MarshfieldAreaSports.com
NEW RICHMOND – The Marshfield baseball team had plenty of chances to score in Tuesday’s WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal against New Richmond, but as was the case numerous times this season, it just couldn’t push enough across.
Marshfield dropped its sixth one-run decision, losing to New Richmond 2-1.
Sully Luepke and Austin Littman each went 2-for-2 to account for all of Marshfield’s four hits against New Richmond pitcher Jake Zajkowski, who struck out four and walked six in a complete-game effort.
Dajkowski outdueled Marshfield pitcher Elliot Ashbeck, who also threw a complete game, scattering six hits. He struck out four and walked three.
As frustrating as all of the narrow losses were for Marshfield this season in which it finished with a 10-17 record, coach Mark Zee said he saw a lot of positives this season as well from a relatively young team.
“On the positive side, we have good pitching and good defense, and I told the guys when we have that we’ll always be in the game,” Zee said.
New Richmond scored in the bottom of the first before Marshfield quickly tied the game at 1-1 in the second. Nick Anderson’s sacrifice fly plated Littman with what turned out to be the only run for Marshfield.
Marshfield twice had runners on third base with no outs and didn’t score, and had runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh before Zajkowski finished off the win for New Richmond (15-5).
New Richmond moves on to a Division 1 regional final against No. 2 seed Eau Claire Memorial on Friday at Carson Park in Eau Claire.
New Richmond 2, Marshfield 1
Marshfield 010 000 0 – 1 4 0
New Richmond 100 001 x – 2 6 2
WP: Jake Zajkowski. LP: Elliot Ashbeck.
SO: Ashbeck 4; Zajkowski 4. BB: Ashbeck 3; Zajkowski 6.
Top hitters: M, Sully Luepke 2-for-2; Austin Littman 2-for-2.
Records: Marshfield 10-17; New Richmond 15-5.
