GRAND CHUTE – It seemed everytime Kenosha St. Joseph pitcher Anthony Olson’s performance was brought up after the WIAA Division 3 state semifinal Wednesday afternoon, the phrase “for a freshman” was right along with it.

The fact of the matter is Olson was not flashy, he was not overpowering and was not pretty at times – he issued three walks – but he got the job done and with a little offensive support, helped the Lancers earn a 5-2 victory over Elk Mound at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium and a spot in Thursday morning’s Division 3 state championship game.

“He kept the ball down, wasn’t overpowering and we had a heck of a time trying to stay back on him,” Elk Mound coach Paul Andrea said. “We could not stay patient enough with our hands to let the balls get deep in the strike zone.

“We haven’t been a heavy-hitting team all year. We’ve gotten by on pitching and defense and that let us down today.”

What Olson was able to do was get five strikeouts and deal to a defense that turned two double plays to get him out of jams early on and buy time for the offense to get to Mounders pitcher Dan Hayden.

“That seems to happen every time I pitch,” Olson said. “We get two or three double plays in the games I pitch.”

With a record on the season that improved to 5-4 with the win, Wednesday’s performance on the biggest stage he has ever pitched on was about what coach Jon Olson expected.

“It was typical Anthony,” coach Olson said. “A few strikeouts, a few walks, he hit a couple guys, made me pace the dugout up and down and send a guy down to the bullpen and see him get ticked off about that.

“Every game he’s pitched in, he’s given us a chance to win.”

After falling behind in the first inning, the Lancers (18-9) tired the game in the second inning and took the lead in the third.

They then got some insurance in the fifth inning when Joe Pignotti got one of his game-best three hit for the game in the form of a triple that brought a run in.

“I told my kids when you get to state ‘Don’ cheat yourselves,’” coach Olson said. “Go up there, just swing hard and make the most of it.”

Now this young Lancers team – there are just three seniors on the 14-man roster – will get a chance to play for the Division 3 state title for the first time since the 2006 season when it won its second of two straight titles.

“We move on now and the dream season, continues,” coach Olson said.

FULL GAME STATS