This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement
By Steve Pilz
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MEDFORD – First-year Marshfield Chaparrals hurler Hunter Korger tossed a gem Saturday night in Medford as the Chaps downed the Moondogs 8-2 in a Dairyland League game to boost their record to 14-2.
The workman-like Korger kept the home team at bay while his offense uncharacteristically struggled at the plate.
“Hunter pitched one of the best games we’ve had all year,” Chaparrals player/manager Justin Rayburn said. “One thing I really like about Hunter is that he’s always around the zone. He makes teams have to earn their way on base.”
The Moondogs struck first in the second inning when Kole Karaba led off with a single. Lloyd Bernatz sacrificed Karaba to second with a bunt and Brett Paul drilled a single to score the run and the Moondogs led 1-0.
The Chaps answered back to tie the game when Riley Erickson led off the third by being hit by a pitch for the eighth time this season. Nate McDonald reached on an error. Luke Wirtz walked and Jack Donahue drove Erickson in with a fielder’s choice to tie the game.
Korger went to work after that, mowing down the Moondogs 1-2-3 in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. The Chaps got their first hit of the night in the fifth on a McDonald single.
Marshfield finally put some distance between themselves and the home team in the seventh when Erickson got drilled again by a pitch and McDonald walked ahead of Wirtz’s single. After a strikeout, Sam Schwanebeck and Rayburn had RBI singles.
That ended the night for Medford starter Taylor Reinhardt. Bobby Pilz greeted reliever Brent Mueller with a sacrifice line drive to centerfield and the Chaps would have all the runs they needed to lead 5-1.
Erickson hit a lead-off double in the eighth and scored on an RBI single by Wirtz, who went 3-for-4 on the night with two RBIs.
Pilz led off the ninth with a walk and Jared Klein reached on an error. Erickson drove Pilz in with a sacrifice fly and Wirtz plated Klein with his third single of the game.
The Moondogs got three singles in the ninth for a run but it was all for naught as Korger dominated, striking out 11, while walking no one and scattering 9 hits, allowing just two runs.
The Chaps play a makeup game Sunday at noon at Jack Hackman Field against the Everest Merchants.
Chaparrals 8, Moondogs 2
Marshfield 001 000 412 – 8 9 0
Medford 010 000 001 – 2 9 2
WP: Hunter Korger. LP: Taylor Reinhardt.
SO: Korger (9 inn.) 11; Reinhardt (6 1/3 inn.) 8, Brent Mueller (2/3 inn.) 0, Trent Woebbeking (2 inn.) 0. BB: Reinhardt 5, Woebbeking 2.
Top hitters: MAR, Luke Wirtz 3×4, 2 BBs, 2 RBIs; Justin Rayburn 1×2, RBI; Riley Erickson 1×3, 2B, RBI. MED, Ryan Paul 2×4, RBI; Kole Karaba 2×4.
Records: Marshfield 14-2; Medford not reported.