State Baseball Tourney Preview: East Ready to Battle Marquette

Editor's Note: Marquette edged East 3-2 to advance in the state tournament. Stay tuned to Brookfield Patch for a game story.

Update: Rain forced all WIAA games to be rescheduled to Thursday in Stevens Point. Brookfield East is scheduled to play Marquette at 8 a.m.

The rubber match between Brookfield East (19-13) and Milwaukee Marquette (24-9) baseball teams will have some big implications.

When the Spartans and Hilltoppers do battle for the third time this season, it will be in the quarterfinals of the 2011 WIAA State Summer Baseball Tournament. The most recent installment of this Greater Metro Conference rivalry will get under way Wednesday at 10:05 a.m. at Bukolt Park in Stevens Point.

East nipped Marquette 6-5 in Milwaukee in early June. The Hilltoppers returned the favor three weeks later with a 7-3 win in Brookfield.

Though the two teams have been comparable in 2011, their history at the state tournament varies greatly. East makes their first trip to state since 1988. All three of their appearances have been made under head coach Bill Woodring. The Spartans are searching for their first tournament victory in school history.

Marquette makes their eighth appearance in the tournament. They claimed titles in 2006 and 2008 and finished second in 2009. The Hilltoppers return to Stevens Point with a renewed hunger after falling short of the tournament a season ago.

The winner will move on to face either Waukesha West (24-9) or defending champion Franklin (26-7) in the semifinals on Thursday.

Brookfield Patch will be covering the tournament in Stevens Point starting Wednesday. Check the site for updates or follow us on @BrookfldWIPatch

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Brookfield East Spartans
Record: 19-13 (11-9 Greater Metro Conference)
State Appearances: Three (1987, 1988, 2011)
Opponent in quarterfinal: Milwaukee Marquette 24-9 (14-6 Greater Metro Conference)