This story is sponsored by Total Electric
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STEVENS POINT – Stevens Point pitcher J.D. Schultz shut down Marshfield on two hits through five innings, and swatted a double and a home run, to push the Sixers to an 8-0 win in a Class AAA American Legion Baseball Regional elimination game Tuesday at Bukolt Park.
Schultz allowed an infield single to Mason Coffren in the first inning and a two-out single to Eli Drexler in the third. He also issued two walks, but the Blue Devils never threatened, as Schultz struck out nine.
Stevens Point scored single runs in the second and third innings, but it could have been much more.
Isaac Cychosz had an RBI single in the second and Schultz hit a solo homer in the third to give the Sixers a 2-0 lead. Stevens Point had seven hits in the first three innings, but Marshfield starter Preston Wagner was able to keep it close.
That was, until the fourth. Justin Morton had an RBI single to knock Wagner out of the game, and after an out, Jacob Danielsen singled off Marshfield reliever Ty Pankratz to knock in another run to make it 4-0.
Brady Franz had a two-run triple, Isaac Perner had a sacrifice fly for an RBI, and Schultz smacked an RBI double to finish off Pankratz and push the Sixers’ lead to 8-0.
Devyn Palmer walked and Riley Boushack had a double in sixth against Franz, who relieved Schultz, but a fly ball ended the inning and Marshfield went down in order in the seventh, finishing off its season.
The Blue Devils end the season with a 17-21 record and one win shy of a berth in the regional championship game.
Wisconsin Rapids (24-8) blanked Stevens Point (21-10) 2-0 in the championship game to earn a spot in the Class AAA State Legion Tournament at Chippewa Falls, which begins Friday.
Sixers 8, Blue Devils 0
Marshfield 000 000 0 – 0 3 2
Stevens Point 011 240 x – 8 15 1
WP: J.D. Schultz. LP: Preston Wagner.
SO: Wagner (3 1/3 inn.) 2, Ty Pankratz (1 1/3 inn.) 0, Logan Schreiner (1 1/3 inn.) 0; Schultz (5 inn.) 9, Brady Franz (2 inn.) 2. BB: Wagner 2, Pankratz 0, Schreiner 0; Schultz 2, Franz 1.
Top hitters: M, Eli Drexler 1×3; Mason Coffren 1×3; Riley Boushack 1×3, 2B. SP, Franz 2×4, 3B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Justin Morton 3×3, RBI; Schultz 2×4, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs; Jacob Danielsen 2×3, RBI; Nate Helms 2×4.
Records: Marshfield 17-21; Stevens Point 21-9.