MEDFORD BASEBALL - A Major League team effort in Medford’s 1-0 win
MEDFORD BASEBALL
The Medford Raiders had just two hits, neither of which came in the bottom of the second inning when they scored the only run of their memorable 1-0 win over Waunakee played Monday at American Family Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Tanner Hraby’s sacrifice fly to deep centerfield scored the run, driving in Max Dietzman, who had led off the inning with a walk. After Charlie Gierl flied out, Jack Wojcik walked and Evan Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Hraby, who did his job by putting the ball in play.
The run was enough as seven Medford pitchers –– one per inning –– kept the Warriors off the scoreboard. Waunakee had five hits but Medford’s pitchers walked only two batters and worked around two errors.
“That was a good win against a quality opponent,” Medford head coach Justin Hraby said. “The fact that we threw seven different arms makes me believe even further that we are a pitching-deep team. There were a few balls on both sides that would’ve been home runs that were caught. Tanner’s RBI sac fly in the second would have been a grand slam in most high school parks.
“Great pitching and great defense wins a lot of games,” he added.
Medford had a two-out chance in the bottom of the first when Braxton Weissmiller walked and Carson Carbaugh doubled, but Waunakee pitcher Brady Collins, who threw all six innings for his team, got Nick Steliga to fly out to end the threat. After the second inning, Medford had only two more base runners, Parker Lissner on a fifth-inning walk and Steliga on a sixth-inning single. He was stranded at third base after Waunakee’s only error. Waunakee stranded two runners in the third as Steliga got a two-out fly ball to get out of it. The Warriors left two more on in the fifth with Hayden Strebig inducing a couple of ground balls to get fielder’s choice outs. Jack Dettor drew a one-walk and stole second against Medford’s final pitcher, Carbaugh, in the seventh, but two fly ball outs ended it.
Hraby started on the mound, walking one and striking out one. Gierl struck out two and allowed a hit in the second. Steliga allowed a hit in the third as did Lissner in the fourth. Strebig worked around two hits allowed in the fifth and Wojcik had a onetwo-three sixth. Collins struck out two and walked four for Waunakee (6-9).
Wow, what an experience,” Justin Hraby said. “The boys were very happy with how things went. We got 18 guys on the field for that game. Just an overall great day.
“Thank you to everyone who helped make this experience happen,” Hraby added. “Parents, those who bought Brewer tickets, and others. Without you we wouldn’t have had that experience.”
Medford’s Great Northern Conference game at Lakeland Tuesday was pushed back to Wednesday, after The Star News deadline for the week. Lakeland is at Raider Field today, Thursday, at 5 p.m. Medford then has a key GNC doubleheader Saturday at Northland Pines, a team that has given teams fits recently with good pitching and solid defense. First pitch there is 11 a.m. That twinbill will end conference play for the Raiders.
Next week in non-conference action, Medford is at Merrill on Monday, at Wausau West on Tuesday and hosts Stratford on May 17.
Medford 6, Antigo 3
Medford’s string of holding opponents to one run or less ended at six games with Antigo’s three-run sixth inning, but the offense more than offset that in a 6-3 home win over Antigo Friday.
Tanner Hraby did his job from the leadoff spot, going two for four and scoring three runs, one of which came on a solo home run. Weissmiller was two for four with three runs batted in and Carbaugh added two hits.
Antigo actually outhit Medford 10-8, but Medford drew four walks and was helped by four Red Robin errors.
Weissmiller’s RBI groundout got Medford on the board in the first and Wilkins scored on a passed ball in the fourth.
A three-run bottom of the fifth wound up being a big deal for the Raiders.
Hraby started the inning with his home run, his fourth of the year. Lissner walked and went all the way to third on an errant throw by starting pitcher Preston Knapkavage. Weissmiller greeted reliever Alec Knapkavage with a double. Weissmiller scored following singles by Steliga and Carbaugh.
Steliga threw five shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five. Strebig retired the first batter he faced but then ran into some trouble in the top of the sixth when the Knapkavages singled to put runners at the corners. Strebig struck out Luke Bastle for the second out, but Grant Praslowicz singled in a run, Gordon Lucht doubled in another and Ben Robrecht singled in the third run before Wyatt Krause lined out to Dietzman at first base.
Hraby reached on an error in the bottom half and scored on a base hit by Weissmiller. Strebig then worked around a two-out single in the seventh to end it.
Strebig struck out two and allowed six hits and three runs. Preston Knapkavage took the loss, allowing four runs, three of which were earned, in four innings. He struck out one and walked three while allowing four hits. He was three for four at the plate to lead the Red Robins.
“Nick again was solid on the mound,” Justin Hraby said. “I was glad that I was able to get him out after five so he could pitch at AMFam Monday. That’s two good wins against a solid Antigo squad. They are a team that will get better and beat some teams they shouldn’t down the stretch.”
Medford’s doubleheader with Appleton West Saturday was rained out after an inning and a half was played in game one. The Raiders led 3-1 when the rains came.
The team was able to hold a dedication ceremony for its two new bullpen mounds, which were made possible by the families of Zach Smola and John Alexander.
Medford first baseman Max Dietzman catches an attempted pickoff throw from pitcher Nick Steliga during the first inning of Friday’s 6-3 win over Antigo. Red Robin Alec Knapkavage gets back into the base safely, but he was caught stealing by catcher Braxton Weissmiller a couple pitches later. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
