GRAND CHUTE – When Chippewa Falls McDonell Central needed a clutch play in the late innings Wednesday morning, Andy Davis came through to make them.

The Macks’ starting pitcher pitched all eight innings, but his bigger plays came in the seventh inning when he scored the tying run on an infield hit.

That forced extra innings where he delivered a single with runners on first and second in the bottom of the eighth inning which scored Alex Hiess to win the WIAA Division 4 state semifinal, 6-5, over Burlington Catholic Central.

“I love those big opportunites to have the big hit or throw the winning pitch,” Davis said. “It was a curveball and I put it in play.”

The victory puts the Macks (22-4) in the school’s second state championship game – the last was in 2005 – and a shot at either Marion or Barneveld in the Division 4 state title game Thursday morning at 9.

Davis scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh on a ground ball by Jake Bohl that was stopped by Tyler Floyd near second base, but could not beat the runner to the base.

Meanwhile, Davis never stopped running, actually going through a stop sign from coach Eric Wedemeyer.

“I was rounding the base and (coach) was telling me to hold up, but I just kept going because at that point it was too late,” Davis said.

That run came after Catholic Central had taken the lead in the top of the seventh. In fact, Hilltoppers  (21-10) pitcher Rex Morrow had Bohl down to his last strike before he delivered the hit.

“Having that fight is something you can’t teach the kids,” Wedemeyer said. “Andy’s been the guy all year. He wants to be in that spot. He feels comfortable and kind of thrives in that situation.”

Then in the eighth, after sitting down Catholic Central in order, Davis came up with two on and hit one to right field that Eric Pieters charged and had it in his glove, but could not hold on.

“That was a great effort,” Catholic Central coach Tom O’Connell said. “We were six inches from winning the game and turned out to be inches away from losing the game, on the other side.”

When he didn’t make the catch, the celebration was on and the Macks get a spot in Friday’s state championship game.

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