Merrill Varsity Baseball goes 2-1 in games against Rhinelander and Wausau West

BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

The Merrill Varsity Baseball Team traveled to Rhinelander to play baseball last Monday, May 6, 2024, and brought home a win. “We fell behind early 2-0 after Rhinelander advanced on a couple of misplays and had a couple of base hits, but that is all they would get,” said Shawn Schultz, Head Varsity Baseball Coach. “Sam Reimann settled in and pitched five strong innings, and Isaak Clapper finished strong, striking out five of the seven batters he faced to end the game.”
“Offensively, we struggled early to make solid contact,” he said. “We finally put some hits together in the fifth when Carter Baade reached on a walk and Brady Norton singled. Sam Reimann drove in both with a double to right center to even it up. Then in the seventh, Carter led off with a single to center and came in to score on a Norton base hit.”
Box Score:
Merrill 3 @ Rhinelander 2

On Thursday, May 9, Merrill hosted Wausau West. “[It was a] well played game by both teams,” Schultz said. “Brady Kanitz pitched well for us on the mound. He gave up two on a double in the second that put West up 2-0.”
“They got another single run in the third when a line drive to left hit a divot and took a right turn in front of our outfielder, allowing the runner to score from first. But that was all they would get,” he said. “Sam Reimann got us within two in the top of the fourth with a long homerun to left and scored another in the sixth with a base hit to left after Brady Norton singled and stole second. We had runners on first and third in the seventh after Cooper Wendorf, and Ben Thom had back-to-back hits but left them stranded to end the game.”
Box Score:
Wausau West 3 @ Merrill 2

On Friday, May 10, Merrill then went to Wausau West to play on their home field. “West got two in the first with a couple of walks and some help, but we answered back with three of our own in the bottom of the inning,” Schultz said. “Brady Norton led off with a line drive single and then we used some walks and miscues by West to take a 3-2 lead. West answered back with two runs on a couple of hits in the top of the second to make it 4-3.”
“But in the bottom of the third, we put up five,” he said. “Reimann led off with a single and Brady Kanitz hit a double to score him. Then we had run scoring hits by Wendorf, Baade, and Norton to make it 8-4. EJ Weix came out in the top of the fourth and shut them down with a quick ground out and two strikeouts. Dawson Schulz came in to relieve Weix in the fifth and pitched three strong innings to finish them off.”
Box Score:
Merrill 9 @ Wausau West 6

“We only had three games this week but played well in all three,” Schultz said. “We have three games again next week and seed on Wednesday night to find out who and where we will start our playoffs. We have been playing pretty consistent baseball and continue to improve every game - lot of fun with this group. of guys.”