RIVER FALLS — The Fighting Fish are facing a tall task to defend their State Championship from a year ago. Although teams are throwing their biggest haymakers, eyeing a knockout of the champs, River Falls advanced to State with two playoff wins totaling a 32-1 run differential.

The playoff opener was a 17-0 win over the Spooner Cardinals on Friday and the Fish followed it with a 15-1 win over the La Crosse 35ers Sunday.

“Our bats got hot at the right time and Kyle Fritz kept us in it,” first baseman Lucas Luedtke said of Sunday’s game. “We’re just heating up at the right time for playoffs, really cool to see.”

Fritz tossed the complete game Sunday, with Jake Lindsay tossing the shutout in the opener. River Falls had a team earned run average of 1.55 in the regular season, so the numbers came as no surprise.

“It means the most,” Luedtke said of the pitchers. “Every game it seems like they’re keeping us in it. We give them the run support so they can pitch like they’re up five or six, but they do a great job and get that weak contact.”

At the plate, Luedtke had a three-homer weekend, crushing two Sunday.

“It’s the three months of build-up of working on my swing finally all coming together,” Luedtke said. “Just seeing the ball well with the wind blowing out.”

Batting directly after Luedtke, young catcher Chase McQuade hit two of his own Sunday.

“I was just seeing it well,” McQuade said. “It’s nice having a guy like Lucas in front of me who’s also hitting like that. Just trusting what I’ve been working on all year, and it came through today.”

Frank the Fish, a large stuffed fish, is always given to the player who hits a home run for River Falls. Luedtke and McQuade were battling it out for custody of Frank, but McQuade got the last laugh.

“He’s been seeing the ball well too. We were kind of going back and forth,” Luedtke said. “He one-upped me on that last one. It’s so awesome to have him in the middle of the order. He’s been such a hot bat for us.”

It was centerfielder Brian Giebel’s 38th birthday Sunday, and he cemented his legacy long ago with River Falls baseball. He led the team in stolen bases this year with 18 to go along with his .326 batting average. The crowd sang him happy birthday as he jogged to the outfield in the fifth inning, and he tipped his cap to show his appreciation for the long period of support.

The State Final bracket will take place in Hayward over the weekend.

“He is a legend. He is what Fish baseball is. He is just the epitome of what we’re looking for in River Falls baseball,” Luedtke said. “He is so awesome. Greatest teammate, great human, great dad, husband, he just does everything right, and we’re so glad to have him on our side.”

Giebel carved out a nice 2-4 afternoon in the win.

“He’s a legend. He’s a big part of our team,” McQuade said. “He’s kind of that veteran guy that still knows how to have a little fun and get around the field.”

After winning State titles in 2011, 2020, 2022 and 2024, the Fish are craving their first back-to-back championships.

“It’s in the back of our mind. We’ve never gone back-to-back,” Luedtke said. “It’s going to take everything we’ve got. We’re just going to play Fish baseball and see if it goes our way.”