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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Wisconsin Rapids hit Marshfield pitcher Elliot Ashbeck hard early, scoring three runs in the first inning and two more in the third, and the Raiders went on to a 6-3 win over the Tigers in a Wisconsin Valley Conference baseball game on Tuesday at Jack Hackman Field.
The loss was a big blow to the Tigers’ conference championship chances. Marshfield falls to 10-4 overall and 6-3 in the Valley, two full games behind first-place Wausau West with three games remaining. Wisconsin Rapids improves to 12-9 and 5-5 in the WVC.
Rapids came out scorching in the first inning. The Raiders had five hits and scored three times with the help of an error and RBI singles by Frank Vruwink and Jacob Paitel. The Tigers were able to get out of the frame without any further damage thanks to a bizarre triple play.
With the bases loaded, Cort Halbur hit a bouncer to Marshfield third baseman Brian Brost. The umpire immediately called it as a fair ball but none of the Raiders’ runners moved. Brost threw to home for a force out, catcher Daulton Varsho threw back to Brost for another out and Brost tossed to second baseman Austin Littmann for the final out.
Rapids added two more runs in the third inning on RBI singles by Gunnar Smith and Halbur, making it 5-0.
“Give them credit, they came out swatting the ball around,” Marshfield coach Mark Zee said of the Raiders’ early hot-hitting. “(Ashbeck) had some quick innings in the middle. That’s a good hitting team. I’m proud of how he kept his composure.”
Marshfield scratched across a run in the fourth. Sully Luepke and Bo Howard led off the inning with singles and moved up on a fly ball to center field. Luepke scored on a groundout by Sean Koran.
Ashbeck settled in, retiring the side in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, giving the Tigers a chance to come back.
Koran cracked a two-run double to right-center field in the sixth, cutting Rapids’ lead to 5-3. Hardina struck out Jeron Hiller to end the inning.
Rapids scored a run in the top of the seventh and Trevor Nicholson nailed down the win by retiring the Tigers in order in the bottom of the inning.
“We had some drives and their centerfielder (Nicholson) made some really nice plays tracking them down,” Zee said. “We battled right to the end. I told the guys that I am proud of them on how they battled all seven (innings). We had a chance at the end and kept it close.”
Raiders 6, Tigers 3
Wisconsin Rapids 302 000 1 – 6 11 1
Marshfield 000 102 0 – 3 6 2
WP: Jared Hardina. LP: Elliot Ashbeck. SV: Trevor Nicholson.
SO: Hardina 4, Nicholson 1; Ashbeck 3. BB: Hardina 1, Nicholson 0; Ashbeck 2.
Top hitters: WR, Nicholson 2×3; Joey Fredrick 2×4, 2 runs; Gunnar Smith 2×4, 2 RBIs. M, Sully Luepke 2×3, 2 runs; Sean Koran 1×3, 2B, 3 RBIs.
Records: Wisconsin Rapids 12-9, 5-5 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 10-4, 6-3 WVC.