By Nick Beversdorf
Reporter
Bluejay varsity baseball faced of against Wausau West on Tuesday and Thursday, losing both games. Rainy and all-around wet conditions hampered Tuesday’s game, with Merrill gathering six hits and committing four errors. The final score was 13-3. Thursday’s game, even with better weather, saw a similar score of 13-0 with the Bluejays generating five hits and committing two errors. These losses put Bluejay baseball at 3-2 in the Valley Conference and 3-10 overall.
Wausau West started Tuesday’s game on a high note with nine runs in the first inning. Merrill would respond with two runs, one with Drew Hoff driving in Trevor Asmundsen with a sacrifice fly and one from Jared Schmeltzer driving in Tyler Belfiori with a hard grounder to left.
West would get two more runs in the second inning off an error and one more in the third. Merrill would get their last run in the third with Collin Grefe driving in Schmeltzer with a sacrifice fly. The game would eventually be called in the fifth.
Hoff, Belfiori and Asmundsen all got one run, with Belfiori also getting a walk and Hoff getting an RBI and a walk. Merrill cycled through three pitchers, starting with Ryan Golisch. Golisch struck out three, walked two and allowed eight hits and eight runs-four of them earned. Kyle Juhlke and Chris Kanitz also pitched; both struck out none, walked one and allowed two hits. Juhlke allowed three runs-two of them earned – and Kanitz allowed two runs-one of them earned.
Asmundsen lead the fielding effort with five putouts and one assist. Other fielders that made an impact include Hoff with four putouts, Dylan Anderson with three putouts, Grefe with two putouts and Christian Halbach with one putout.
Thursday’s Game
Thursday’s game saw the Bluejays and Warriors play a similar tune, albeit worse for the Bluejays.
West again made a significant start with five runs in the first inning. They would tack on three more in the second and five more in the third. Merrill would not be able to stop West’s offense while struggling at the plate themselves. Again, the game would be called in the fifth.
Merrill threw four pitchers in this game with Schmeltzer leading the effort, striking out two, walking four and allowing one hit and five runs-three earned. Other pitchers include Grefe who struck out one and walked one, allowed four hits and three runs-all earned; Belfiori, who struck out none and walked none, allowed six hits and five runs-all earned; and Trey Seubert, who had zeros across the board.
Fielding was lead by Golisch who had four putouts. Anderson had three putouts and Asmundsen had two putouts and an assist. Hoff had two putouts and Schmeltzer had a putout and an assist.
Article will be updated with coach’s comments when they become available.
Bluejay varsity baseball will have their next game this Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Marshfield.
Stat provided by GameChanger.
