KAUKAUNA — The Kaukauna High School Galloping Ghosts are back in the WIAA state tournament for the first time since 1954, a run that saw Kaukauna advance to state three times in four years, winning the title in 1953.
The state title team was featured in the June 10, 1953, edition of the Kaukauna Times and this post was shared on Lyle Hansen’s Kaukauna Time Machine blog:
Members of the team included in the photo were: Back row: D. Resch, T. Hilgenberg, J. Van Linn, William Lappen, D. Frank, R. Theis, R. Jaeger, P. Cox, Coach Diffatte. Front row: R. Brys, manager, P. Bethke, C. Bowers, T. Nytes, P. Kavanaugh, G. Wittmann, R. Busse.
“With Bill Lappen throwing a five hitter for his second win of the tournament, the Kaukauna Ghosts blasted their way to the State High School Baseball Championship of Wisconsin Saturday night.
“Eleven Ghosts hits produced the win for coach Noel Diffatte at Menasha in his first year at the helm.
“Sixteen Kaukauna players paraded across the plate, with Birnamwood counting six scores. The city of Kaukauna will hold a celebration soon to honor the members of the newly crowned state baseball championship team; it was announced Tuesday by Mayor Joseph Bayorgeon.
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.
