BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Merrill’s Athletic Park, the Merrill Bluejays lost to the Marshfield Tigers in Merrill’s first Varsity Baseball Conference game of the season by a single run.
“Dawson Schulz started on the mound and did a good job throwing strikes out of the gate,” said Shawn Schultz, Merrill Varsity Head Baseball Coach. “He had a little bad luck with some balls that couldn’t have been rolled out there any better in the top of the first.”
“Marshfield jumped out to a 3-0 lead but he calmed down and pitched scoreless through the fourth, allowing us to get back in the game and take the lead,” he said.
“EJ Weix had an RBI double in the first and a bases clearing double in the third, and we were up 6-3,” Schultz said.
“Things stayed that way until the fifth when Marshfield got back to even,” he said. “Carter Kaminski came in with the bases loaded and got a fly ball to get out of the inning.”
“Marshfield added two more in the sixth to go up 8-6, but we answered back in the bottom of the sixth with three big runs to go up 9-8.”
“Marshfield came back with two in the top of the seventh and that is the way it ended,” Schultz said.
“We had many chances to make plays on defense and could have added a few more runs on offense, as well,” he said. “We had started the year with two pretty clean games, but Tuesday was a battle. We did a good job coming back; we just have to tighten things up a bit and clean up some of the mistakes.”
In the end, Marshfield took home the win, scoring 10 runs to Merrill’s 9. Crossing the home plate for Merrill: Brady Norton (4 AB, 2 R), Isaak Clapper (5 AB, 2 R), Sam Reimann (2 AB, 2 R, 2 BB), Brady Kanitz (2 AB, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO), and Carter Baade (2 AB, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 SO).
Box Score:
Marshfield 1 @ Merrill 3
The game scheduled for Thursday night was rescheduled due to rain, but Friday night found the Bluejays up to bat against the Eagles at Northland Pines. This time Merrill took the win, 4-2, to wrap up their second week of play with a loss and a win, very similar to week one.
“They played a real solid game,” Schultz said. “We just couldn’t get the offense going consistently but did manage to walk seven times and steal nine bases in the game.”
“The running game was the difference,” he said, “as Isaak Clapper executed a double steal of home twice in the game to score runs.”
“Kaiden Henrich had a good night at the plate with a double, walk, and sac fly,” Schultz said. “Our pitchers continue to do a great job of throwing strikes and letting our defense work behind them. It was nice to end the week with a win after Thursday’s game with Marshfield was rained out and rescheduled.”
Brady Kanitz (3 AB, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SO) and Brady Norton (3 AB, 1 R, 1 BB) each brought home a run, and Isaak Clapper (4 AB, 2 R, 1 SO) crossed home plate twice to score for Merrill.
Box Score:
Merrill 4 @ Northland Pines 2