SPORTS - Edgar gains a share of South title

SPORTS

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar senior Jase Apfelbeck threw a complete-game pitching gem in Tuesday’s 7-0 road win against Auburndale. The victory gave Edgar at least a share of the Marawood South Conference championship this season. Edgar can win the conference title outright by beating Auburndale again this Thursday, May 15, at home. This is the first time that Edgar’s varsity baseball team has won a conference championship since 1997.

Apfelbeck struck out 11 Auburndale batters while only surrendering two hits, both to Eagles shortstop Nathan Richardson. Auburndale senior Blake Raab was the losing pitcher.

Edgar junior leadoff hitting second baseman Lucas Stahnke hit two for five with a double and an RBI. Apfelbeck batted two for four with an RBI. Senior centerfielder Dakota Ellenbecker was one for four with a run scored. Senior shortstop Leyton Schuett hit two for four with two runs scored.

Wildcats junior catcher Gavin Mauer batted one for three with a walk and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman Sawyer Weiland hit two for four with an RBI and a run scored. Senior left fielder Brock Mauer was one for four with a run scored.

Edgar improves its record to 7-2 in the Marawood South Conference and 12-4 overall this season.

The Wildcats utilized clutch two-out hitting in the fourth inning to beat the Stratford Tigers, 10-4, on Thursday at home.

Brock Mauer drew a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Edgar senior right fielder Will Hackel then reached first base safely on a bunt placed perfectly between Stratford freshman starting pitcher Christian Rehm and the infielders.

Stratford head coach Drew Spaeth made a pitching change. He made junior catcher Brady Berg the relief pitcher and moved junior Jaeger Ormond from first base to catcher. Rehm then moved to first base.

Stahnke was the first hitter that Berg faced on the mound and he struck him out. Berg wasn’t out of the jam just yet as he faced the heart of Edgar’s batting order. Apfelbeck singled up the middle on the first pitch he saw to load the bases with only one out.

Ellenbecker fouled off two pitches from Berg before striking out swinging for the second out in the fourth inning. Schuett, the team’s starting pitcher against Stratford, came up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs, and he delivered with a clutch two-RBI single that scored Brock Mauer and Hackel. Gavin Mauer then singled to score Apfelbeck.

Sawyer Weiland’s single scored Schuett who was excited when he stepped on home plate. Wildcats senior first baseman Fletcher Weiland flied out to end the inning but the damage had already been done with the team scoring four runs to take a 7-2 lead. Edgar added three insurance runs in the fifth inning for a 10-2 advantage.

Schuett batted two for four with four RBIs and a run scored in Edgar’s 10-4 home victory against Stratford. Gavin Mauer was two for four with three RBIs. Apfelbeck hit two for three with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Stratford started out the game great when senior centerfielder Jack Tubbs singled for his 100th career hit. Berg later doubled to score Tubbs. Tubbs batted a perfect three for three with a double, walk and two runs scored. Berg was one for two with a double, two walks and an RBI.

It was a starting pitchers duel between cousins Schuett and Rehm, who was Stratford’s losing pitcher. Schuett outdueled his younger cousin on the mound by striking out five batters while only surrendering two earned runs.

Raiders, Tigers in hunt yet The Marathon and Stratford varsity baseball teams need Edgar to lose Thursday’s home game against Auburndale in order to share the Marawood South Conference championship with the Wildcats and Eagles. Stratford lost a 4-3 nail biter to Auburndale Friday on the road and then beat Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 10-0 on Tuesday at home. Rehm struck out 12 batters while only giving up one hit against the Royals. Gage hit one for three with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.

Marathon won its seventh consecutive game on Tuesday by beating Newman Catholic, 14-0, in three innings at home.

Red Raiders junior pitcher Blake Underwood struck out seven Auburndale Eagles batters in Friday’s 6-5 win. Senior Cody Radtke hit two for four while junior True Thurs was two for three with three RBIs.

Marathon won a 13-0 non-conference game against Greenwood on Friday. Thurs struck out 13 batters to earn the pitching win. Sophomore Ean Shuda hit two for three with a double and three RBIs.

‘Jays still alive in the North

The Athens varsity baseball team beat Prentice, 4-0, Tuesday on the road to re-

See BASEBALL/ page 14

DEALING ON THE MOUND- Edgar senior Leyton Schuett is shown throwing a pitch while Stratford junior Brady Berg leads off second base on Thursday during the Wildcats’ 10-4 home win.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER Baseball

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main in the hunt to share the Marawood North Conference championship if Rib Lake trips up against Chequamegon this Thursday, May 15. Rib Lake is currently in first place with an 8-1 record while Athens is 7-2.

Athens sophomore Kaleb Cracraft struck out 15 batters while only giving up three hits and a walk in the completegame win against Prentice. Sophomore Daxton Diethelm hit one for three with two RBIs. Athens improves its record to 11-5 overall this season.

SOLID SOPHOMORE HURLER- Athens sophomore Kaleb Cracraft releases a pitch in a road game against Stratford earlier this season. He had a stellar pitching performance in Athens’ 4-0 road win against Prentice on Tuesday.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER