By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield American Legion Post 54 Blue Devils won their opening game of the AAA Regional at Bukolt Park in Stevens Point on July 19, coming from behind to beat D.C. Everest 9-5.

All nine Marshfield batters had at least one hit—and four of them had two—in a thrilling game for Head Coach Josh Metz.

The Blue Devils grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but Everest scored three in their half of the fourth inning, and two more in the fifth, to take a 5-2 lead. But with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, the Marshfield offense went into overdrive.

After Eli Drexler drew a walk, Ty Pankratz singled. A wild pitch allowed Drexler to score. Pankratz then scored on an RBI base hit by Jacob Earll. Cole Hediger singled and then Preston Wagner reached on an error. Riley Boushack then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Earll, and Hediger scored on an RBI base hit by Isaiah Baierl.

The Blue Devils tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning. Drexler reached on a one-out double, then scored when Ty Pankratz reached on a throwing error. After Earll singled, Hediger struck out. With two outs and two on, Wagner drilled a run-scoring base hit that brought Pankratz home. Earll then scored on an RBI base hit by Boushack. Wagner singled, doubled and drove in a run. Earll and Pankratz each had two singles and an RBI. Drexler doubled twice and scored twice.

Boushack and Baierl each had RBI base hits. Devyn Palmer had a run-scoring double. Hediger had a base hit as well. Marshfield pounded out 13 hits and left eight base runners stranded.

Hediger got the win in relief of starter Will Voss, who gave up five runs on six hits while walking three and striking out two. Hediger walked two and struck out one.