KAUKAUNA — For the first time since 1954, Kaukauna is planning a sendoff to state for its high school baseball team.
Three-seed Kaukauna (21-7) faces six-seed River Falls (18-9) Monday at about 2:30 p.m. in a WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal game at Fox Cities Stadium, Grand Chute.
A community sendoff is planned at the Kaukauna High School baseball parking lot at noon Monday.
Kaukauna is making its fourth appearance in the state tournament and its first since 1954.
All three of the Galloping Ghosts’ previous appearances came during a four-year span from 1951-54.
They won their lone state title in 1953 and bowed out of title contention in the other appearances in 1951 and 1954.
Only two players remain from that team: Don Frank and Dock Jaeger, according to comments on the Kaukauna High School Facebook page.
This season, the Galloping Ghosts qualified by defeating Bay Port 6-3 in the Kimberly Sectional final. They finished runner-up in the Fox Valley Association this season.
Kaukauna’s first opponent, River Falls, qualified for the third time in program history and for the first time since 2015.
The Wildcats’ first appearance came in 1976 when the tournament featured a single division.
They fell in the quarterfinals that season and advanced to the semifinals in 2015.
The Wildcats placed fourth in the Big Rivers Conference this season.
They earned their State berth with a 1-0 victory over Menomonie in the Chippewa Falls Sectional final.
TICKET INFORMATION: Ticket prices for the tourney are $11 per session and $20 for an all-day ticket plus online fees, and $11 for each championship game Thursday. Tickets are to be purchased online on the WIAA website through GoFan, the WIAA ticketing partner.
STATE TOURNAMENT ON THE AIR: The championship finals of all four divisions will be aired live on the WIAA State Television Stations WKOW 27.2, WAOW 9.2, WQOW 18.2 and WXOW 19.2, WVTV 24.1 in Milwaukee and WCWF 14.1 in Green Bay/Appleton. The finals will also be streamed live on the Network stations’ websites.
Monday, June 15
Division 1 Quarterfinals – 9 a.m.
Game 1 – #4 Madison Memorial (20-7) vs. #5 Fond du Lac (21-8)
Game 2 – #1 Muskego (24-4) vs. #8 Marquette (16-13)*
Division 1 Quarterfinals – 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 – #3 Kaukauna (21-7) vs. #6 River Falls (18-9)
Game 4 – #2 Milton (24-5) vs. #7 Nicolet (18-11)*
Wednesday, June 17
Division 1 Semifinals – 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2
Game 6 – Winner of Game #3 vs. Winner of Game #4*
Thursday, June 18
Division 1 Final – 6:05 p.m.
Game 7 – Winner of Game #5 vs. Winner of Game #6
