WAUPUN, Wis. - The Hancock Post 186 American Legion baseball team took two of three games in the Waupun Warrior Tournament over the weekend.
Coming off its six-hour trip, Hancock was never in its opener with Beaver Dam, Wis., losing 10-0 to the Class AA program.
"I think this was a good wake-up call for us following a series of easy wins. Beaver Dam has a great program and I am told have five state titles. In the long run, I think it will help us focus in every inning of every game," manager Nels Paul said.
Tyler LaDuron took the loss, pitching 3 1/3 innings and giving up five earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and five walks.
Hancock recovered to win its second game of the day, 4-3 over Hartford, Wis. Hancock tied it at one on Zach Hill's RBI fielder's choice, only to fall behind 3-1. Hancock got even again afer Dax Durocher's game-tying double off the left-field fence brought in Kris Turunen.
In the extra inning, LaDuron singled in Alex VanWagner with the winning run, his fourth hit of the game in five attempts.
Turunen went the distance on the mound, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, with seven strikeouts and a walk.
In the consolation final against Watertown Prepside, Hancock got key RBI doubles from Jari Sague and Beau Dupuis, plus a two-run shot to straightaway center from Luke Paul in an 8-4 victory.
Paul also threw a complete-game four hitter with 13 strikeouts.
"Luke pitched a great game and Prepside had a lot of trouble with the movement on his slider and fastball. They got a few runs in the last inning to make the game a bit closer, but Luke really kept them off balance the entire game," Nels Paul said.
Hancock improved its record to 17-5 overall. The originally scheduled Wednesday road trip to Negaunee has been postponed, so Hancock's next action is scheduled to be a home doubleheader Saturday against the Iron Mountain Golds.