On Tuesday, June 4, the Merrill varsity baseball team held their annual year-end award ceremony at Athletic Park. The team was treated to a meal and would later find out the award winners, along with the All-Wisconsin Valley Conference honorees.
Team awards earned include: Outstanding Hitter- Chase Bonnell, Outstanding Defender- Peyton Becker, Outstanding Pitcher- Spencer Schneider, Teammate- Kordell Renken.
Chase Bonnell was also the recipient of the Steve Walsh Memorial Award, given to an outstanding senior baseball player. With Chase winning this award, he formed the first father and son duo to win the award, as his father, Rick Bonnell, won the first ever Steve Walsh Award in 1980.
All-WVC winners include Peyton Becker, who earned honorable mention at shortstop and Chase Bonnell who received second-team honors as a third baseman.
The Jays baseball season ended with an 8-2 loss to Antigo, in the WIAA Division 2 regional final. This season, Merrill won their first playoff game since 2013, defeating Wausau East in the regional semifinal, 11-7.