BY RICK ARGALL
MMC STAFF
The Merrill Varsity Boys Baseball Team traveled to Antigo on Monday, April 15, 2024, and came home with a win.
“We had a 6-3 lead, but Antigo came back with three runs in the sixth inning to tie it up,” said Head Coach Shawn Schultz. “But, in the top of the seventh, we were able to put together some hits and Brady Norton (2 H, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB) came through with a big base hit to give us an 8-6 lead.”
“Sam Reimann (1 H, 1 RBI) came in for the bottom of the seventh and got the save with a three-up, three-down finish.”
Box Score
Merrill 8 @ Antigo 6
The Merrill Bluejays hosted Conference rival Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln on Thursday, April 18, on a cold and damp evening at Athletic Park. The game was originally scheduled to be just one game, but the teams had a makeup game on their schedule so it was changed to a twi-night doubleheader.
In the first game, Merrill jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a single by pitcher Brady Kanitz (1-4, 1 RBI) and carried that lead through six innings behind solid pitching from Brady Kanitz (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 10 SO, 1 BB). Wisconsin Rapids tied the game in the top of the seventh inning on an unearned run. As the game entered extra innings tied at 1-1, pitcher Brady Kranitz had to be substituted, due to the 100 pitch rule that applies to pitchers.
Dawson Schulz (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER) took the mound for Merrill in the top of the 8th inning and kept the Red Raiders scoreless until the 10th inning. In the top of the 10th inning, Wisconsin Rapids was able to score twice to take the lead at 3-1 and Merrill was unable to score in their last at bat, resulting in a 3-1 victory for Rapids.
“Brady Kanitz pitched a heck of a game and their guy did, too. It was a good game, a good high school baseball game. They made some plays at the end and turned that key double play on the ball,” said Coach Schultz. “That was the difference.”
“We had lots of opportunities in the game, but just couldn’t come up with the big hit when we needed it,” he said. “We played a good game and now we have to come back and play again, so that’s the best thing to come back and keep playing.”
Merrill was led by third baseman Isaak Clapper (2-5), and catcher Kaiden Henrich (2-4). Pitcher Dawson Schulz took the loss for Merrill. The Bluejays outhit the Red Raiders 11-7, as their record dropped to 3-3 overall heading into the second game of the doubleheader.
Box Score Game #1:
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 3 @ Merrill 1
In the nightcap, Rapids scored two in the first inning and the game was 2-0 through three innings. Rapids picked up two more in the fourth to make it 4-0. Then Wisconsin Rapids scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break open the game and take a 10-0 lead, and the game was called after five innings. Rapids outhit Merrill 8-0 to complete the no-hit shutout. The Bluejays ended the night seeing their record fall to 3-4.
“We hit some balls hard early but couldn’t put much together in the game,” Coach Schultz said. “We ended up on the wrong side of a five inning 10-0 game.”
Box Score Game #2:
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 10 @ Merrill 0
