Greenwood holds off Columbus Catholic in WIAA Division 4 baseball regional semifinal

GREENWOOD – Marshfield Columbus Catholic gave Cloverbelt Conference East Division champion and No. 1 seed Greenwood all it could handle, but the Dons came up just short, falling 2-1 in a WIAA Division 4 baseball regional semifinal Tuesday.

Columbus Catholic’s season ends with a 7-11 record. Greenwood (17-2) will host a regional final Wednesday against either Loyal or Pittsville.

Tragen Bogdonovich tossed a complete-game four-hitter for Greenwood, striking out five and walking two.

Columbus Catholic scored its only run in the top of the third without the aid of a hit. Cole Trimmler walked, went to second on a passed ball, and took third on a groundout. Courtesy runner Sam Wilczek scored on a wild pitch to put the Dons up 1-0.

Greenwood pulled ahead with two runs in the fourth against Columbus Catholic starter Jaden Nienast.

Jonah Hinker scored on a sacrifice fly by Cole Zimbaur, and Xander Hinker swiped home on a double steal to put the Indians up 2-1.

Bryce Fuerlinger tossed two shutout innings in relief for the Dons, keeping them close.

Columbus Catholic threatened in the fifth, with Timmler and Brock Bennington connecting on back-to-back two-out singles. After a walk to Noah Taylor loaded the bases, Bogdonovich got a fielder’s choice ground ball to get out the frame.

The Dons had two hits in the seventh, by Will Schlafke and Bennington, before a fielder’s choice ground out ended the game.

Indians 2, Dons 1
Columbus Catholic 001 000 0 – 1 4 0
Greenwood 000 200 x – 2 7 1
WP: Tragen Bogdonovich. LP: Jaden Nienast.
SO: Nienast (4 inn.) 2, Bryce Fuerlinger (2 inn.) 1; Bogdonovich 5. BB: Nienast 2, Fuerlinger 2; Bogdonovich 2.
Top hitters: CC, Brock Bennington 2×3; Sam Wilczek run. G, Xander Hinker 2×3, run; Cole Zimbauer 2×3, RBI; Bogdonovich 2B.
Records: Columbus Catholic 7-11; Greenwood 17-2.