This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
By Steve Pilz
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Eau Claire and Marshfield hooked up Wednesday night in an amateur league baseball game and both teams broke out the lumber in a game decided in the final inning with the Cavs coming out on top 10-9.
After trailing the entire game, the Chaparrals came to their half of the eighth inning trailing 7-6. Marshfield’s Riley Boushak led off the inning with a bases on balls. Lefty Caleb Krommnekker lashed a laser to right centerfield and Boushak was off to the races as he blew through a stop sign thrown up the third base coach and slid safely into home to tie the game.
Krommenakker, who is 8-for-15 in three games this season with a double and two RBIs, took third base on a wild pitch. Luke Wirtz stayed hot on the young season, driving a ball to left field for a double, plating Krommenakker. Wirtz is 7 of his last 12 at the plate with a double and four RBIs, making the Chaps’ No. 3 and 4 three hitters 15-for-27 in the first three games. Will Lee later walked with the baes loaded, to extend Marshfield’s lead to 9-7. Lee was 3-for-4 on the night with two RBIs.
And with all the momentum swinging toward the Chaps and their new found two-run lead, it just as quickly swung back to the Cavs when they needed it most.
Cole Hediger came in to close the door for Marshfield, but yielded an opening single to Anthony Pogodzinski. After a lazy fly out to right, Hediger got the ground ball he needed but he threw the comebacker into center field putting two men on. A bases on balls loaded the bases before Jaxon Vance drilled a two-run single to center. Vance was thrown out trying to advance to second, but another infield error on the next batter scored Button and the Cavs regained the lead at 10-9.
Ethan Kjellberg pitched the ninth for the Cavs, and although Wirtz had another single, the Chaps sent just four to the plate and picked up their first loss on the season.
The Chaparrals walloped the ball for the most part, picking up 16 hits including five doubles. Unfortunately, they left 14 runners on base and committed four errors.
The Cavs had 15 hits, all singles. They left nine runners on and had three errors.
“It was a fun game to be a part of,” said Chaparrals manager Luke Wirtz. “I was really happy with how we hit the ball tonight. We were just a couple of miscues away defensively from ending up in the win column.”
Marshfield hits the road for the first time this season when they travel to Sparta on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. game. The game will be broadcast live at zaleskisports.com.
Cavaliers 10, Chaparrals 9
Eau Claire 400 210 003 – 10 15 3
Marshfield 120 201 030 – 9 16 4
WP: Jaxon Vance. LP: Cole Hediger. SV: Ethan Kjellberg.
SO: Kendren Gullo (5 inn.) 2, Greg Button (1 inn.) 1, Jaxon Vance (2 inn.) 4, Kjellberg (1 inn.) 1; Hunter Korger (5 inn.) 3, Preston Wagner (3 inn.) 4, Hediger (1 inn.) 0. BB: Gullo 1, Vance 5; Wagner 1, Hediger 1.
Top hitters: EC, Gullo 3×5; Button 2×3; Vance 2×4, 2 RBIs. M, Will Lee 3×4, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs; Luke Wirtz 3×6, 2B, 3 RBIs; Caleb Krommenakker 3×6, 2B, RBI.
Records: Eau Claire not reported; Marshfield 2-1.