Merchants squeeze past Rhinelander in extras

The Abbotsford Merchants wrapped up their 2025 regular season by splitting their final two road contests, defeating the Rhinelander River Monsters before falling to the Everest Merchants. Abbotsford went 3-4 in July and finished with a 13-8 overall record. They went 6-8 in Dairyland- Large league play, which currently has them in fourth place. The Wisconsin Rapids Redhawks took first place with an 11-3 record in league games. Everest placed second with a 10-4 record.

Everest, 10-0

The Abbotsford bats were silenced last Friday night, managing just one hit on the road as Everest swept the battle of the Merchants season series with a 10-0 victory.

In the first matchup between the two squads, Everest was able to jump out to a 4-0 lead before Abbotsford was able to respond. The hosting Merchants squad was once again able to jump out to an early lead on Friday, racking up five runs in the first inning.

While Abbotsford starting pitcher Lucas Stahnke was able to hold the opposing lineup to just three hits over his five innings of work, control issues were a problem early. The first three Everest batters of the contest reached safely after all three were hit by pitches, setting up a big inning for the home team. A sacrifice fly drove in the first run of the game for Everest and Stahnke was able to strikeout the next batter to get two outs in the inning, but a walk and an infield single kept the pressure on. Connor Langbehn then came through for the hosting Merchants, delivering a basesclearing double and putting Everest up 50.

Stahnke was able to right the ship following the tough opening frame, holding Everest scoreless over the next four innings, but Abbotsford could not build any momentum on offense. Everest starting pitcher Nate Langbehn completely dominated the affair, striking out 15 batters in just seven innings without allowing a base on balls.

A one-out single for Ty Peterson in the top of the sixth was the only hit the Abbotsford lineup could manage against Langbehn.

Everest added three insurance runs in the sixth and then picked up two more in the seventh to go up double digits and end the game early.

Stahnke was saddled with the loss, giving up five earned runs on three hits and five walks in five innings pitched. He struck out four batters but also hit four. Aaron Morrow was credited with one inning of work on the mound, giving up five runs on five hits, three walks and two hit batters.

Rhinelander, 8-6

Tanner Hraby delivered a four-hit, three RBI performance, Aaron Morrow added three hits, two runs and two RBIs and the Merchants were able to defeat the Rhinelander River Monsters 8-6 in extra innings on Sunday, July 20.

After cruising to a 10-0 victory over the River Monsters earlier in the season, Abbotsford needed some late-inning heroics to complete the season sweep of their league foes. After Rhinelander managed to knot things up at 6-6 after pushing a run across in the bottom of the ninth, the Merchants responded immediately in extras. A single from Morrow got things started for the Merchants, moving over Ty Peterson, who started the inning at second base, to third base. Judd Hraby then laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate Peterson to give the Merchants the lead back. Morrow then scored on a pair of miscues by Rhinelander, advancing on a wild pitch before going home on a defensive error by the River Monsters.

Tanner Hraby helped the Merchants seal their victory in the bottom half of the frame, striking out two batters and inducing an easy infield pop fly to hold the Rhinelander runner at second and secure Abbotsford’s 13th win of the season.

While the Merchants were able to strike first, a leadoff single from Tanner Hraby eventually turning into a run for Abbotsford, they had to play from behind for much of the evening. The River Monsters were able to put up scores in the second, third and fourth innings, eventually leading to a 5-2 advantage for Rhinelander heading into the back half of the contest.

A huge eighth inning turned around the Merchants’ fortunes. Other than a single run in the fourth, the Abbotsford lineup had been otherwise held in check for much of the evening, but a pair of walks for Blake Bargender and Ty Peterson plus a single for Dakota Ellenbecker loaded the bases with no outs.

Morrow delivered in the next at bat, driving in a run with a single and keeping the bases loaded. With the table still set two-at bats later, Tanner Hraby came through with the biggest hit of the contest, a bases clearing triple that suddenly gave the Merchants a 6-5 advantage.

Hraby was credited with the win, pitching six and a third innings in relief for Abbotsford. He struck out seven batters while allowing just one run on seven hits. He went 4-for-6 from the plate, scoring a run while batting in three. His eighth inning triple was the Merchants’ only extra base hit against Rhinelander and his stolen base in the first was the only bag swiped by the visitors.

Payton Schreiber started the game on the mound for Abbotsford, pitching three and two-thirds innings. He struck out two batters and walked two while surrendering five runs, three of which were earned, on four hits.

Morrow finished 3-for-5 from the plate and was part of four of the eight runs scored by the Merchants. Ellenbecker also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a pair of singles. Also picking up hits for Abbotsford were Schreiber, Bargender and Blake Jakobi.

The Merchants will be back in action as they host the Wisconsin Baseball Association regional tournament on August 8th through the 10th. The top two teams from the regional tournament will move on to play in the WBA state tournament held in Augusta on August 15-17.