MISSED OPPORTUNITIES — Both the Fort Atkinson Generals and Jefferson Blue Devils bowed out of the Home Talent League Southeast Section playoffs following losses on Sunday. The top-seeded Generals stranded 14 base runners in a 4-2 loss to No. 2 Albion at Jones Park. Stoughton will host Albion in the Southeast Section championship game on Aug. 21. Above, Fort Generals catcher Bryan Wallace does make the tag on an Albion base runner following an assist from center fielder Chris Koepke. The season isn't over for Fort Atkinson, however, as the Generals travel to McFarland Thursday to face the Muskies in the Eastern Section Night League championship game. The first pitch at McFarland High School is 7:30 p.m. — Daily Union photo by Jeff Seisser.

The Fort Atkinson Generals learned that Sunday when Albion visited Jones Park for a Home Talent League Southeast Section playoff game. The Generals stranded 14 base runners - including leaving the bags loaded three times - and Albion took the game 4-2.

With the win, the Tigers advance to take on Stoughton in the Southeast Section championship game this Sunday for the right to play in the HTL Final Four.

Albion, the second place finisher in the Southeast Section West Division with a 13-4 record, built a 4-0 lead behind Ethan Vaade's sacrifice fly in the second inning, Marty Johnson's RBI grounder in the fourth and Aaron Laskowski's fourth inning two-run single.

Trailing by four runs going into the bottom of the fifth inning the Southeast Section East Division champion Generals finally got on the board. Francisco Roque's double was sandwiched between walks by Bobby Bastien and Tim Brokl to load the bases with no outs.

In the next at-bat, second baseman Tom Dehnert drew a walk to force in Bastien. Two batters later, catcher Bryan Wallace was hit by a pitch to bring in Roque.

However, the rally stalled with the bases loaded, marking the third time in the game Fort Atkinson (23-10 overall, 12-5 Sunday League) left bags juiced. Fort Atkinson also loaded the bases in the first inning and third inning, but was unable to score.

Generals starting pitcher Dan Dean was saddled with the loss. Dean surrendered four earned runs on six hits and five walks. He struck out four in six innings on the hill. Chris Koepke pitched the final three innings, allowing two hits while striking out one.

For the Tigers, Mike Nanstad was credited with the win, pitching the first six innings. He allowed two earned on six hits and five walks. Nanstad struck out eight.

Josh Eastman picked up the save after throwing three scoreless innings in relief. He gave up one hit and one walk while striking out two.

Laskowski and Kyle Johnson led Albion with 2-for-5 efforts at the plate.

For the Generals, Brokl went 2-for-3 and drew two walks. Bastien was 2-for-4 on the day while Scott Kammer, Roque and Koepke finished with one hit each.

Fort Atkinson starting second baseman Sam Hartwick left the game after landing awkwardly while making a diving catch during the fifth inning. Hartwick left Jones Park in an ambulance to be examined. He was diagnosed with a strained shoulder and returned to the team later in the game.

Albion will move on to play Stoughton (16-1), which defeated Jefferson 7-0 at Slettum Field. The two teams will play for the Southeast Section crown and spot in the Home Talent League Final Four.

In other playoff action, Cross Plains and Reedsburg advanced to the Northern Section finals, Ridgeway and Dodgeville moved on to the Western Section finals, and DeForest and Monona reached the Eastern Section finals.

Fort Atkinson still is alive in Home Talent Night League competition. The Generals have already won two playoff games, and will play for the Eastern Section championship Thursday at McFarland High School beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The winner of Thursday's game advances to the HTNL Final Four, which begins Aug. 25.