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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Marshfield Post 54’s opening game at the 2024 Wisconsin Class AAA American Legion Baseball State Tournament was one of missed opportunities.
Marshfield stranded nine runners on base, had a runner thrown out at home and another picked off, and fell a run short, losing to Eau Claire Post 53 5-4 on Tuesday at Lincoln High School.
Marshfield (19-21) will play a losers’ bracket game against Manitowoc at 10 a.m. Wednesday as the double-elimination tournament continues. Eau Claire (17-7) will take on De Pere (28-6) in a winners’ bracket game at 4 p.m.
Marshfield struck first when Chase Robinson singled and came all the way around from first base on a ringing double by Owen Griesbach in the bottom of the first inning.
Eau Claire immediately responded. A dropped fly ball led to a pair of unearned runs against Marshfield pitcher Blake Raab when Carter Veith had a two-out two-run double, putting Eau Claire on top 2-1.
Eau Claire added another run in the third on an RBI double by Kellen Smith, making it 3-1.
Marshfield put two runners on in both the fourth and fifth innings but could not score, and Eau Claire tacked on another run in the fifth when Leo Laucher led off with a home run.
The Blue Devils finally got to Eau Claire starting pitcher Aidan Ecker in sixth. Cain Toufar led off with a double, and after a strikeout, Bryce Erickson singled him home.
Jakob Sadowska followed with his second hit and Raab connected on a single to load the bases for Robinson, who drilled a single to plate Erickson. Sadowska, however, was thrown out at home. Sawyer Stein came in on the mound for Eau Claire and coaxed a groundout to end the inning with Marshfield trailing 4-3.
Eau Claire added an important insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Smith.
Marshfield threatened again in its final at-bat. Griesbach singled and Adam Gilbertson walked, before Gilbertson was picked off of first. Griesbach ended up being tagged out going to third. After a fly out, Aden Cherney singled home Gilbertson to bring the Blue Devils within a run.
Cherney got into scoring position on a wild pitch before a fly out ended the rally and the game.
Marshfield finished with 14 hits, including three from Griesbach and two each from Robinson, Toufar, Erickson and Sadowska.
Raab went the distance on the mound, scattering 10 hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
The entire state tournament is being live-streamed at zaleskisports.com.
Eau Claire 5, Marshfield 4
Eau Claire 021 010 1 – 5 10 0
Marshfield 100 002 1 – 4 14 1
WP: Aidan Ecker. LP: Blake Raab. SV: Sawyer Stein.
SO: Ecker (5 2/3 inn.) 2, Stein (1 1/3 inn.) 0; Raab 2. BB: Ecker 1, Stein 1; Raab 2.
Top hitters: EC, Leo Laucher 3×3, HR, 2 runs, RBI; Kellen Smith 3×4, 2B, 2 RBI; Elliott Heit 2×3; Carter Veith 2B, 2 RBI. M, Chase Robinson 2×4, RBI; Owen Griesbach 3×4, 2B, RBI; Cain Toufar 2×4, 2B; Bryce Erickson 2×4, RBI; Jakob Sadowska 2×3.
Records: Eau Claire 17-7; Marshfield 19-21.
Wisconsin Class AAA American Legion Baseball State Tournament
July 30-Aug. 3, at Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids
Tuesday, July 30
Game 1: De Pere 8, Manitowoc 1
Game 2: Milwaukee 3, Middleton 2
Game 3: Eau Claire 5, Marshfield 4
Game 4: Wisconsin Rapids 5, Oshkosh 4 (11 inn.)
Wednesday, July 31
Game 5: Manitowoc vs. Marshfield, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Middleton vs. Oshkosh, 1 p.m.
Game 7: De Pere vs. Eau Claire, 4 p.m.
Game 8: Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin Rapids, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 1
Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 10: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 2
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 15: Repeat if Game 14 loser suffers first loss, 7 p.m.
(Notes: Pairings for Games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents unless necessary; If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 draws by into Game 14)