Merrill Girls Varsity Softball Team comes from behind to defeat Wausau West

The Merrill Bluejays Varsity Softball Team continued their winning streak Tuesday, April 8, 2025, coming from behind to defeat the Wausau West Warriors 6-4 in their first Conference match-up of the season.
Despite frigid temperatures, the Merrill Bluejays showed their resilience and determination, battling back from a 4-2 deficit in the final inning to secure the victory.
According to Head Coach Alison Natzke, the Merrill Varsity Softball Team “got behind early with a dropped third strike that allowed Wausau West to score.”
“Merrill was making contact, but hits weren’t dropping in for us. Wausau’s defense was doing their job,” Natzke said.
The Bluejays Girls broke through when they “got our first runs on the board that started with a single from Kendell Klug, followed by a single by Mackenzie Herdt, placing runners on first and second,” said Natzke. “Grace Hoff came up with an RBI single to center that scored Kendell. Miley Krueger had a quality at bat resulting in moving the runners to second and third. Then Abbie Krueger hit an RBI ground-out to the third baseman that scored Mackenzie,” giving the Merrill Bluejays a 2-1 advantage.

Coach Natzke noted that “West came back and scored in the following inning by stealing third, and then subsequently taking home on a throwing error,” tying the game 2-2.
The Warriors then took command “in the bottom of the 5th, Claire Calmes hit a two-run home run, pushing West up by 2,” making the score 2-4.
The Merrill Bluejays’ comeback began in the “top of the 7th,” when “Miley Krueger worked a five-pitch walk, followed by Abbie Krueger hitting into a fielder’s choice where both runners were safe at first and second. Reese Kaminski then grounded into a fielder’s choice where again all runners were safe with the throw to third being off. We had bases loaded, and no one out, and Lily Hoff up to bat,” Natzke said.
“Lily ripped a double to left that scored Abbie and Miley, Reese advanced to third,” tying the game 4-4. “After a strikeout, Dani Schielke ripped another double to center, scoring Reese and Lily,” giving Merrill a 6-4 lead.
“Then our defense was able to hold West off to a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh,” securing the win.
“Abbie Krueger started on the mound for Merrill. She threw really well, faced 19 batters, gave up four hits, two walks, one earned run, and struck out three,” Coach Natzke said. “Mackenzie Herdt was the reliever and faced 13 batters, gave up three hits, one walk, one earned run, and struck out four.”
“These girls fight back, and they have grit,” Natzke said. “We also want to thank all the fans that came out to support us on a cold Tuesday in Wausau; we appreciate you!”
The victory starts the Girls Varsity Softball Team’s Conference record out at 1-0 and suggests a promising season.
Box score:
Merrill 6 @ Wausau West 4