Chaps season comes to an end

By Hub City Times staff
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Chaparrals have ended their amateur baseball season. The Chaps lost their second-round playoff game Aug.11 in Altoona, losing to the Osseo Merchants 6-0, in the regional championship round of the Wisconsin Baseball Association postseason held at Cinder City Park.
The Chaparrals advanced to the regional final by defeating Spring Valley 5-4 on Aug. 10, also in Altoona.
Bobby Pilz was the winning pitcher in that contest. He picked up the win in three-and-one-third innings of relief, after starter Connor Jasurda let the lead slip away in the sixth inning.
After three scoreless innings to start the game, Marshfield scored in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Luke Wirtz. The Hawks grabbed a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning before the Chaps scored four runs in the seventh. Marshfield allowed two runs in the eighth inning, but held on for the win.
Nate McDonald was the offensive star of the game for Marshfield, with three singles, a home run, and two runs batted in.
The Chaparrals end their season with an overall record of 11-10. The playoff games were the last for player/manager Justin Rayburn, who is leaving the Marshfield program to start a Dairyland League team in his native Pittsville next summer. Current Chaparral Sam Schwanebeck, also a Pittsville native, is joining Rayburn in starting the Pittsville club.