In a five-game week, Merrill Varsity Baseball Team wins two, loses three

BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

“It was a long week with five games,” said Shawn Schultz, Head Coach for the Merrill Varsity Boys Baseball Team.

“We started out in Mosinee on Monday with a huge 8-6 victory,” he said. “We got some tough pitching performances from EJ Weix and Isaak Clapper, and we did a good job with the bats, including a big three-run homerun from Brady Kanitz. It was great to see the guys come back and play well after a tough doubleheader the last time out.”
The April 22, 2024, game saw high scorers Isaak Clapper (4 AB, 2 H, 2 R) and Sam Reimann (3 AB, 2 H, 2 R, 1 RBI) each bring in two runs for the Bluejays, while Brady Norton, Brady Kanitz, Carter Baade, and Nicholas Palecek each brought in a single run in the game, outscoring the Mosinee Indians by two points in the final score and bringing home a win for the Bluejays.

Box Score:
Merrill 8 @ Mosinee 6

On Tuesday, April 23, the Stevens Point Panthers came to Merrill to compete at Merrill’s Athletic Park and the Bluejays suffered a crushing shutout defeat, losing 10-0.

“We saw their #1 and Marschke was tough,” Schultz said. “He limited us to a single hit, and they did a good job putting pressure on our defense.”
Dawson Schulz spent three innings on the mound and Sam Reimann two in the five-inning game.

Box Score:
Stevens Point 10 @ Merrill 0

After a day to regroup, the Bluejays were facing off against the Panthers again on Thursday, April 25, this time at Stevens Point’s Bukolt Park, with the Panthers having the added benefit of the home field advantage.

“They did a good job hitting the ball again,” Schultz said. “We did a better job against a good pitcher; we put some runs on the board and had some opportunities for more, and we didn’t strike out.”
Brady Kanitz (2 AB, 1 H, 1 R) and Nicholas Palecek (1 R) both scored for Merrill. Carter Kaminski pitched 3.1 innings and Cooper Wendorf was on the mound for one inning.
“Offensively, they were really tough both nights,” Schultz said.

Box Score:
Merrill 2 @ Stevens Point 12

Friday, April 26, the Bluejays were back on the ball diamond, this time traveling to Jack Hackman Field in Marshfield, and this time they came home celebrating a big 11-2 win.
“We played a makeup with Marshfield from April 11,” Schultz said. “It was extremely windy, but Brady did a great job on the mound keeping us in the game early.”
“We got one in the second to take the lead, but they came back with two in the bottom of the third,” he said. “We took the lead with three in the fifth. we took advantage of a couple of miscues by Marshfield to tie it up, and Brady had a two-out two-run single to give us the lead for good.”
“Some walks and a few more miscues allowed us to break it open in the sixth,” Schultz said. “Sam Reimann came in to finish up, and he did a great job, as well. It was a good team win.”
Kanitz pitched 5.2 innings, and Reimann pitched 1.1 innings in the game. Carter Kaminski (2 R, 1 RBI) and Isaak Clapper (5 AB, 3 H, 2 R, 2 RBI) each scored two for the Bluejays, while Brady Norton, Sam Reimann, EJ Weix, Dawson Schulz, Cooper Wendorf, Nicholas Palecek, and Carter Baade each brought home a run for the team.

Box Score:
Merrill 11 @ Marshfield 2

“On Saturday, we traveled to Lakeland for a doubleheader but found out along the way it would only be one game,” Schultz said.
“Isaak Clapper started on the mound for us and did a good job throwing strikes and giving us a chance to get on top. We took the lead with a single run in the top of the second on a Carter Baade sac fly,” he said.
“They came back with two in the bottom of the inning and added one in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. We had runners every inning and left two on in the fifth and the bases loaded in the sixth,” Schultz said. “Sam Reimann led off the seventh with a homerun to left, and Brady Kanitz followed with a base hit to left. But that is where the comeback ended.”

“We had a ton of baserunners in the game but couldn’t come up with the big hit and ended up leaving 11 on base,” he said.
“EJ Weix came in and finished on the mound and threw well.”
The Lakeland Union Thunderbirds took the win by a run, ending the game 3-2.

Box Score:
Merrill 2 @ Lakeland 3

“We have a great opportunity this week with two games with Wausau East and then Tomahawk at home on Friday. We finish up with two down in Waunakee on Saturday. So we will continue to work at playing consistent baseball in all three phases,” Schultz said.