Appleton West celebrates 2004 WIAA state championship baseball team

APPLETON − The baseball team that "got hot at the right time" reconnected at Nienhaus Sports Complex last week.

The 2004 WIAA Division 1 state champion Appleton West Terrors were celebrated Thursday before the current Terrors' game against Kaukauna. Former Terrors head coach Gary Lemons was there along with several members of the team and former assistant coaches. Also present were Appleton West alumnus and philanthropist Mary Beth Nienhaus, former Appleton West athletic director Ed Zepka, Appleton Area School District superintendent Greg Hartjes and Appleton West principal Mark McQuade among others.

"Got a lot of great memories with the players and coaches," Lemons said. "And to have Mary Beth there and Ed Zepka, it was special."

Appleton West was considered one of the favorites to reach the WIAA state tournament before the spring season of 2004, but the Terrors got off to a slow start and were 5-5 after 10 games.

A furious finish to the regular season saw West win 14 of its last 16 games, including a memorable WIAA state tournament run. The Terrors beat Holmen 9-1 in the quarterfinals before blasting Oregon 14-5 in the semifinals.

West then handled D.C. Everest 6-2 at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute to win its seventh state baseball title, which is still the second-most in WIAA history behind Sun Prairie's nine titles.

"The guys got hot at the right time," Lemons said. "They put up a lot of hits in those three games − 43 of them. They were really pummeling the walls and Marcus McGuire went yard in one of them. Just a lot of great memories with the student body there, too. It was great to see them all decked out in orange and blue."

Lemons, who resigned as head coach in the summer of 2007, said he stays in regular contact with some of the players and he hopes he made a positive impact.

"Some of the guys text me to play golf and I'm always like 'bring money.' It is fun," he said. "(As a coach) I was pretty old school. I learned from the best, (WBCA Hall of Famer) Bruce Erickson. There are a few things I'd do different, but looking back you live and you learn. I think most of the guys appreciate that. We emphasized being 'humble and hungry' and 'care not who gets the credit' and 'a better you makes a better us.'

"Good things happen to people who work hard. We try to preach that and live by that. And occasionally we stumbled and fell short. But I think bottom line, they knew we cared. And they had a lot of great dads that were their coaches growing up and just a real privilege to get to work with them."

FVL's Edwards participates in Saints rookie camp

Fox Valley Lutheran 2018 graduate Jake Edwards was invited to the New Orleans Saints rookie tryout camp this past weekend.

Edwards, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman, played collegiately at Concordia-St. Paul. He was an all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference first-team selection last fall after starting 11 games at tackle. He was a three-time team captain.

Area softball, baseball and girls soccer rankings

Here is the sixth edition of the softball, baseball and girls soccer rankings for the Appleton area. Records are through Saturday's games.

SOFTBALL

1, Kaukauna (19-0): Banner week for the three-time defending WIAA state champs as they netted three wins, including consecutive win No. 100 in an 11-1 victory over Kimberly.

2, New London (16-3): Bulldogs drop 6-0 decision to West De Pere that snapped five-game win streak.

3, Freedom (17-5): Irish bounce back from loss to New London with wins over Waupaca and Appleton East. Team plays four games this week, all at home, against Ashwaubenon, Marinette, Clintonville and West De Pere.

4, Fox Valley Lutheran (16-6): Foxes on five-game win streak including four last week with victories over Oconto Falls, Notre Dame, Clintonville and Little Chute.

5, Hortonville (14-8): Polar Bears currently third in the Fox Valley Association behind Kaukauna and Oshkosh West with 9-5 record.

Also: Seymour (14-8), Neenah (10-7), Chilton (11-7), Manawa (12-6), Menasha (14-7), St. Mary Catholic (11-8), Kimberly (10-9), Winneconne (10-9).

BASEBALL

1, Kimberly (15-3): Papermakers had busy week with wins over Appleton East, Appleton North and Ashwaubenon and losses to Fond du Lac and De Pere. Sawyer Deering leads the team with .417 average and also has five home runs and 15 RBI.

2, Appleton North (13-4): Lightning's 11-game winning streak is snapped as it drops back-to-back games to Kimberly and Oshkosh North.

3, Little Chute (15-2): Mustangs move up in rankings and haven't lost since April 13. Team is on a 12-game win streak and leads North Eastern Conference by a half-game with a pair of conference games against Luxemburg-Casco this week.

4, Shiocton (9-2): Chiefs fall 9-1 to Bonduel and are now a half-game behind Bears for Central Wisconsin-East title.

5, Menasha (11-4): Bluejays enter rankings and have a half-game lead over Seymour in Bay Conference title chase. Team has won seven of its last nine games.

Also: Neenah (11-8), Seymour (10-7), Kaukauna (11-7), Brillion (13-6), St. Mary Catholic (10-6), Chilton (12-7), Wrightstown (11-7), Fox Valley Lutheran (11-10).

Vote for the top athlete: Nominees from tennis, baseball, softball and track and field: Vote for Cellcom Post-Crescent high school athlete of the week

GIRLS SOCCER

1, Kimberly (14-2-0): Papermakers' two losses this season have been to second-ranked Muskego and third-ranked Waunakee.

2, Appleton North (7-2-2): Lightning moves up a spot in rankings after 1-0 victory over Appleton East. Brinley Dunsirn leads team in scoring with 11 goals.

3, Appleton East (10-2-1): Patriots look to bounce back from loss to Appleton North with games against Neenah and at Kimberly. Addison Wreath has 20 goals to lead Patriots.

4, St. Mary Catholic (6-2-2): Zephyrs' game against Big East leading Cedar Grove-Belgium postponed to May 21. Team has games against Sheboygan Lutheran/Christian and St. Mary's Springs this week.

5, Winneconne (12-3-0): Wolves are tied atop East Central Conference standings with Plymouth and the teams meet Tuesday in Plymouth.

Also: Seymour (7-3-5), Wrightstown (5-4-4), Freedom (5-2-3), Menasha (7-4-2), Xavier (7-4-5).

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton West Terrors celebrate 2004 state baseball championship team