This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARATHON – Grant Warren smacked a two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to provide the only runs of the game and lead Marathon to a 2-0 victory over Stratford in a WIAA Division 3 baseball regional final on Wednesday at Marathon High School.
Marathon starter Hector Pintor and Stratford hurler Braeden Schueller matched zeroes through four innings before the Raiders rallied in the fifth.
After retiring the first two batters, Schueller surrendered a single to Tyler Underwood and True Thurs reached on an error. Warren followed with a double to left to score both baserunners and put Marathon up 2-0.
Stratford loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth against Pintor, and had one batter reach when Jack Tubbs singled with two outs in the seventh against reliever Blake Underwood, but could not bring in any runs.
Tubbs finished 2-for-4 to account for half of Stratford’s four hits in the loss. The Tigers finish the season with a 16-6 record.
Schueller went the distance on the mound for Stratford, striking out five and walking just one.
Marathon (18-7) will take on Mondovi (18-4) in a Division 3 sectional semifinal at Islander Park in Cumberland on Tuesday at 1 p.m. St. Croix Falls (24-3) will play Cumberland (15-12) in the first semifinal at 10 a.m. The winners will play in the sectional championship game for a berth at the state tournament at 4 p.m.
Raiders 2, Tigers 0
Stratford 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
Marathon 000 020 x – 2 8 1
WP: Hector Pintor. LP: Braeden Schueller. SV: Blake Underwood.
SO: Schueller 5; Pintor (6 inn.) 5, B. Underwood (1 inn.) 0. BB: Schueller 1; Pintor 5, B. Underwood 0.
Top hitters: S, Jack Tubbs 2×4; Jackson Ormond 1×3; Henry Zaleski 1×1. M, Tyler Underwood 2×3, run; Grant Warren 2B, 2 RBI; Cooper Hoeksema 2×3.
Records: Stratford 16-6; Marathon 18-7.