This story is sponsored by: The University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County
By Steve Pilz
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Chaparrals amateur baseball team saw their record fall to 3-4 after a 3-2 loss to the Merrill Rangers on Monday night at Jack Hackman Field.
After three consecutive postponements due to rain, the Chaparrals must have been chomping at the bit to get back on the diamond after a 10-day lay-off.
Chaps starter Drew Spaeth walked the first batter he faced. With one out, Spaeth gave up three consecutive singles that scored three runs before striking out the side. But the damage was done and the Rangers led 3-0 before Marshfield even batted.
Cale Cuddie drew a one out walk in the third and moved to third on a double by teammate Nate MacDonald, but the Chaps left them stranded with a strikeout and a groundout. That’s as close as anyone would come to scoring until late in the game.
Spaeth settled down to his normal self after the first, eating innings and mowing down Merrill. The big right-hander left after eight innings of work, giving up just five hits, with seven stikeouts and only the one walked surrendered to the leadoff hitter in the first. Ryan Metz pitched the ninth.
Spaeth’s counterpart, Chase Nelson, kept Marshfield off balance all night. He pitched a complete game seven-hitter, striking out four and walking just two.
The Chaparrals finally scored after one out in the eighth inning. Riley Erickson put a ball in play that the third baseman couldn’t handle and Sam Schwanebeck plated him with a ringing double over the centerfielder’s head. Luke Wirtz then reached first after another Merrill mishap that allowed Schwanebeck to score from second, but they could do no more damage.
Another Chaps’ scoring opportunity went awry in the ninth. After a strikeout, MacDonald was drilled in the back and awarded first base. He promptly stole second and got to third on a pitch that got away from the catcher. But he too was stranded and the Chaps saw their Dairyland League record fall to 2-3.
“We hit the ball better tonight, but didn’t have any timely hitting,” Chaparrals manager Justin Rayburn said. “We left a lot (11) of guys on. I was happy with the late rally. We did have some tough late-inning at-bats.”
The Chaparrals will look to even their record Tuesday night when they travel to Plover for a 7:30 p.m. game against the Pterodactyls.
Rangers 3, Chaparrals 2
Merrill 300 000 000 – 3 5 3
Marshfield 000 000 020 – 2 7 0
WP: Chase Nelson. LP: Drew Spaeth
SO: Nelson 4; Spaeth 7 (8 inn.), Ryan Metz (1 inn.) 2. BB: Nelson 2; Spaeth 1, Metz 1.
Top hitters: M, Chris Gruenenwald 2 RBIs. M, Nate MacDonald 2B; Sam Schwanebeck 2B, RBI.
Records: Merrill not provided; Marshfield 3-4, 2-3 Dairyland League.