A rematch from round two of the Class C American Legion baseball state tournament showcased the title match Aug. 7.
Back at Eaton Field one last time, Wakefield American Legion baseball made their 26th appearance in program history for a summer championship outing.
The dynasty continued for Malcolm Post 354, who was undefeated in the state tournament entering the championship game, winning 1-0 over Post 81.
Malcolm has now won eight state titles (NSAA Class C 2023-24; Class C Juniors 2022 – 24 and Class C Seniors 2022 – 24). Post 354 improved their record to 27-5.
Legendary coach Paul Eaton finished his coaching career with a runner-up finish. The Wakefield 2024 summer recorded ended at 23-19 as coach Eaton hangs up the uniform after 57 years and 1,500+ victories.
Neither team scored the first five and a half innings. In the home half of the sixth, Malcolm scored the lone run to finish with a 1-0 victory. Malcolm won the hit department, 6-2 as Wakefield had three errors and Malcolm had one error.
Cade Johnson and Mason Lamprecht both singled for Wakefield.
Jesse Lundahl (78 pitches) suffered the loss in six innings allowing an earned run off six hits while striking out four batters.
Wakefield began the state tournament with a win of 4-0 over Tecumseh on Aug. 3 before falling 9-2 to Malcolm on Aug. 4. Post 81 then won back-to-back elimination games of 7-6 over Pender and 5-3 against Palmer-Wolbach-Greeley.
Malcolm went 5-0 at state winning 6-0 in the first round over Imperial, won 9-2 against Wakefield, won 4-3 over PWG, won 10-2 over Tecumseh and 1-0 against Wakefield in the finals.
Logan McGreer singled twice to lead Malcolm at the plate as Carson Frank singled and drove in the lone run being Mason Wisnieski who singled and scored.
Maddox Meyer (80 pitches) picked up the complete game shutout victory in seven innings allowing two hits while striking out 10 batters as well as walking and hitting two batters each.
