Wildcats are outright champs
By Casey Krautkramer
Edgar’s varsity baseball team has everything going for it right now including strong pitching and timely hitting. The Wildcats completed their regular-season sweep against the Auburndale Eagles with a 12-4 home win on Friday to capture the outright Marawood South Conference championship this season.
Wildcats junior leadoff hitter Lucas Stahnke smacked three doubles and senior Leyton Schuett struck out eight batters to earn the pitching win. Junior catcher Gavin Mauer led the team with three RBIs.
Schuett was motivated to pitch Edgar to its first outright conference title since 1997. He struck out the side in the sixth inning and reached 100 pitches with one batter left to face in the seventh inning, giving way to junior reliever Stahnke who threw only one pitch to get the final out. “We are starting to get hot and the playoffs are right around the corner,” Schuett said. “At the end of the day, the Marawood Conference is nice to win but our main goal this year is we want to win a state championship to bring one home to Edgar, which would be the first ever in baseball which would be awesome.”
Four Wildcats seniors including Schuett, Jase Apfelbeck, Dakota Ellenbecker and Brock Mauer along with Stahnke played in Edgar’s last WIAA Division 5 state tournament appearance two years ago when the Wildcats lost to the Ithaca Bulldogs, 4-3.
Ellenbecker believes this year’s Wildcats “absolutely” have what it takes to make a return trip to state.
“We are hungry for it and we just want to get back to state,” he said. Our team is meshing together right now like it did two years ago when we went to state, so things are just perfect right now and it feels great.”
Connor Handrick has coached Edgar’s varsity baseball team to two of its three Marawood Conference championships in school history. Kevin Mroczenski coached Edgar’s first conference championship baseball squad in 1997. Handrick guided the Wildcats to a share of the conference title with Stratford in 2021, but this year’s outright conference championship is extra special for him.
“It’s a great feeling,” Handrick said. “The first one we split with another team but it’s pretty awesome being able to win See BASEBALL/ page 20
CLUTCH DEFENSIVE PLAY- Auburndale senior Blake Raab attempted to score a run on his teammate’s double in the top of the first inning but Edgar senior right fielder Will Hackel made a great throw home to junior catcher Gavin Mauer, who threw the ball to sophomore third baseman Sawyer Weiland to tag Raab out as he dove back to the base. STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
Leyton Schuett
Dakota Ellenbecker Baseball
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one outright finally and just kind of have it to ourselves. It takes hard work because our conference is tough. All the teams in the conference including Auburndale, Marathon and Stratford give you games that you’ll see down the line that just make you a better baseball team.”
Edgar concludes the Marawood Conference season with an 8-2 record. Edgar lost, 8-7, to Mosinee in a non-conference tilt on Monday at Athletic Park in Wausau. Stahnke belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning but it wasn’t enough. The Wildcats now have a 13-5 overall record this season.
Bluejays finish second
Athens senior Nick Pittman struck out 12 batters to earn the pitching win in the team’s 9-1 home win against Prentice on Friday. Junior leadoff hitter Kamden Zarnke led the Bluejays with two RBIs. Sophomore Kaleb Cracraft smacked a triple in the victory. Athens concludes its Marawood North Conference season with an 8-2 record, just one game back of conference champion Rib Lake at 9-1.
The Bluejays fell to the Pittsville Panthers, 13-3, in Monday’s non-conference home game. Sophomore Mason Belter paced Athens with two RBIs. The Bluejays have a 12-6 overall record this season.
Berg tosses no hitter
Stratford junior Brady Berg belted a solo home run in the first inning in Friday’s 4-0 non-conference home win against Rib Lake. Berg also threw a no hitter with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Tigers then defeated the Eau Claire Regis Ramblers, 12-2, in Monday’s nonconference home game. Junior shortstop Riley Spindler hit a solo home run in the first inning and Berg, while playing catcher in the game, smacked a grand slam in the fourth inning. Freshman Christian Rehm struck out nine batters to earn the pitching win. Stratford has an 11-4 overall record this season.
Raiders win 10th straight
Marathon’s varsity baseball squad beat Phillips, 13-1, and Spencer, 12-2, on Friday at home to win its 10th consecutive game this season.
Sophomore Ian Shuda struck out eight batters to earn the pitching win against the Loggers. Junior catcher True Thurs hit two for three with a double and two RBIs. Shuda was three for four with two RBIs. Senior centerfielder Cody Radtke batted two for two in the victory while junior third baseman Evan DeBroux and sophomore second baseman and shortstop Quillan Kunkel collected two RBIs apiece.
Thurs struck out seven batters to earn the pitching win against the Rockets. Kunkel hit three for three with a double and three RBIs. DeBroux and Radtke were each two for four with two RBIs. Marathon improves its overall record to 15-5 this season.
PICKOFF PLAY- Marathon sophomore first baseman Charlie Ehlert is ready to catch a throw from junior pitcher True Thurs in an attempt on Friday night to get the Spencer runner out while leading off first base.
STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
