By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
The Merrill Post 46 American Legion baseball team started their season on Wednesday, June 5, with a win over Tomahawk, before traveling to Marshfield on Friday, June 7, where they earned another win.
In Marshfield, a complete game one-run effort from Merrill pitcher, Jayden Sus, was the driving force behind Post 46’s 2-1 victory.
Merrill got on the board early, scoring a run in the first inning. Cody Depies drew a two-out walk to get Post 46 started. Casey Hoffman then singled to left field, advancing Depies to second base. Later, Piersen Pyan singled to right field, where an error on the Marshfield right fielder allowed Depies to score from second.
Marshfield tied the game in the fourth inning, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly out to left field. Merrill’s winning run came in the fifth inning, where a Pyan single scored Depies from third base.
Leading hitters for Merrill include: Piersen Pyan (2-3, RBI), Casey Hoffman (2-3) and Cody Depies (2R, BB)
Jays top Tomahawk
A five-run fifth inning was the boost Merrill needed, as they defeat Tomahawk 14-12, in their American Legion baseball season opener.
After scoring one run in the top of the first inning, Post 46 would soon lose the lead, as Tomahawk responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Four Merrill runs in the third inning tied the game at 5-5.
Following a two-run fourth inning, Merrill took a commanding lead with five more runs in the fifth inning. Peyton Becker got things started in the fifth, with a walk and a stolen base to land on second base. Cody Depies then singled, scoring Becker. Following a Casey Hoffman walk, Kordell Renken singled, scoring Depies from second base. Piersen Pyan would later single to right field, driving in Hoffman. Renken and Pyan would each earn a free pass across the plate, as the Tomahawk pitcher issued three walks. Two more Merrill runs in the sixth inning closed the door on any comeback hopes Tomahawk had. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Tomahawk made a huge surge, scoring seven runs. Fortunately for Post 46 their nine-run lead would hold up as they took the 14-12 victory.