River Falls Fighting Fish win third state title in franchise history via 3-2 victory over Tilden

By Reagan Hoverman

There's a new sheriu in town.

The River Falls Fighting Fish secured their third Wisconsin Baseball Association (WBA) state title in franchise history on Sunday, Aug. 21, in a thrilling 3-2 victory against the #1 seeded Tilden Tigers at Legion Post 336 Field in Onalaska.

Throughout the 2022 season, the Fighting Fish had become more than just a group of guys playing baseball – they had become a family. That family relied on harmless shenanigans and inside jokes that kept an otherwise pressure-packed season lighthearted and fun.

There was perhaps no better illustration of that inside-joke-filled team than what became a rallying cry for the Fish at the 2022 state tournament in La rosse and Onalaska as heard throughout the weekend as "Fritzy for Sheriu!" That phrase referred to River Falls ace starting pitcher Kyle Fritz, and also, coinci- dentally, a local man running for La rosse ounty Sheriu with the first name Fritz. Upon entering the La rosse and Onalaska area, "Fritz for Sheriu" signs were planted in nearly every yard.

The River Falls players thought it would be funny to use that phrase as a rallying cry in support of beloved teammate Kyle Fritz, who ended up playing an instrumental role in the Fish's success at the 2022 state tournament. The inside joke, unbeknownst to nearly everyone else in attendance, kept the dugout environment fun and positive, even in dire circumstances late in games.

Fritz was on the mound to start the 2022 state championship game and was dealing early. Fritz had allowed only one hit and Tilden had yet to put a runner in scoring position through the first two innings of action.

In the top of the third inning, Fritz reached via error and two batters later, Spencer Diedrich walked. That's when Lucas Luedtke

See STATE CHAMPS, Page B-4

The River Falls Fighting Fish celebrate and gather around pitcher Kyle Fritz (#8) who holds the 2022 WBA State Championship trophy above his head at Legion Post 336 Field after defeating the Tilden Tigers 3-2 in the state title game on Sunday, Aug. 21. Photo by Reagan Hoverman

River Falls Fighting Fish second baseman Brian Giebel and two of his kids celebrate together as they watch members of the team receive their state championship plaques just a few minutes after defeating the Tilden Tigers 3-2 in the 2022 state championship game on Sunday, Aug. 21, in Onalaska. Photo by Reagan Hoverman State champs

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ripped a single to center field which scored Fritz from second to make it 1-0 in favor of River Falls.

The first game-changing play came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Tilden had a runner on second and two outs. Noah Hanson of the Tigers hit a screaming line drive into shallow center field. That's when Diedrich charged the ball, scooped it, and rifled a throw toward Andy Metcalf behind home plate who fielded it cleanly and applied the tag in time to prevent a run and end the inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Diedrich dis – played his power with a solo home run over the left-field fence to make it 2-0 for River Falls. The low-scoring aair continued into the bottom of the seventh inning, which proved to be Fritz's last time on the mound. He finished the performance with a dou – ble-play ball to Brian Giebel at second base and then a fly out to end the inning. As he walked back to the dugout Fritz was greeted with "That a way sheri!" and a lot of smiles and high fives. Fritz spoke about how that inside joke kept the weekend fun.

"It was a surprise when we're driving to the first game and there were Fritz for Sheri signs everywhere," Fritz said while laughing after the game. "It was just some fun on a weekend that can get serious. We're all amateur baseball play – ers and we're trying to have fun and this is just a great group of guys. We're all family at this point." After Fritz's day ended in the seventh inning, manager Josh Eidem turned to trusted starter Jake Lindsay to appear in relief. Lindsay cruised through the eighth inning by inducing a ground –

ball and then striking out a couple of Tilden bat ters.

River Falls added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning which began with a Metcalf leado double o of the left-field fence. A sac fly by Ragan Pinnow moved Metcalf to third who later scored on a Fritz single down the right-field line to make it 3-0 going into the bottom of the ninth.

Tilden leado batter Nolan Baier reached base on an infield error. After a lineout to Gieb – el at second, ensuing Tigers batters walked and then singled to load the bases with only one out. Lindsay proceeded to walk in a run to make it 3-1, struck out a batter, and then was called for a balk which made it 3-2, still in favor of River Falls.

Lindsay battled back against the next batter and induced a routine groundball which River Falls shortstop Trey Larson rifled to first base to ovcially win the 2022 state championship. Immediately after recording the out, River Falls flooded out of the dugout and mobbed Lindsay and Larson on the mound and began celebrating the third state title in franchise history.

"We were the cardiac Fish this weekend," Ei – dem said after the state title victory. "If there is anything we've heard about Tilden is that they hit and hit and hit all day. For Fritz to do what he did, and Lindsay to do what he did in the eighth, I kind of expected us to have a tough go of it in the ninth – they were here for a reason." While the Cardiac Fish certainly lived up to Eidem's given nickname – winning three of the four state tournament games via walk-o – the story of the 2022 state tournament for River Falls is the unsung heroes who flew under the radar. Eidem spoke about small moments and decisions that propelled his roster to a championship.

"Jake (Lindsay) threw 91 pitches last night, and he asked me to take him out after six innings so he had something left for (Championship Sunday)," Eidem said. "Charlie (Grivn) came in and just shut down the Eau Claire Cavaliers to get us back to the hotel room early. Just all of those little things that have to go our way." While Lindsay and Fritz will be remembered forever for what they did in this year's state tour – nament, other pitching performances will fly under the radar such as the state semifinal game against Spooner early Sunday afternoon in which Matt Doornink pitched into the seventh inning.

His outing not only kept River Falls in the game, as it was tied 4-4 when he left the mound, but it also preserved those top-tier arms of Lind – say and Fritz for the championship game later that evening.

"Matt Doornink has been money all year, we knew he was going to go deep," Eidem said. "He just gutted it out. I was trying to take him out of the game and he didn't want to come out be – cause he knew he needed to go deep to save stu for (the championship game)."While Doornink served as a veteran presence on the mound, relief pitcher Jaxin Larson stepped up and performed after Doornink was done for the day. The relief eort against Spooner in the semifinal was Lar – son's first playo appearance for the Fish.

"Jaxin Larson came in and it was his first playo experience. He hadn't thrown for the Fish ever and he was just money with a crowd that was yelling and that was amazing," Eidem said.

Throughout the season, Eidem has continu – ally praised unsung heroes, including Doornink and Jaxin Larson in that state semifinal game. However, Eidem stated that the most unsung hero is shortstop Trey Larson.

"He's the heart and soul of this team," Eidem said. "He probably made the biggest personality change. He is such a leader, that the only one that can keep Trey in check is Trey. What he did for this team in the last month is nothing short of amazing." River Falls is the third team to win three state championships since 2000, joining the Sparta Miller and the Eau Claire Bears. Eidem spoke about the team's roster construction and poten – tial future success.

"There is no reason that we can't (continue to have success)," Eidem said. "It's really hard to get here two years in a row and it only took these guys two years to get back to the state champion – ship. We'll expect to compete next year." Eidem isn't the only member of the Fish that believes this team is destined for future success. The aforementioned Fritz spoke about the roster and how the Fish are going to be a dangerous team for years to come.

"I think the young guys that we have are go – ing to continue to get better playing college ball and get more opportunities before coming back to play for the Fish," Fritz said. "We're going to be good for a while and we're going to com –

pete."