The Merrill Rangers got back on track last week, rallying for a 10-7 triumph over Abbotsford in Wednesday’s non-league contest, then blasting Greenwood right out of the box 20-2 in Saturday’s Dairyland League game.
Merrill lashed out with 14 first-inning runs to keep Greenwood winless in the Dairyland.
“It’s a game we had to win,” Merrill manager Shawn Schultz said. “Getting 14 in the first makes everything a little easier.”
The Rangers improved to 3-2 in league play, while Greenwood fell to 0-6.
Ben Anderson singled twice, Chase Nelson returned from injury to start the scoring with a three-run homer and Chris Grunenwald ripped a three-run triple in the 14-run first. Merrill managed eight hits, four walks and a hit batter in the frame. Nelson added a two-run blast in the seventh.
Merrill– [14]00 121 2–20.
Greenwood– 000 200 0–2.
MP: Shawn Schultz 5 I, 2 H, 3 W, 9 K, 2 R, 2 ER. MH–15 H, 9 W; Anderson 3-5, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI; Coleton Bloch 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI; Garrett Pagel 2-3, 2 W, 4 R; Nelson 2-5, 2-H, 3 R, 6 RBI; Brad Kanitz 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI; Grunenwald 1-5, 3B, 3 RBI; Wally Bogdanovich 1-3, 2 R, 2 W; Dylan Schielke 1-3, 2 W.
Abby normal
Kanitz was the impetus for Wednesday’s triumph. The Rangers trailed 5-0 in the fifth when he hit a three-run homer, and his two-run double in the seventh cut it to 7-5. Five other batters hit in the seven-run seventh.
“Once he started hitting, everybody started hitting,” Sc hultz said. “They switched pitchers and he didn’t pitch any different other than he was right-handed. That made all the difference for us.”
Abbotsford– 320 020 000–7.
Merrill– 000 030 70x–10.
MP: Kyle Rajek 5 I, 6 H, 1 W, 5 K, 7 R; Schultz 2 I, 1 H, 1 K, 0 R; Schielke 2 I, 1 H, 1 K, 0 R. MH: 16 H, 2W; Alex Cordova 4-5, 2 R, Schielke 3-4; Kanitz 2-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI; Schultz.2-3; Bloch 2-4; Wally Liepart 1-2, 2 R.