Oak Creek back on top of area baseball rankings, KML wins team of the week

Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

AREA RANKINGS

Team (W-L), last week

  1. Oak Creek (12-2), 2

  2. Pewaukee (16-2), 3

  3. Muskego (13-1), 5

  4. Hartford (14-2), 4

  5. Badger (12-2), 1

  6. Menomonee Falls (14-3), 7

  7. Arrowhead (12-3), 6

  8. Lake Country Lutheran (16-2), –

  9. Kettle Moraine Lutheran (14-3), –

  10. Nicolet (14-4), –

Others considered: Franklin (10-6); Kenosha St. Joseph (12-3); New Berlin Eisenhower (13-5); Oconomowoc (10-6); St. Thomas More (12-5); Union Grove (12-4); University School of Milwaukee (12-3-1); Waukesha North (9-5); Wisconsin Lutheran (10-3); Westosha Central (14-3).

Cade Palkowski and Oak Creek teammates opened the week atop the area rankings with a 12-2 record.
Cade Palkowski and Oak Creek teammates opened the week atop the area rankings with a 12-2 record.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Kettle Moraine Lutheran

The Chargers picked up four convincing wins to add to a winning streak that stood at 14 games entering this week. On Tuesday KML swept a doubleheader with Winneconne in games that went 13-4 and 8-0 to the Chargers. Then on Wednesday, KML defeated Shoreland Lutheran 15-0 at home. The week ended with a 15-0 win over Port Washington, also at home.

Junior Jackson Kobylarczyk was among the statistical leaders with four innings of two-hit ball on the mound with five strikeouts, as well as a 9-for-13 week at the plate with four runs, five driven in and a double. Junior Adam Zylka was 8-for-13 at the plate with eight runs, six RBI, a double and a home run. Senior Carson Rau pitched three innings, allowing three hits and striking out six. He was 6-for-11 at the plate, scoring one run and driving three in with two doubles. Senior Sam Ehlke went 6-for-9 for the week with two runs scored, four driven in and a double.

The wins brought the Chargers to 14-3 with a 7-1 record in the East Central Conference. KML entered the week with a chance to dethrone Waupun (8-0) atop the conference with games at Waupun on Tuesday and at home on Thursday. On Friday, the Chargers travel to face a tough nonconference opponent in Lomira (15-2).

COMING UP

Muskego vs. Oconomowoc, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Oconomowoc, 5 p.m. Thursday at Muskego: In a critical series for the Classic 8 Conference standings, conference-leading Muskego (7-0 entering Monday) looks to fend off Oconomowoc (7-2).

University School vs. Lake Country Lutheran, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at LCL, 4:30 p.m. Thursday at USM: Another home-and-away set between conference leaders takes place in the Midwest Classic. USM (11-0) will be attempting to fortify a conference lead over LCL (7-0).

Pewaukee vs. Wisconsin Lutheran, 4:45 p.m. Tuesday at Wisco, 4:45 p.m. Wednesday at Pewaukee: After the Pirates splitting with New Berlin Eisenhower (8-2) last week, the three-way Woodland West race has tightened with Pewaukee (7-1) and Wisconsin Lutheran (6-2). A sweep for either team would solidify its place in the title conversation.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oak Creek leads Milwaukee-area baseball rankings, KML team of week

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