Merrill Varsity Bluejays fall to Wisconsin Dells Chiefs 12-7, in season finale

The Merrill Varsity Bluejays fell 12-7 to the No. 1 seed Wisconsin Dells Chiefs on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in what turned out to be the final game of the season. The Bluejays finished the year at 11-13.
Merrill got on the board right away in the top of the first inning when Erik Grunenwald was hit by a pitch and Noah Klug walked to put two runners on. Both advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a double play groundout. Wisconsin Dells answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead.
The Bluejays came roaring back in the top of the third, loading the bases when Alex Koblitz reached on an error, Grunenwald was hit by a pitch for the second time, and Klug singled. Cooper Wendorf then ripped a double off the fence in left field to score two runs, and Cole Rudie added a single to plate another, giving Merrill a 5-3 lead. But the Chiefs answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 7-4 advantage.
“It was a battle back and forth through three innings with Dells holding a 7-4 lead,” Head Coach Shawn Schultz said.
Merrill loaded the bases again in the top of the fourth but could only push across one run after an interference call at second base turned what could have been a Wisconsin Dells error and another run into a double play. The Chiefs then erupted for five runs in the bottom of the inning to push their lead to 12-5.

The Bluejays refused to go quietly, scratching out two more in the top of the fifth after a Cole Rudie double and a Tyson Ott single set the table. Connor Josiger and Jensen Olson each drove in a run on RBI groundouts to make it 12-7. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
“Our guys hit the ball really well and took advantage of some of their mistakes, but we gave them a couple of opportunities and they did a great job hitting the ball,” Schultz said. “It was a good battle.”
“A tough way to end the season,” he said.
Merrill was led offensively by Cole Rudie (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and Cooper Wendorf (1-4, 2 RBI). Noah Klug (1-3, 1 R) and Tyson Ott (1-3, 1 R) also contributed at the plate. Ryker Remington went 1-3 with 1 R for the Bluejays.
On the mound, Cam Wallin started and took the loss, followed by Noah Klug, who threw two scoreless innings, striking out two while allowing no hits.
Box Score:
Merrill 7 @ Wisconsin Dells 12