A Comeback for the Ages
The 2026 state baseball championship game at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute turned into a test of grit for the Kaukauna Ghosts, who entered the contest with a 22‑8 record and a dream of ending a 73‑year title drought.
Madison Memorial drew first blood, jumping to a 4‑1 lead after two and a half innings, but the Ghosts answered with a five‑run burst in the third that flipped the momentum.
Key contributors Tyler Urban, Bron Schaefer and Brayden Jenkins delivered timely hits that sparked the rally, while Kaden Kress’s two‑run double and Quentin Gustman’s run‑scoring single added crucial insurance.
The fifth inning saw Kress drive in three runs, and Schaefer’s single in the sixth pushed the lead to two more runs, extending the advantage.
Relief pitcher Paxton Schuh, returning from a four‑week layoff due to a torn meniscus, closed out the game with three innings of work, allowing just one run and striking out four to secure the save.
Madison Memorial managed a solitary run in the seventh before the final out, ending the game with an 11‑5 victory that cemented the Ghosts’ resilience.
Other Division Champions
In Division 2, Pewaukee (29‑2) edged Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic 5‑4, while Cedar Grove (23‑5) defeated Dodgeville 13‑9 in Division 3 and Columbus Catholic (24‑6) downed Potosi/Cassville 8‑4 in Division 4, rounding out a sweep of state titles for Wisconsin baseball.