By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
Late game heroics from Dylan Schielke preserved the win for the Merrill Rangers, as they topped Minocqua 3-2 on Sunday.
With the Rangers leading 3-2 in the top of the ninth, Minocqua would get runners to first and second base with two outs. A single to shallow left field gave Minocqua a chance to score and tie the game, however, Merrill leftfielder Dylan Schielke had a different plan as he threw a laser to the Merrill catcher, just in time to catch the runner at home for the final out of the game.
Minocqua took the early lead, scoring one run in the first inning. After two quick outs, back-to-back doubles from the Minocqua three and four hitters, scored the game’s first run. Merrill grabbed the lead in the second inning, scoring two runs. Chris Grunenwald led off the inning with a double to deep left field. Grunenwald then made it to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a Garret Pagel single. Later in the inning, an error on Minocqua allowed another Merrill run to score, as the Rangers took the 2-1 lead.
The Rangers extended their lead in the third inning, as Clay Schult drove in Brad Kanitz with a line drive single to center field. Minocqua kept the game close, cutting the Merrill lead to one run in the fifth inning. Stellar pitching from Chase Nelson and Shawn Schultz would keep Minocqua at bay for the final four innings, as the Rangers earned their first win of the 2019 season.
Nelson pitched eight innings for Merrill, allowing two runs on 11 hits, striking out 15 and walking only two. Schultz pitched the final inning for the Rangers, allowing just one hit.
Leading hitters for the Rangers include: Garret Pagel (1-4, RBI, R), Clay Schult (1-3, RBI, BB) and Chris Grunenwald (1-4, R, Double).