This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
By Steve Pilz
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield Chaparrals amateur baseball team snapped out of their early season hitting slump by belting out 12 hits in an 8-3 thumping of the Waupaca Lakemen on Wednesday night at Jack Hackman Field.
The Chaps had to be itching to get back on the field after getting just five hits in two games last week against Plover and Eau Claire. Marshfield did get on the field against Everest on June 24 but that lasted just a half inning in rainy Schofield and has been re-scheduled for July 13 at 2 p.m.
The Chaps ended Wednesday’s game early when they struck in their half of the first inning on a lead-off single by Nate McDonald. Kyle Westhuis was hit by a pitch and Sam Schwanebeck drove in McDonald with a single.
Justin Rayburn, making his season debut after recovering from an Achilles’ injury last winter, got an RBI groundout to second to make it 2-0. Jason’s Kurth single plated Schwanebeck and the Chaps were off and running at 3-0.
Marshfield got all the runs it would need in the second. After two outs, Westhuis reached on an error and promptly stole second. Luke Wirtz singled to put runners on the corners before Schwanebeck bashed a double for his third RBI of the game to make it 6-0.
Schwanebeck has nine RBIs on the season to lead the Chaps in that category. Those RBIs came in just two games as Schwanebeck previously had driven in six against Tomahawk.
The Lakemen got on the board in third off Chaparrals starter Connor Jasurda when Joe Popham got a single. Walker Smith reached on an error and Luke Behm was drilled by Jasurda to load the bases. Branden Canterbury bounced out to the third baseman, scoring the run and the Lakemen were on the board at 6-1.
The Chaps scored in the fourth on a couple wild pitches that chased Waupaca starter Joe Nelson and added another solo tally in the sixth on an RBI single by Hunter Korger, who had replaced Rayburn.
Meanwhile, Jasurda was mowing down the Lakemen with seven strikeouts, two walks, and only four hits in seven innings on the hill.
Kade Lancour replaced Jasurda in the eighth and ran into some trouble after an opening strikeout. He plunked the second batter before yielding an infield single. After a groundout to the second baseman, Jake Popham plated a pair with a two-out, two-run double to provide the final 8-3 score.
Schwanebeck led the Chaps going 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Bobby Pilz went 2-for-4, picking up his 12th hit of the season, tying Kurth for the team lead as he leads them with a .545 average. McDonald went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and leads the Chaps in runs scored with eight.
Marshfield plays at Westboro on Sunday.
Chaparrals 8, Lakemen 3
Waupaca 001 000 020 – 3 4 2
Marshfield 330 101 00x – 8 12 4
WP: Connor Jasurda. LP: Joe Nelson.
SO: Nelson (3 1/3 inn.) 1, Tyler Dayton (4 2/3 inn.) 0; Jasurda (7 inn.) 7, Kade Lancour (2 inn.) 3. BB: Nelson 1, Dayton 2; Jasurda 2.
Top hitters: W, Joe Popham 2×4; Jake Popham 2B, RBI. M, Sam Schwanebeck 3×3, 2B, 3 RBIs; 2 runs; Bobby Pilz 2×4; Nate McDonald 2×5, 2 runs.
Records: Waupaca not reported; Marshfield 4-3 overall, 3-1 Dairyland League.