The Clinton County League postseason has been dominated by Larry’s West End in Bartelso for the past nine seasons.
Larry’s won the 2026 postseason title with a 27-22 win over the County Outlaws on Sunday at the Lake Park in Germantown.
The victors got off to a fine start with two runs in the bottom of the first inning when Kedan Lemon and Blake Haag each reached base and scored to tie the contest at 2-2.
They added four more runs in the bottom of the second inning on hits from Drew Hesker, Aaron Fuehne, Garrick Winkeler and Lemon as they led 6-4 after two innings of action.
Larry’s got three more runs in the third inning when Chad Klein, Dave Gebke and Hesker all reached base and scored in the frame. Larry’s led 9-5 entering the fourth inning.
The County put up four runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 9-9. Greg Meyer led off with a single before Tanner Hudson doubled. Kyle Eversgerd singled in a run. Brandon Bartels added a three-run shot to end the rally.
Larry’s went back on the offensive. Lemon, Haag and Kyle Floyd each reached before the first out. Tony Schaeffer, Gebke and Hesker each reached in a six-run inning to post Larry’s out to a 15-9 cushion.
The County rattled back in comeback fashion with three runs in the top of the fifth inning to get within 15-12. Cole Schrage had a three-run homer in the inning.
Cory Arentsen singled and scored in the bottom of the inning as Larry’s lone run with the home team leading 16-12 entering the sixth frame.
The County got three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to get within 16-15. Hudson singled in front of a Bartels single. Ty Grotefendt followed with a three-run homer of his own to end another rally.
Larry’s got just one run in the bottom of the inning thanks to Schaeffer as they led 17-15 going into the seventh inning.
The County Outlaws erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 19-17 lead over Larry’s entering the bottom of the seventh inning.
Chase Klein singled and Jared Kues doubled to start the frame. Schrage followed with an RBI single before Ritzheimer powered a three-run homer to take a brief lead.
Larry’s tied the contest at 19-19 when Winkeler and Nolan Haake each reached and scored before the inning ended with Larry’s stranding the bases loaded.
After the Outlaws took a 20-19 lead entering the bottom of the eighth inning on a solo homer from Chase Klein, Larry’s got the train rolling in the bottom of the inning.
Larry’s sent 11 hitters to the plate in the frame with eight runners crossing the plate with nine reaching base. Winkeler had the big swing of the inning when he drilled a three-run homer to the left side to open the lead at 27-20.
The Outlaws got two runs in the top of the ninth inning before the 27th out was recorded by Hesker to earn the complete-game victory.
In the top of the ninth inning, Hudson doubled with two outs before Eversgerd launched a homer for the final run of the competition.
Hesker and Schaeffer each reached base four times. Blake Haag reached base all six times he went to the plate while Fuehne and Winkeler each reached base four times.
Hudson led the Outlaws by going 5-for-6 with three runs scored. Eversgerd was 4-for-6 with a homer and four RBI.
Ryan Meddows was 4-for-5 with four singles and a run scored. Chase Klein was 4-for-5 with three singles and a homer. Ritzheimer had two homers and five runs batted in during the loss.
The title for the Bartelso squad was their seventh in the past nine seasons with titles in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 and now 2026.
Mainstreet won the title back in 2019 while Lantern Blue won the title in 2023.
The Outlaws won the regular season with a 13-1 overall record with their lone loss coming to the Gridiron Grill who finished in second place with an 11-3 record. Larry’s was in third with a summer record of 10-4. Pete’s Teal claimed fourth with a 9-5 record along with Hondo’s, Fuehne’s and Lantern Inn.
