GRAND CHUTE — The De Pere Redbirds arrived at the 2024 state baseball tournament at Fox Cities Stadium, winning the first state title in program history.
On Monday, in the quarterfinals, the No. 1 Redbirds defeated 8th-seeded Menasha 2-0. On Wednesday, in the semifinals against Westosha Central, the game wasn’t as close as the Falcons defeated them 8-1.
“Our guys are very hungry,” Redbirds head coach Bob Van Rens said. “They want it so bad and now we’re one game away and it’s extremely invigorating that our seniors are getting this opportunity. It’s a lifelong memory they will always have. I just hope it ends the right way. We will do everything in our power to make this happen.”
Senior center fielder and pitcher Easton Arendt sparked the Redbirds’ hot streak with a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning.
“He went all year long,” Van Rens said. “What a great time for him to become great.”
“Being eliminated at sectionals the last two years is a bummer, and to be able to overcome the odds and make it to the state finals is huge,” Arendt said. “It would mean the world to me and it was my dream in this stadium and now that we’re here, we might as well win it, right?”
That was more than enough support for senior pitcher Axel Donaldson. He pitched a gem, throwing 6 2/3 innings, striking out 8 and giving up just one earned run. He also had an RBI single in the game.
“Bulldog,” Arendt said of Donaldson’s performance. “I mean, we’ve talked about it all year. You’ve got to be a bulldog on the mound and then have the defense behind you and that wins games and I think our team showed up today. “
“Axel is just a dynamite thrower,” said Van Rens. “It has that ‘it’ we’re talking about.”
The Redbirds scored 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure a comfortable lead heading into the final inning. Devin Weber struck out in the final out for De Pere after Donaldson reached his pitch limit.
Javin Gauthier (2), Mason Sequin (1) and Milo Upton also had RBIs in the game for the Redbirds.
