By Adam Roberts – 5/21/2021
Since head coach Kevin Schreiner went out as close to on top with the Aquinas baseball team as you can without a championship, Scott Bagniefski has been tasked with living up to the expectations the program had following their 2015 state title appearance. Scott has handled those expectations well, with a state title of his own in 2017 and a 79-45 overall record in his fifth season as manager. Sure the last couple of seasons before this one hadn’t been quite as good as his first two, but this year Scott is managing a bonafide state contender once again that features high-octane offense and an elite pitching staff. Both were on display yesterday against Logan.
Granted, the Rangers likely won’t advance past their first playoff game this year, but they still don’t just hand out no-hitters for free and I’ve always found multi-pitcher no-hitters, like the one we saw yesterday, to be very fascinating. Blugold pitchers Pearson Feehan and Lucas Ellingson combined for a no-no in the 16-0 win that was highlighted by a nine-run first inning complete with a two-run homer for Jared Everson.
The Blugolds lead the Mississippi Valley Conference by a half game over Onalaska, the only team to defeat Aquinas this year so far. Before the rematch on Thursday, the Blugolds will face Tomah tonight and Sparta Monday and Tuesday. Aquinas is 15-1 and currently ranked fifth in Division 3 by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association.
Author’s note: I owe a big thank you to Aquinas’s Brad Reinhart for reaching out to me for the following correction: Kevin Schreiner was the manager for Aquinas baseball in 2015, not Sam Servais. Thanks, Brad!