By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter

The Merrill Post 46 American Legion baseball team has struggled this season, with those struggles carrying over to Monday night, where they lost two games to Post 9, Wisconsin Rapids. Merrill got shutout in game one, losing by a score of 10-0 and struggled to score in the second game, falling 7-2.
In the first game, Rapids snagged an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Merrill held Rapids to two runs until the fifth inning, where Post 9 would strike for three runs. Rapids then added five runs to their total in the sixth inning, sealing the game with a score of 10-0.
Vinnie Galella pitched the first four and two-thirds innings for Merrill, allowing five runs on two hits. Galella struck out five batters, while walking six. Peyton Becker finished the game, allowing five runs on four hits, while striking out one and walking two.

Game two saw a similar story, with Wisconsin Rapids getting an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning. Rapids extended their lead to five runs, adding two in the fifth inning. Post 9 then added two more runs in the fifth inning, taking a commanding 7-0 lead.
Merrill finally got on the board in the final inning, scoring two runs in the seventh. Piersen Pyan led off the inning by reaching first base on a Rapids error. A walk to Spencer Schneider then sent Pyan to second base. Two wild pitches allowed Pyan to come around and score, while Schneider advanced to third base. Another wild pitch by Rapids allowed Schneider to cross the plate. A Merrill strikeout ended the game, with Post 9 defeating Post 46, 7-2.
Leading hitters for Merrill include: Casey Hoffman (2-3), Jake Bailey (1-3), Jayden Sus (1-3) and Vinnie Galella (1-3, BB).