Abby Merchants down Interwald, 8-5
The Abbotsford Merchants opened their league season with a win over Interwald this past Sunday. The visiting squad collected 11 hits and took home the victory, 8-5.
Interwald struck first, picking up an unearned run off of starter JV Castillo in the bottom of the first. The Merchants were able to bounce back not soon after, however, bringing across a run of their own in the top of the third to tie the game at 1-1.
Abbotsford went on to score in four consecutive innings. They tacked on another run in the fourth and a crooked number in the top of the fifth gave them a 5-1 advantage. From the leadoff spot, Castillo was able to help his own cause by collecting two hits and walking three times over the course of the game. Meanwhile, five through seven batters Payton Schreiber, Trevor Stuttgen and Aaron Morrow went a combined 7-13 from the plate to help drive the offense.
Interwald fought back in the bottom half of the fifth, putting up three runs and cutting the Merchants’ lead down to one. However, the home team would get no closer, as Abbotsford responded quickly.
The Merchants drove in another run in the sixth, which gave the team some much needed breathing room. Then, utilizing a combination of Evan Reis and Schreiber on the mound, they were able to hold Interwald to just three hits over the final four innings of the game. Abbotsford added two insurance runs in the top half of the ninth to solidify their position, and while Interwald managed to score once in the bottom of the frame, it was too little too late for the home team.
Of the combined 13 runs in the game, only three were earned. All five of the runs surrendered by the Merchants were not counted against their pitchers, as six errors by Abbotsford eventually led to those runs. Interwald’s defense did not do their pitching staff many favors, also allowing five unearned runs by commit- ting four errors.
Castillo earned the win, pitching five innings while striking out three and walking four. Reis went one-anda- third while walking three and Schreiber finished the day on the mound with two-and-two-thirds innings pitched, two walks and four strikeouts.
Schreiber went 3-for-5 from the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Stuttgen and Morrow both went 2-for-4 and a walk, with Stuttgen collecting an RBI and Morrow scoring a run. Castillo, Schreiber, Morrow and Hunter Soyk smacked doubles on Sunday, giving the Merchants four extra base hits in the contest. Marco Olvera also had a single and an RBI for Abbotsford.
With their first win under their belts, the Merchants will be looking to avenge their first loss of the season on Wednesday evening when they take on the Augusta Athletics at home. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start. They will then play host to Tomahawk on Sunday, June 18. The Father’s Day matchup is set to begin at 1:30 p.m.
