mueller also acknowledged his players who volunteered their time for long hours in addition to playing. “My guys really helped out, and it means a lot because we didn’t even ask. Players like Brandon Niedfeldt, Ben Hurt Haller, Tyler Morrison, Colyn Lessila, and Cam Hoier seemed to never leave the park during all three days. They were chasing down foul balls, picking up trash, flipping coins for home and away, and helping restock the concession stand when supplies ran low.”

As players from both teams had been long gone, Mueller reflected on what the Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic represents for the amateur baseball community.

“I know this tournament means so much to Jim and to you, Craig, especially. I know how much it meant to you to get West Bend back into the tournament, particularly after all the sacrifices of the past. I know it had to make you guys feel good that so many people bought into the tournament this year.”

The 2025 Wisconsin Amateur Baseball Classic concluded with Kewaskum hoisting the championship trophy, but the real victory belonged to the entire amateur baseball and West Bend community that came together to make the tournament a resounding success.

Box Score

Kewaskum A’s 8, West Bend Spirits 4

Game Info:

• Date: Sunday, June 29, 2025

• Location: Carl M. Kuss Memorial Field – West Bend, WI

• Weather: Sunny – 93 degrees

• Records: West Bend Spirits (11-3), Kewaskum A’s (30-10)

Line Score

WP: Nolan Vincent (3-0) LP: Tayton Herron (0-1)

WEST BEND SPIRITS

• 2B: Camden Hoier

• HBP: Caleb Horvath

• E: Drake Grod

• Pitches-Strikes: Caleb Horvath 81-49, Tayton Herron 45-33

• Batters Faced: Caleb Hrovath 19, Tayton Herron 16

KEWASKUM A’S

• 2B: Sean Gregorius, Nick Rosenthal, Brad Young

• HR: Jared Chesak

• SF: Ethan Sawyer

• SB: Nolan Vincent

• WP: Nick Rosenthal

• HBP: Nick Rosenthal

• Pitches-Strikes: Nick Rosenthal 58-37, Nolan Vincent 48-32

• Batters Faced: Nick Rosenthal 17, Nolan Vincent 13