By Reagan Hoverman

The River Falls Fighting Fish secured a #1 seed in the upcoming Wisconsin Baseball As- sociation (WBA) playous with wins against New Richmond on Wednesday, July 27, and Prescott on Sunday, July 31.

The St. Croix Valley Baseball League doesn't ovcially recognize the league cham – pion as the team with the best league record at the end of the regular season. Instead, the league champion is the program that wins the league tournament, which will be played on Saturday, Aug. 6, and Sunday, Aug. 7 in Bay City and Prescott.

Instead, the Fish's league-best 15-3 record in St. Croix Valley Baseball League games cliches that important #1 seed for the upcom- ing playous, which guarantees River Falls a bye in the first round of the postseason.

The Fighting Fish ovcially clinched that top seed with a win against New Richmond on Wednesday, July 27. Through the first four innings of the game, River Falls and New Richmond were in an ouensive stalemate. Neither team could string together multiple hits until the Fighting Fish broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning.

With a runner on second base, Kyle Fritz hit an RBI single to shallow right field to take a 1-0 lead. Brian Giebel, the ensuing batter, roped a double to the right field gap that scored Fritz from first base to make it a 2-0 game. Later in the inning, Lucas Luedtke knocked in another run with an RBI single to right field to make it 3-0 in favor of River Falls.

The New Richmond Millers, a team that held one of the worst records in the league this season, put up a fight in the top of the seventh inning when they scored two runs to make it a 3-2 game, still favoring River Falls. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Fighting Fish tacked on an insurance run to make it a 4-2 game.

One inning later, the Fish put the game on ice when they scored five runs to make it a 9-2 game. River Falls took care of business in the top of the ninth inning and secured the win which helped clinch that much-needed top seed for the postseason. River Falls man – ager Josh Eidem spoke about how important that top seed is for this iteration of the Fish.

"It's stress ou of our plates," Eidem said. "It's not a recognized league title, that's for whoever wins the league tournament next weekend. What it does for us though is that our seed for the WBA state tournament, it se – cures a #1 seed for that." Eidem spoke about how it's important to compete for and win league titles at the an – nual tournament. However, with the success that the Fish have had throughout the WBA postseason in recent years – including a state championship in 2020 – that #1 seed for the state playous is the most significant prize.

"We're going to play hard next weekend and I think league titles are important, that's why we paid for the trophy, it's a good thing for people to be able to experience playou baseball, but for us at this point, it's about that #1 seed and taking some pressure ou of us," Eidem said. "Our goal is to play on the final Sunday of the WBA." The win over New Richmond clinched a share of that best record in the St. Croix Val – ley Baseball League. After that game, River Falls had two contests remaining, a Saturday night matchup against Spring Valley and a Sunday afternoon game against Prescott – both on the road. A win in either game would give River Falls sole possession of first place instead of a potential share of the best record with Prescott. Spring Valley defeated River Falls 9-8 via a walk-ou home run which put the pressure on River Falls for that following Sunday game.

The Fighting Fish took care of business and defeated Prescott 5-3 to improve to 15-3 for the season in league play. Eidem spoke about playing for that league-best record and playing for pride.

"We want to be at the top of those stand –

ings," Eidem said. "There might not be hard – ware, but there is pride. We want to be at the top, not tied with someone." River Falls did exactly that. The Fighting Fish finish the regular season with a 27-7 overall record as well as that 15-3 record in league play. Postseason seeding meetings happen throughout the week of Aug. 1 and brackets will be announced shortly thereafter.

The Fighting Fish will be in action next on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the St. Croix Valley Baseball League tournament, which is slat – ed to begin at 10 a.m. in both Bay City and Prescott. League teams will be split among the two sites and the championship will be played Sunday, Aug. 7, in Prescott.

Jake Lindsay of the River Falls Fighting Fish winds up to deliver a pitch during the Saturday, July 30, game against Spring Valley. Photo by Reagan Hoverman

River Falls Fighting Fish player Ty Denzer takes a lead off of second base Saturday, July 30, in a road game against Spring Valley. Denzer and the Fish recently secured the #1 seed for the upcoming WBA playoffs. Photo by Reagan Hoverman