Tiger pitchers are dealing

Bauman throws two no hitters in team’s 7-0 start

By Casey Krautkramer

Stratford’s pitching staff has already thrown four no hitters in seven of the team’s games this season, including senior Riley Bauman tossing two straight no hitters against Prentice and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption.

Defending Division 3 state champion Stratford is undefeated with a 7-0 record this season, following Tuesday’s 9-5 road win against previously unbeaten Edgar, thanks in large part to the team’s pitching prowess this year.

Riley Bauman, the son of Scott and Michelle Bauman, threw the team’s first no hitter this season on April 29 in a five inning 29-0 road win against Prentice.

The very next day on April 30, junior Cam Daul tossed a no hitter in a five inning 10-0 home victory against Phillips.

Riley Bauman recorded his second straight no hitter on Thursday in a five inning 10-0 home win against Wisconsin Rapids Assumption.

The very next day on Friday, junior starting pitcher Dillon Kirsch and reliever Daul combined to throw a no hitter in a five inning 14-0 road victory against Chequamegon.

Riley Bauman is fully recovered from a left shoulder injury he suffered while making a tackle during fall 2019 football season that might’ve hindered his ability to play baseball last spring had the season not been canceled because of COVID-19.

Luckily, he didn’t injure his right shoulder he pitches with in baseball. Riley Bauman has a repertoire of three pitches to get opposing hitters out consisting of a fastball, changeup and what he calls a slider/curve ball. He said the changeup is his go-to pitch when he needs to strike out a batter.

“If I’m having issues on the mound, a lot of times I will go back to my changeup,” Riley Bauman said after Cam Daul’s RBI single scored senior catcher Colten Schillinger to end Thursday’s win against Assumption. Today (Thursday) we were really working on getting my slider to snap off and down and I had some good results with it so I’m really excited about that.”

Riley Bauman and his pitching coach, Stratford and UW-Stevens Point alum Drew Spaeth, utilized a different pitching strategy that resulting in a no hitter against Prentice.

“We were going heavy with fastballs and I got some nice strikes with that,” he said. “I mixed in a couple of changeups but we really didn’t stray too much away from the fastball.”

Stratford wants to defend both its Marawood South Conference and Division 3 state championships this season. The Tigers took a big first step toward winning the Marawood South title by beating the previously undefeated Edgar Wildcats, 9-5, on the road Tuesday. Edgar actually outhit Stratford, 13-8, but the Tigers made their hits count more against the Wildcats.

Tigers senior starting pitcher Kale Weisenberger surrendered four runs, three of them earned, during his four innings of work against the Wildcats. Reliever Cam Daul gave up one run in just over two innings, and Riley Bauman closed the door on Edgar.

Wildcats senior starting pitcher Kyle Brewster gave up seven runs, but only two of them were earned, during his just over four innings on the mound against the Tigers. Junior re- liever Jordan Bunkelman served up a two-run homer to Riley Bauman.

Edgar and Stratford play against each other again at 4:45 p.m. this Thursday, May 13, in Stratford to complete the regular-season series.

Riley Bauman cautioned baseball fans to not count out the Tigers’ chances of defending their 2019 state championship this season, even though Schillinger and him are the only two starting players back from that memorable season.

“I think we are going to surprise a lot of people,” he said. “I think we are ready to make another run and be just as good as we were two years ago.”

Tigers softball wins

Stratford’s softball team dominated Chequamegon, 17-1, in three innings on the road Friday.

Junior Ally Zuleger gained the pitching win. Bailey Linzmaier batted two for three with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored. Kylah Wenzel hit two for two with a walk and three runs scored in the big victory.

Hart throws no hitter

Athens junior Siarra Hart tossed a complete-game no hitter in the softball team’s 11-0 win on Thursday. Senior Shauna Belter led the Bluejays with four RBIs.

‘Jays baseball blanks Bucs

The Athens baseball team destroyed Prentice, 32-0, on May 4. Junior Brooks Kraus led the Bluejays with seven RBIs, while senior Cade Ellenbecker added five RBIs and senior Dayne Diethelm had four. Starting pitcher Cade Ellenbecker and junior reliever Cooper Diedrich only gave up one hit apiece in their two innings each on the mound.