This story is sponsored by Total Electric
By Steve Pilz
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Chaparrals amateur baseball team got all the runs they would need in the first inning and a strong starting stint by Ryan Metz on the mound to take a Dairyland League game 9-1 against the Abbotsford Merchants on Monday night at Jack Hackman Field.
The win moves the Chaps a little closer to .500 at 6-7, and their Dairyland League record is now 4-5.
The Chaps jumped all over Abby starter Jay Soyk in the first inning. Justin Rayburn stroked a one-out single and Curt Englebrecht walked. A passed ball and a walk got Rayburn to third where he was driven in by a Sam Schwanebeck sacrifice fly to center.
Luke Wirtz was next with an RBI triple, followed by a Lucius Messerschmidt single to right, scoring Wirtz. Alex Steines reached on an error and Jack Donahue walked. They moved up a base on a wild pitch and Noah Panzer drove them both in to stake the Chaps to a 5-0 lead.
Metz was tough on the hill taking a no-hitter into the fourth. He left after seven scoreless innings, surrendering just three hits while striking out eight and walking one, a performance not overlooked by his manager.
“Metz pitched well for us,” said Rayburn. “When his curveball is on, he’s tough to beat. He hit his spots tonight.”
The Chaps added single runs in the second and third.
Curt Englebrecht hit a solo home run in the second and the Chaps got an unearned run in the sixth after Messerschmidt singled again and scored on back-to-back errors by the Merchants.
Bobby Pilz led off the Chaparrals eighth with a single and moved to second when Rayburn walked. Schwanebeck drove them both in with his third double of the season and the Chaps led 9-0.
Jack Donahue pitched the eighth and ninth for the Chaps.
Abby got their only run in the ninth when Andy Hodgen scored after a lead-off walk.
The Chaparrals’ next game is on the road against Rock Falls at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Chaparrals 9, Merchants 1
Abbotsford 000 000 001 – 1 4 4
Marshfield 511 000 02x – 9 11 3
WP: Ryan Metz. LP: Jay Soyk.
SO: Soyk (4 inn.) 1, Tyler Robida (4 inn.) 0; Metz (7 inn.) 8, Jack Donahue (2 inn.) 1. BB: Soyk 3, Robida 2; Metz 1, Donahue 1.
Top hitters: M, Justin Rayburn 2×4; Curt Englebrecht 2×4, HR, RBI; Sam Schwanebeck 2×3, 2B, 3 RBIs; Lucius Messerschmidt 2×4, RBI; Luke Wirtz 3B; Noah Panzer 2 RBIs.
Records: Marshfield 6-7 overall, 4-5 Dairyland League; Abbotsford not provided.