This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
By Steve Pilz
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Chaparrals ran their winning streak to six games Wednesday night by downing the Plover Pteradactyls for the third time this season, winning 11-1 in eight innings at Jack Hackman Field in the non-league game.
The Chaps concluded their Dairyland League schedule Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 win over Spirit, giving them a 7-5 league record. They learned earlier in the week that that was enough to get them into the Wisconsin Baseball Association playoffs. They will travel to Haugen on Friday, Aug. 11, and play the Haugen Knights at 8 p.m. Before that however, they’ll wrap up their season with non-league games Tuesday at Osseo and Wednesday at home against Eau Claire.
“I think we’re focused knowing we had to win out and knowing the playoffs are around the corner,” Chaparrals player/manager Justin Rayburn said.
The Chaps struck early when Luke Wirtz drove in Rayburn, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, with a single to left to make it 1-0.
Marshfield added to that in the fourth. Alex Steines hit a one -out single and Bobby Pilz walked. Nate MacDonald drove them both in with a two-run triple, and Rayburn scored MacDonald with a single making it 4-0.
Cale Cuddie, making his second consecutive start, wasn’t his sharpest but he was very effective. He struck out seven in his five innings of work and scattered just three hits. He did walk six Pteradactyls and Plover left 16 runners on base.
The fifth inning proved Cuddie’s worth.
After an infield error opened the inning, Cuddie coaxed a ground ball for the first out. That was followed by two more uncharacteristic infield errors by the Chaps. Cuddie struck out the next batter and walked the one after that. Second baseman Curt Englebrecht laid full out in shallow center to snag a line drive before it hit the ground and the Chaps were out of the inning with just an unearned run.
“It’s good to see Cale back on the mound for us,” said Rayburn. “He worked hard to rehab after arm surgery and deserves to have success.”
The Chaps answered right back. Sam Schwanebeck was hit by a pitch and Wirtz moved him to second with a single. After a sacrifice bunt went awry making Schwanebeck the first out at third. Alex Steines got and RBI single, as did Pilz. It was almost déjà vu all over again as MacDonald drove Steines and Pilz in, just as he had in the fourth, this time with a double making it 8-1.
Ryan Metz relieved Cuddie going three innings and striking out four.
The Chaps came to the eighth with a chance to end it.
Englebrecht walked and Josh Metz singled. Wirtz walked and Lucius Messerschmidt lashed an RBI single. Steines reached on an error and Pilz drove in his third run of the game with line shot over the bag at third and the Chaps won 11-1 via the 10-run rule.
Pilz went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and scored twice. MacDonald went 2-for-5 with four RBIs, a double and triple. Wirtz and Steines were both 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Chaparrals 11, Pteradactyls 1
Plover 000 010 00 – 1 6 3
Marshfield 100 340 03 – 11 13 5
WP: Cale Cuddie. LP: Kevin Jastromski. SV: Ryan Metz.
SO: Jastromski (6 inn.) 2, D.J. Drohner (2 inn.) 1; Cuddie (5 inn.) 7, Metz (3 inn.) 4. BB: Jastromski 1, Drohner 4; Cuddie 6, Metz 1.
Top hitters: P, Jason Jones 2×4; John Jazz 2×5, 2B. M, Bobby Pilz 3×4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Nate MacDonald 2×5, 4 RBIs, 2B, 3B; Luke Wirtz 2×4, RBI, 2 runs; Alex Steines 2×4, RBI, 2 runs.
Records: Marshfield 11-7; Plover- not provided.