In a thrilling climax to the Chippewa River Baseball League season, the Eau Claire Bears emerged victorious, capturing their first CRBL championship in over a decade with a dramatic 4-3 triumph over the Chippewa Falls LumberJacks at Cinder City Park in Altoona.
The pivotal moment arrived in the eighth inning when the Bears mounted a decisive three-run rally. Designated hitter Sawyer Sturz delivered a clutch two-run single that pierced the drawn-in LumberJacks infield, propelling Eau Claire into the lead. Sturz’s outstanding performance, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, earned him Most Valuable Player honors for the championship game, cementing his role in this historic baseball victory.
Despite the Bears’ late surge, the Chippewa Falls LumberJacks fiercely battled in the top of the ninth. Blake Trippler’s RBI single narrowed the deficit to one run, placing the tying runner on base. Following Trippler’s advance to second on a passed ball, the Eau Claire team made a strategic decision to intentionally walk Jake Nelson, who had previously hit a home run to lead off the game for Chippewa Falls, setting up a crucial final out opportunity in this intense sports competition.
The shrewd tactical move paid off as relief pitcher Tyler Gray induced a line drive out off the bat of Jake Varsho, definitively clinching the championship for the Eau Claire Bears. The dugout erupted in celebration, marking the culmination of years of effort for many veteran players. “There’s a solid group of guys on this team that have been doing this for a long time,” Eau Claire manager Blake Johnson remarked. “To break through and get it for those guys, it’s amazing. It’s fun.”
Gray was credited with the win, delivering an impressive five innings of one-run relief, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out two. Starter Ryan Flock pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs. This strong pitching performance was crucial in securing the ultimate baseball championship title.
The path to the championship was challenging for both teams. Chippewa Falls had previously upset top-seeded North Division champion Cadott 11-8 in their semifinal matchup, demonstrating their resilience in sports competitions. The Bears, meanwhile, had bested the Eau Claire Cavaliers 8-7 in their own semifinal clash, ultimately avenging a championship game loss to the Cavaliers from the previous season, highlighting the competitive spirit inherent in team sports.
As the CRBL season concludes, eight teams now shift their focus to the upcoming Wisconsin Baseball Association state tournament, which is set to commence next weekend. Division A action will see the Eau Claire Cavaliers and Bears travel to Haugen, the Osseo Merchants hosting the Cadott Red Sox, the Tilden Tigers heading to River Falls, and the Jim Falls Sturgeons and LumberJacks journeying south to Wisconsin Rapids, promising more thrilling baseball events.
The league also recognized outstanding individual performances with first-team all-league selections including outfielders Erickson, Jordan Steinmetz (Tilden), and Ryan Freitag (Osseo); first baseman Sam Feck (Cadott); second baseman Reilly Gapinski (Eau Claire Cavaliers); shortstop Carter Hesselman (Cadott); third baseman Will Thibideau (Beef River Bullfrogs); catcher Sam Knickerbocker (Eau Claire Cavaliers); utility player Nolan Matson (Osseo); designated hitter Liam Brennan (Jim Falls Sturgeons); and pitchers Eide (Osseo), Andrew Milner (Eau Claire Cavaliers), and Gio Basile (Cadott). These athletes exemplify the talent across baseball teams.
Honorable mentions were awarded to Trenton Dahnert (Augusta, OF), Wes Boyarski (Beef River, pitcher), Patrick Callaghan (Bloomer, OF), Logan Burzynski (Cadott, OF), Tyson Lucas (Chippewa Falls, pitcher), Aaron Skrypek (Eau Claire Bears, utility), Xavier Bembnister (Eau Claire Cavaliers, utility), Will Jacobson (Jim Falls, pitcher), Jesse Brockman (Osseo, SS), Lucas Steinmetz (Tilden, OF), and Tyler Webb (Whitehall, pitcher). Gold Glove honorees included Cole Stenson (Augusta, 2B), Kyle Maug (Beef River, OF), Thomas Stoffel (Bloomer, SS), Carter Hesselman (Cadott, SS), CJ Varsho (Chippewa Falls, OF), Josh Halling (Eau Claire Bears, OF), Brayton Thillman (Eau Claire Cavaliers, OF), Carter Stelter (Jim Falls, 3B), Joe Zawacki (Osseo, 1B), Ben Steinmetz (Tilden, OF), and Devon McCune (Whitehall, OF), showcasing the depth of talent in this athletic sport.
