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Comets off to a 1-1 start in conference

Waupaca’s baseball team is off to a 1-1 start in the Eastern Valley Conference after splitting a two-game series with Winneconne.

The Comets handed the Wolves a 6-1 loss April 8 in the EVC opener for both teams, but Winneconne came from behind two days later for a 7-5 win in the rematch.

Waupaca also opened the season April 7 with a 9- 1 loss to Antigo.

Winneconne 7, Waupaca 5

WINNECONNE – Winneconne came up with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after trailing 3-0 at one point.

The Comets scored single runs in the first, third and fifth before Winneconne scored four times in the bottom of the fifth. Waupaca regained the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, but Winneconne scored three times in the sixth before holding the Comets scoreless in the seventh.

Zander Neuville had three of Waupaca’s eight hits and drove in three runs, while Walker Smith and Nate Nelson added two hits each and Austin Erickson added a double and an RBI.

Waupaca 6, Winneconne 1

WAUPACA – Nelson’s bases-loaded triple helped the Comets take a 4-0 lead in the first inning and Waupaca added two more runs in the fourth.

Neuville struck out nine batters in five innings to pick up the win on the mound. Johnny Popham and Bryce Neidert each had two of Waupaca’s six hits.

The Comets shared the EVC championship with Clintonville last season. If Waupaca is going to repeat, it will have to be with a different mix of players, according to coach John Koronkiewicz.

“This team is a little more inexperienced than last year’s team,” he said. “Last year, we had a starter behind the plate, on the mound, at second and short and an outfielder. We have new guys at all of those positions, so it’ll take a little time as far as learning those positions and playing together, but I think as we go through the season, you’ll see improvement. Typically, that’s what happens and that’s what we want.”

That inexperience showed in the season opener against Antigo.

“First games are always hard because there’s always an unknown that goes along with a first game,” Koronkiewicz said. “We had five errors and you don’t win too many games when you commit five errors and give up six unearned runs. I think you saw the difference today (against Winneconne) for us: a little more comfortable, a little more confident.”

The team held early-season practices in the Waupaca High School gym because of the weather.

“The weather hasn’t been very cooperative to begin with,” Koronkiewicz said. “We were stuck inside, we were working around prom decorations and we had a couple guys that were gone because of obligations. It’s been kind of hard to work with the guys on a consistent basis. Now that the season is here, we’ll get outside and we’ll be able to work on some of the things we need to work on.”

Returning starters from last year’s team include Neuville, Nelson, Popham and Alex Grall.

“Those are the guys we’re kind of leaning on and we’re looking for new guys to step up,” Koronkiewicz said. “That’s how you build a team.”

Waupaca 2014 baseball schedule

Varsity

Monday, April 7 – vs. Antigo, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8 – vs. Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 10 – at Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 17 – vs. Freedom (DH), 3 p.m.

Monday, April 21 – vs. Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22 – at Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 24 – vs. Stevens Point, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 29 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 3 – vs. Appleton Xavier (DH), 1 p.m.

Monday, May 5 – vs. Little Chute, 4:45 p.m. (rescheduled from April 1)

Saturday, May 10 – at Fox Valley Lutheran (DH), 10 a.m.

Monday, May 12 – vs. Berlin, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 15 – at Berlin, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, May 16 – at Little Chute, 4:45 p.m. (rescheduled from April 3)

Monday, May 19 – at Ripon, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 22 – vs. Hortonville, 4:30 p.m. (rescheduled from May 9)

Friday, May 23 – vs. Ripon, 4:45 p.m.

Junior Varsity

Monday, April 7 – vs. Antigo, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 8 – vs. Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 10 – at Winneconne, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 17 – vs. Freedom (DH), 3 p.m.

Monday, April 21 – vs. Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22 – at Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 24 – vs. Stevens Point, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 3 – vs. Appleton Xavier (DH), 1 p.m.

Monday, May 5 – vs. Little Chute, 4:45 p.m. (rescheduled from April 1)

Saturday, May 10 – at Fox Valley Lutheran (DH), 10 a.m.

Friday, May 16 – at Little Chute, 4:45 p.m. (rescheduled from May 9)

Monday, May 19 – at Ripon, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 22 – vs. Hortonville, 4:30 p.m. (rescheduled from May 9)

Friday, May 23 – vs. Ripon, 4:45 p.m.

Freshman

Monday, April 28 – vs. Hortonville, 4:30 p.m. (rescheduled from April 21)

Thursday, May 1 – vs. Plainfield Tri-County, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 3 – at Oconto Falls, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 22 – at Hortonville, 4:30 p.m.

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