URL: http://www.gazetteextra.com/20150802/raptors_win_have_division_title_in_reach

Raptors win, have division title in reach

The Milton Raptors have their postseason fate in their own hands after beating the Madison Black Sox 5-1 on Sunday.

With its 13-3 record, Milton is in second place, one game behind division-leading Neosho. The two teams are scheduled to play this weekend at Schilberg Park. If the Raptors beat Neosho on Saturday then close their regular season with a win in Janesville against the Aces, Milton will be the South Division regular-season champions.

If Milton wins one of their two remaining games, it will clinch the No. 2 seed for the South Divison playoffs, meaning it will open the double-elimination tournament with a home game.

Against the Black Sox on Saturday, T.J. Klawitter and Joe Shere pitched around 11 hits to allow the lone run.

“When we can have Joe come in after T.J. and protect the lead, it's a good thing,” Raptors coach Doug Welch said.

Offensively, Sam McCann had another good day at the plate, going 2-for-4 and opening the scoring with a two-run single in the third. Scott Steinke and Shere also added RBI singles to Milton's 15-hit effort.

“We got some big hits and were able to put away a pretty decent team,” Welch said.

Saturday's game against Neosho is at 3 p.m. Janesville hosts the Raptors at Riverside Park at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

MILTON 5, MADISON BLACK SOX 1

Madison 000 010 000—1 11 3

Milton 002 021 00x—5 15 0

Burkhart, Strommen (7) and Karlen-Kamin; T.J. Klawitter, Joe Shere (8) and Haney.

Leading hitters—Karlen-Kamin (Ma) 2x4, Luciani (Ma) 2x4, Joe Shere (Mi) 3x5, Josh Shere (Mi) 3x5, Ross Klawitter (Mi) 2x4, Sam McCann (Mi) 2x4, Steinke (Mi) 2x4. 2B—Luciani, Powell, Sam McCann.

SO—Burkhart, Strommen, T.J. Klawitter 3, Joe Shere. BB—Burkhart, T.J. Klawitter 2.