Bluejays Varsity Baseball Team finds rhythm after early season tests

The Merrill Boys Varsity Baseball Team battled through a challenging start to their 2025 season, currently posting a 3-4 record overall with a 0-2 mark in Conference play.
“We have been able to get 7 games in at this point, and we are 3-4, 0-2 in the Conference,” said Merrill Boys Varsity Baseball Head Coach Shawn Schultz.
The Bluejays opened their season on April 5 in Oconomowoc with back-to-back losses, falling 12-2 to Columbus and 4-3 to Pewaukee. But the team quickly bounced back at home against Abbotsford/Colby, securing their first win in an impressive victory.
“We picked up our first win 11-0 with Cooper Wendorf and Carter Kaminski combining to throw a no-hitter,” Schultz said.
Last week’s away matchup against Stevens Point on April 15 saw Merrill play well but come up just short in a 3-1 defeat.

“We came out in the first with some real good at bats,” said Schultz. “Kory Page led off with a single, and Brady Norton reached base on an error by the left fielder. After two outs, Cooper Wendorf came up with a big base hit to put us on the board.”
“Cam Wallin followed with another knock, but we couldn’t push across another score,” he said. Despite having additional opportunities, the Bluejays couldn’t add to their total, while Point added runs in the second and third innings. Schultz praised his starting pitcher’s efforts in the loss.
“Carter Kaminski pitched well in the game,” he said. “He kept a strong offense off balance and gave us a great shot to pick up the win.”
Thursday’s home rematch with Point proved challenging, as Merrill fell behind 4-0 after the first inning. EJ Weix held Point scoreless until the fifth inning, when they added five more runs. The Bluejays showed resilience by scoring six runs in the sixth inning. “We kept battling in the seventh but came up short,” Schultz said, “finishing on the wrong side of a 13-7 score. EJ had three hits in the loss and Cooper had two with 2 RBI.”
The weekend brought better results, with Merrill sweeping Lakeland in an April 19 doubleheader. In the first game, the Bluejays rolled to a 12-2 win behind strong pitching from Cam Wallin.
“Cam Wallin pitched a great game. He was in control from the start,” said Schultz. “He gave up one in the first inning but did not change the way he attacked their lineup. We took the lead with a big six-run second inning, and Cam dominated their lineup the rest of the way.”
“Our 1-5 hitters all collected at least two hits in the game, and all nine starters reached base with either a hit or a walk in the game,” he said. “A great team effort.”
The offensive outburst continued in game two as Merrill pounded out 20 runs in a 20-8 victory, highlighted by a massive 17-run fourth inning.
“Kory Page led off the game with a double to right and came around to give us the lead in the top of the first,” Schultz said. “However, we got off to a bit of a rough start, giving up three in the bottom of the first. We had some fielding miscues that we will work to improve, but Noah Klug battled to keep us in it through a couple of tough innings.”
“We strung together some hits in the top of the third and scored two runs to make it 4-3, but we missed an opportunity for a big inning. Lakeland came back with four more in the bottom of the third to make it 8-3. EJ Weix made a great sliding catch to end the inning, and it gave us a big boost heading to the top of the fifth.”
“A couple of Sophomores, Cole Rudie and Ryker Remington, started the scoring with Ryker’s RBI double, and we were off,” he said. “We ended up scoring 17 runs in the inning and put the game away. Five players collected multiple hits. Rudie, Wendorf, Page, and Wallin all collected two hits, and Weix had three in the game.”
“It was great to put some offense together beginning with the sixth inning on Thursday,” Coach Schultz said. “The boys stacked a bunch of good at bats together in the three games. EJ Weix collected 10 hits with two doubles and a triple in the stretch,” said Schultz.
The Bluejays face Wausau West next before traveling to Waunakee on Saturday.