Raiders have memorable spring break

By Casey Krautkramer

This is Steve Warren’s 27th year as Marathon’s head varsity baseball coach but this is the first year the team took a spring break trip in March to Alton, Ill. to practice during the days and spend the nights sightseeing in St. Louis, Mo.

“We were able to practice in Alton, Ill. for five days in good weather, which allowed us to get more accomplished than we normally would during the first week of practice,” Warren said. “We then were able to drive into St. Louis in the evenings for some team activities. We were also able to have some team activities in Springfield, Ill. on the way down to St. Louis. Then, on the way back, we scrimmaged Delevan-Darien in southern Wisconsin.”

Marathon’s baseball team visited the Abraham Lincoln Museum, The Gateway Arch, TopGolf, Cardinal Nation and the Cardinal Hall of Fame. It was great for this spring’s team to form great cameraderie on the trip since it lost a handful of key players from last season’s team to graduation including including pitcher/ shortstop Tyler Underwood, first baseman Grant Warren, centerfielder Cooper Hoeksema, right fielder Derek Vesely and left fielder Jorey Kunkel.

The Red Raiders’ top returning players this season are senior pitcher/centerfielder Cody Radtke, junior catcher and pitcher True Thurs, junior pitcher and shortstop Blake Underwood, junior catcher and second baseman Cale Quaintance, junior third baseman Evan DeBroux and junior outfielder Drew Woelfel.

Marathon’s top newcomers to this spring’s varsity squad are junior outfielder Grant Salber, sophomore pitcher/second baseman Ean Shuda, junior pitcher/shortstop Swayne Stencil, sophomore second baseman/shortstop Quillan Kunkel, sophomore first baseman/catcher Owen Chrouser, sophomore first baseman/third baseman Charlie Ehlert, sophomore outfielder Sam Leak, freshman first baseman/ catcher Blake McCain, freshman second baseman/left fielder Taylor Underwood, freshman outfielder Ian Cihlar, freshman second baseman/pitcher Quade Fuhrman and freshman third baseman/outfielder Kaleb Ohde.

The team’s pitching staff this season consists of Radtke, Blake Underwood, Thurs, Shuda, Stencil and DeBroux.

“The pitching staff has some experience and is continually iimproving,” Warren said.

Warren explains how the Marathon Legion Post 469 summer baseball program continues to help younger baseball players work on their skills before they enter high school and help the high school baseball players continue to refine their skills.

“The Legion baseball program is very valuable in giving all our players competitive experience that improves their knowledge and performance,” he said. “Younger players in seventh and eighth grades get introduced to our system during the summer prior to entering high school. This does help their transition into our high school program. This coming summer will be the 27th season that Marathon Legion Post 469 has provided a Legion baseball team for the Marathon area.”

The Red Raiders spring baseball team is off to a 5-4 record this season following Tuesday’s 4-3 road loss to Stratford. The Red Raiders will attempt to split the regular- season series against the Tigers when they play them at home at 4:45 this Thursday, April 24, pending the weather.

Marathon began this season by splitting a pair of games in the Adams-Friendship tournament on April 4. Marathon lost, 6-3, to Gibraltar. Thurs suffered the pitching loss. Radtke batted two for four with a double and Woelfel was two for three with a double and two RBIs. Marathon beat Mishicot, 5-2, as Radtke earned the pitching win. Radtke hit two for three at the plate.

The Red Raiders then lost to New Richmond, 5-3, on April 5 in the Adams-Friendship tournament. Blake Underwood suffered the pitching loss.

Marathon blanked Chequamegon, 1-0, on April 8 at home. Radtke earned the pitching win.

The Red Raiders downed the Rib Lake Redmen, 6-3, on April 11 at home. Thurs was the winning pitcher. Radtke batted two for three with three RBIs, Salber hit two for four, DeBroux was two for three and Blake Underwood doubled.

Marathon beat Greenwood, 12-4, on April 14 at home. Stencil earned the pitching win. Radtke batted two for five with two RBIs, Woelfel hit three for four with four RBIs and Chrouser was two for three.

The Red Raiders split their regular-season series against the Edgar Wildcats. Marathon lost, 10-4, on April 15 at Edgar. Radtke was the losing pitcher. Quaintance batted two for four and Blake Underwood hit two for two with a double and pair of RBIs. Marathon then beat Edgar, 5-3, on April 17 at home. Blake Underwood earned the pitching win. Thurs batted two for two with a double and Quaintance hit two for three with a pair of RBIs.

MARATHON VARSITY BASEBALL- Introducing the 2025 Marathon varsity baseball team. Team members pictured, from left to right, front row: Taylor Underwood, Blake Underwood, Kaleb Ohde, Swayne Stencil, Cale Quaintance and Quade Fuhrman; middle row: Ean Shuda, Blake McCain, Evan DeBroux, Quillan Kunkel, Grant Salber, Sam Lepak and Owen Chrouser; back row: Head coach Steve Warren, assistant coach Tyler Hamann, True Thurs, Ian Cihlar, Drew Woelfel, Charlie Ehlert, Cody Radtke and assistant coaches Ron Kunkel, Cobie Ellenbecker and Tyler Schilling.

PHOTO BY STACY STUBBE