The Lakeshore Chinooks of Mequon will play for summer collegiate baseball bragging rights starting Thursday night, when they face the Mankato Moondogs in the Northwoods League championship series.
Lakeshore dominated their South Division throughout the regular season, winning 50 out of 71 games. Great pitching got Lakeshore to the title series, with a front-of-the-rotation combination of Evan Kruckzynski and Shaun Anderson helping account for 16 wins.
Chinooks manager Eddy Morgan said his players are confident, consistent, and like himself, laid back.
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“I’m in this for player development,” said Morgan. “If we win championships, that’s great. What’s more important to me is helping these young men chase their dream, help them get back to their college programs, and get a little bit better.”
By contrast, the North Division champion Moondogs are led by the big bats of Tyler Sullivan and Peter Maris. Mankato scrapped its way into the playoffs, rallying from behind for some key late wins.
The two teams met four times in the regular season, and the Chinooks won them all. Moondogs manager Mike Orchard said his pitchers will have to bear down to win.
“They’re (Lakeshore) overall pretty talented, but we can’t make those guys comfortable in the (batter’s) box,” said Orchard. “And we have to push back a little bit, too. I think last time, we weren’t tough enough on the mound.“
This is Mankato’s third appearance in the title series in four years. Both teams are looking for their first championship.
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