By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – For the first time in 16 years, the Stratford Tigers earned a trip to the sectional round of the high school baseball playoffs. The Tigers beat Marawood Conference rival Marathon 5-1 in a Division 3 Regional Final at Marathon High School on May 29.

Stratford struck first, with a run in the second inning on an RBI base hit by Lance Heidmann. Marathon evened the score with a run in the third, on an RBI base hit by Carter Hanke. The Tigers scored again in the fifth inning, on an RBI single by Dawson Moen. Stratford added two runs in the sixth, on a two-run single by Chandler Schmidt. Stratford added one more run in the seventh to lock up the win.

Schmidt picked up the complete-game win on the mound. He went seven innings, and gave up one earned run one five hits while walking two and striking out three.

The Tigers earned a June 4 showdown with No. 1 Iola-Scandinavia in a Division 3 sectional semi-final at Crandon.