Reds tune up for Districts with win over Esko

4365804+Rbb9.jpg — (Jed Carlson/jcarlson@superiortelegram.com) Superior’s Brandon Wing makes a catch at first base to force out an Esko player in the second inning of the Reds win at Morrie Arnovich Field in Superior on Wednesday evening.

July 23, 2018 at 1:16 PM

The Superior Reds American Legion baseball team tuned up for the postseason with a 15-4 five-inning win over Esko on Wednesday, July 18, at Morrie Arnovich Field.

The Reds did all of their damage in two innings with six runs in the third inning and nine runs in the fourth.

Anthony Lupa, Gunner Johnson, Derek Fender and Brandon Wing pitched for Superior, allowing six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

The Reds had 16 hits, including three apiece from Gunner Johnson, Hunter Gustafson and Derek Fender.

Johnson’s stats included a double, four RBIs and three runs scored. Fender also doubled and knocked in a run and Gustafson doubled.

Also for the Reds, David Fender doubled, singled and had three RBIs; Hunter Frahm had two hits and three RBIs; Dominic D’Auria singled in a pair of runs; and Judd Erickson and Jason Samarzyia singled.

Up next for the Reds (22-8) is the AAA District Tournament, which begins Friday, July 20, and runs through Monday at Casper Park in Chippewa Falls.

The Reds open the double-elimination district tournament against Hudson at 4 p.m. Friday, July 20. Other opening-round games are Eau Claire vs. Merrill at 1:30 p.m. and Chippewa Falls vs. La Crosse at 6:30 p.m.

If the Reds win their opener, they will play the Chippewa Falls-La Crosse winner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 21. If the Reds lose, they’ll play the loser of Eau Claire-Merrill at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The championship game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, July 23.

The Chippewa Falls’ region, which may be the toughest in the state, includes Chippewa Falls (18-3), which is ranked No. 2 in the latest Wisconsin Baseball Central’s power rankings, and defending state champion and sixth-ranked Eau Claire (19-7).

Superior is named honorable mention in the same poll.

Chippewa Falls is fresh off reaching the Round of 16 at the Gopher Classic tournament, which featured 96 teams, while Eau Claire has won two tournaments in a row after taking home the championship from the Plover tournament last weekend.

The Reds, who won the Ely Tournament last weekend, tied for first place in their own tournament and finished second in the Lakeview Classic.

Esko 020 02 -- 4 6 1

Reds 006 9x -- 15 16 0

American Legion AAA District Tournament

Casper Park - Chippewa Falls

Friday, July 20

Eau Claire 4, Merrill 0

Superior 14, Hudson, 2

Chippewa Falls 12, La Crosse 5

Saturday, July 21

Merrill 2, Hudson 0 (Hudson eliminated)

Eau Claire 10, La Crosse 0 (LC eliminated)