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Williamsburg vs. Dubuque Wahlert game preview
Class 3A Semifinal set for 2:30 Wednesday
By Ben Lamparek, Hometown Current
Jul. 23, 2024 6:40 pm
FORT DODGE — Williamsburg (31-12) is set to play Dubuque Wahlert (30-10) tomorrow in a Class 3A semifinal at 2:30 p.m.
“Statistically, we’re about the same,” Williamsburg head coach Adam Berte said.
On paper this is evident across many statistics.
The Raiders have averaged 6.8 runs and allowed 3.5 while the Golden Eagles have averaged 6.9 and allowed 3.7.
Both teams played tough regular season schedules and advanced to State pretty much stress free.
Both faced adversity in their Quarterfinal matchups.
The Raiders got down early, 3-1, but scored seven unanswered to win the game.
The Golden Eagles were down 5-1 to Sumner-Fredericksburg, but a six-run fourth inning and a walk-off home run from Julia Roth in extra innings gave them the 9-8 victory.
Roth is one of the leading home run hitters in the state and highlights the Golden Eagles top threats from the plate batting .380 with 14 home runs.
The Golden Eagles have five players in total that hit above a .350 average with Ruth Taeber leading the way with 64 hits heading into the State Tournament.
Wahlert will have the power advantage when it comes to hitting. They led Class 3A with 31 total home runs coming in.
“Wahlert hits more for power, while we play a different style,” Berte said.
It will be key for the Raiders to limit the Golden Eagles scoring opportunities.
“It will be important to get their other hitters out, so that their big hitters don’t have runners in scoring position when they’re up to bat,” Berte said.
The Raiders’ different style has a lot to do with the stolen bases difference between the two teams. The Golden Eagles have stolen only 35 bases this season while the Raiders have stolen 224.
As a team, the Raiders bat .334. There is hitting potential top to bottom in the lineup.
Taylor Pitlick leads the team in hits (50) and RBIs (39).
The Raiders will have the speed advantage, and it will be important to capitalize on that to set up runners in scoring position.
From the mound, a good pitching matchup is on board.
Roth will most likely get the call for the Golden Eagles coming into State with a 19-3 record with 121 strikeouts and a 1.94 ERA.
Jersey Metz will be on the mound for the Raiders and has been consistent all season. Metz posts a 22-6 record with 108 strikeouts and a 2.55 ERA.
Metz is coming off a performance in the Quarterfinals allowing only one earned run.
One of the big factors in the game could be errors. The Raiders come in with the slight advantage in total errors on the season averaging a little under one a game.
The team that can make the plays defensively and play clean may decide the winner in this one.
The mindset for the Raiders and Coach Berte will be the same as it has all season.
“We just need to play our style and execute.”