By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
On Sunday afternoon the Merrill Rangers baseball team hosted the Tomahawk Titans in an important league match up. The Rangers established a lead early and built on it throughout the game on their way to a 10-1 win.
After a scoreless top of the first inning, Merrill scored two runs in their half of the inning to get the lead. A walk to Dylan Schielke started the inning, followed by a single by Chase Nelson. Later in the inning a double from Jared Schmeltzer would score one run and give Merrill the early advantage. A single by Garret Pagel scored another Merrill run as they took the 2-0 lead.
Tomahawk was able to cut the Ranger lead in half with one run in the top of the third inning coming on a single to the third baseman. In the bottom of the fifth inning the Rangers added three runs to their total to increase their lead to 5-1. Schielke would start the inning off reaching first base on an error, followed up by a Nelson single, which would drive in Schielke to score a run. A walk to Brad Kanitz followed by a Schmeltzer single loaded the bases. Garret Pagel would then walk to score a run, with another run scoring on a Justin Pyan ground ball.
Three more runs in the sixth inning gave the Rangers a commanding 8-1 lead. Shawn Schultz led off the inning with a single, later reaching second on a walk to Chase Nelson. A Kanitz single loaded the bases for Schmeltzer who singled to right field, scoring a Merrill run. A single by Pagel plated the final two runs of the inning for the Rangers. Merrill would score their final two runs in the seventh inning. Dan Duginski reached base on an error, followed by a single from Shawn Schultz. A ground out by Dylan Schielke scored one Merrill run, with a double by Chase Nelson scoring the last, as Merrill took the 10-1 victory.
Chase Nelson pitched all nine innings for the Rangers, striking out 11 batters while walking none and only allowing one Tomahawk run.
The bats came alive for the Rangers as they struck for 10 runs on 17 hits. Garret Pagel led Merrill in RBI’s for the game with four on one hit. Jared Schmeltzer went 5-5 at the plate, knocking in two Merrill runs. Chase Nelson would drive in two runs, going 3-4 at the plate and also scoring himself three times.
The Rangers will be in action on Friday as they travel to Rib Lake for a league game at 1:30 p.m., and then the Rangers will head over to Medford on Saturday night for a make up game, starting at 7:30 p.m.