By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Following a record-setting June, the Marshfield American Legion baseball team is barely above .500 in July, limping toward the postseason. The Post 54 Blue Devils were 8-7 for the month of July, heading into their regular season finale with Plover on July 16. That followed a 12-4 run in June, which included a four-game losing streak to start the season, followed by a record-setting 12-game winning streak between June 13 and 30.

As of late, the Blue Devils have lost more than they have won.

After an 11-1 win over Stevens Point on July 12, Marshfield lost at Antigo 3-0 on July 13, even though the Blue Devils outhit their opponent 5-3. Marshfield also committed three errors in the game. Ben Gust led the Blue Devils with two hits. Mason Coffren suffered the loss. He recorded five strikeouts in the game.

On July 14, Marshfield won both games of a doubleheader with Holmen. Post 54 took the first game 11-9. The game was tied at two when Marshfield erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning. The Devils held on despite a late rally by Holmen that saw them score seven runs in the final two innings. Preston Wagner earned the win for Marshfield, and Eli Drexler led Post 54 with three hits. Ben Gust and Logan Matson each had a pair of hits as well, and Riley Boushack drove in two runs.

Marshfield won game two 8-6. The Blue Devils trailed 5-2 after five innings, but scored a run in the sixth and five in the seventh to secure the win. Ryan Krueger was the winning pitcher. He struck out five batters over six innings of work. Matt Handrick, Mason Coffren, and Tragen Bogdonovich each had two hits for Marshfield. Bogdonovich had three RBIs; Handrick singled, doubled, and drove in two runs; and Coffren scored twice.

On July 15, Marshfield scored only two runs in two games against Onalaska. Post 54 lost game one 3-1. All the runs were scored in the fourth inning. Marshfield took a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning, but Onalaska scored three in the bottom half of the inning to claim the lead for good. Ben Gust drove in Marshfield’s only run of the game. Eli Drexler suffered the loss. He gave up all three Onalaska runs.

The Blue Devils lost the second game 7-1. Marshfield scored its only run of the game in the top of the seventh inning, after Onalaska had taken a 7-0 lead. Will Voss was the losing pitcher. He went six innings, giving up all seven Onalaska runs. Gust drove in Marshfield’s only run of the game.

Marshfield was outhit 8-3, and both teams committed a combined six errors. Onalaska had four of those errors, but still managed to win the game.
The Blue Devils will open postseason play on July 20 with a game against Wausau at the AAA Regional tournament hosted by Wisconsin Rapids at Witter Field. Marshfield has split two previous games with Wausau this summer. Post 54 won the first game 10-4 on June 14. Post 10 won the second matchup 4-1 on July 9 at Hackman Field.