Marshfield drops to 4-5

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

SCHOFIELD — For the third time this season, the Marshfield Chaparrals were held scoreless as they dropped a Dairyland League amateur baseball game to the Everest Merchants 3-0 on Saturday night at Simon Field.

After dropping games to Westboro 2-0 on June 4 and Eau Claire 8-0 on June 8, the Chaparrals were back to their scoring drought on Saturday, a fact not lost on manager Justin Rayburn.

“Again, our pitching was strong,” Rayburn said. “Bobby (Pilz), Drew (Spaeth), and Noah (Panzer) all pitched good enough to win. We just need timely hitting.”

The Chaps (4-5, 2-4 Dairyland League) had chances early in the game, getting three hits in each of the first two innings, but came away scoreless as they stranded five base runners and nine overall in the game.

After that it was all Everest pitching as starter Heinrich Walder went seven innings and reliever Bryce Hines the final two. Hines did not allow any hits, and Walder gave up just two after the second inning.

Pilz, the Chaparrals starter, kept the Merchants scoreless until the fifth. He got bit by the base on balls, surrendering an unearned run after an inning-opening error and then three walks. The Merchants led 1-0.

Two more walks by Pilz and an infield error set the table for an RBI single by Matt Witter, chasing Pilz after 5 1/3 innings and trailing 3-0. Spaeth relieved Pilz and threw four pitches, the last one coaxing a double play ground ball.

The Chaps went quietly after that, going down 1-2-3 in both the seventh and eighth innings. Cale Cuddie walked in the ninth in between two pop ups to the first baseman and a game ending strikeout.

Panzer pitched two scoreless innings in relief, and Sam Schwanebeck led the Chaps with a pair of singles.

The Chaparrals host the Waupaca Lakemen at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jack Hackman Field.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Merchants 3, Chaparrals 0

Marshfield 000 000 000 – 0 8 2

Everest 000 012 00x – 3 5 1

WP: Heinrich Walder. LP: Bobby Pilz.

SO: Pilz (5 1/3 inn.) 4, Drew Spaeth (2/3 inn.) 0, Noah Panzer (2 inn.) 2; Walder (7 inn.) 4, Bryce Hines (2 inn.) 2. BB: Pilz 7, Spaeth 0, Panzer 0; Walder 0, Hines 1.

Records: Marshfield 4-5 overall, 2-4 Dairyland League. Everest not provided.