Raiders off to an 11-2 record

By Casey Krautkramer

Marathon’s varsity baseball squad has an impressive 11-2 record to start this season. The Red Raiders are tied with Stratford for first place in the Marawood South Conference after the teams split their series. Marathon has already swept arch-rival Edgar this season and it edged a solid Auburndale team, 2-1, on the road Tuesday. Marathon plays Auburndale this Thursday, May 2, at home but it might be rescheduled.

Steve Warren is in the midst of his 26th season as Marathon’s varsity head baseball coach. His assistant coaches are Tyler Schilling, Ron Kunkel, Tyler Hermann, Jaden Keller and Hunter Seubert.

Marathon’s top returning baseball players this season are senior infielder and outfielder Tyler Underwood; senior outfielder Cooper Hoeksema; senior first baseman Grant Warren; senior catcher and outfielder Derek Vesely; senior outfielder Corey Kunkel; junior outfielder and pitcher Cody Radtke; sophomore

See RAIDERS BASEBALL/ page 11

MARATHON VARSITY BASEBALL- Introducing the 2024 Red Raiders varsity baseball squad. Players pictured, from left to right, front row: Cale Quaintance, Swayne Stencil, Darrin Vesely, Jorey Kunkel, Will Tourtillott, Jorey Kunkel and Blake Underwood; middle row: Owen Chrouser, Sam Lepak, Evan DeBroux, Landon Hilgart, Sawyer Berens, Derek Vesely, Grant Salber and Ean Shuda; back row: True Thurs, Charlie Ehlert, Drew Woelfel, Grant Warren, Tyler Underwood, Reed McCain, Cody Radtke, Cooper Hoeksema and head coach Steve Warren.

PHOTO BY STACY STUBBE Raiders baseball

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catcher and infielder True Thurs; sophomore infielder and pitcher Blake Underwood and sophomore infielder, pitcher and catcher Reed McCain.

The team’s top newcomers to this season’s varsity team are sophomore infielder and outfielder Evan DeBroux; sophomore infielder, pitcher and outfielder Cale Quaintance; sophomore outfielders Drew Woelfel and Grant Salter; sophomore infielder Swayne Stencil and sophomore pitcher Will Tourtillott.

Marathon began this season with an 8-3 road win against Clinton on March 28. Tyler Underwood struck out seven batters to earn the pitching win. Thurs led the Red Raiders by going three for four with three RBIs. Blake Underwood added a pair of RBIs in the win.

The Red Raiders shut out the Tomahawk Hatchets, 11-0, at home on April 1. Grant Warren was the wining pitcher. Hoeksema and Radtke both hit two for three at the plate.

Marathon lost a non-conference game to Rib Lake, 5-3, at home on April 5. Radtke was the losing pitcher. Grant Warren batted a perfect three for three in the defeat.

The Red Raiders edged the Edgar Wildcats, 7-6, at home on April 6. Blake Underwood was the winning pitcher. Radtke batted two for four and Quaintance was three for five in the win. Grant Warren doubled.

Marathon dominated Spencer, 16-6, at home on April 6. DeBroux was the winning pitcher. DeBroux also had a big game at the plate by going two for three with a double and four RBIs. Salber and Vesely both doubled. Grant Warren had three RBIs. Thurs batted two for three with a pair of RBIs and Radtke was two for three in the victory.

The Red Raiders easily defeated the Gilman Pirates, 14-0, at home on April 11. Radtke was the winning pitcher. Grant Warren and McCain each hit two for three with three RBIs. Blake Underwood batted three for three with two RBIs and DeBroux was also three for three in the win.

Marathon downed Edgar, 16-6, on the road on April 12. Tyler Underwood was the winning pitcher. He also had a big day at the plate by going four for five with two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Quaintance batted four for five with a double. Grant Warren was two for five with four RBIs. Thurs collected three RBIs and Vesley hit two for four in the victory.

The Red Raiders lost their only Marawood South Conference game this season, 4-0, to the Stratford Tigers on April 15. McCain was the losing pitcher. Blake Underwood doubled.

Marathon rebounded to beat Stratford, 12-8, at home on April 16. Tyler Underwood was the winning pitcher. He also batted four for five against the Tigers. Quaintance hit three for five with a pair of RBIs. Blake Underwood hit two for four with a pair of RBIs. Grant Warren doubled and collected two RBIs in the win.

The Red Raiders downed the Wisconsin Rapids Assumption Royals, 13-1, at home on April 23. Tyler Underwood struck out seven batters to earn the pitching win. Hoeksema batted three for three with a double, homer and six RBIs. Tyler Underwood hit two for three with a double, triple and three RBIs in the victory.

Marathon beat Assumption, 9-0, at home on Thursday. Blake Underwood struck out 10 batters to earn the pitching win. Hoeksema, Radtke and Grant Warren collected two RBIs apiece.

The Red Raiders won a non-conference road game against the Athens Bluejays, 16-3, on Friday. Grant Warren earned the pitching win. Tyler Underwood had a homer and four RBIs. Blake Underwood doubled twice and had three RBIs. Hoeksema tripled and had three RBIs while Thurs also tripled and had two RBIs.

Marathon edged Auburndale, 2-1, on the road Tuesday. Tyler Underwood struck out eight batters to earn the pitching win. Grant Warren’s RBI sacrifice fly drove in the eventual winning run in the top of the seventh inning. Thurs batted three for four with a pair of doubles. Tyler Underwood hit two for three with a double in the win.