Four-run sixth inning gets it done

MEDFORD 4, MARATHON 1

Aiden Gardner capped a four-run sixth inning with an inside-the-park home run, while Caleb Guden and Logan Baumgartner teamed up to allow just two hits in the Medford baseball team’s 4-1 win over Marathon played Tuesday at Mauston’s Woodside Sports Complex.

The game was scheduled late on Monday following the postponement of Medford’s originally-scheduled game at Wausau West and Marathon’s home opener against Chequamegon.

Medford improved to 3-0, all in games played at Woodside, as it awaits more spring-like weather to get on its home dirt and grass.

Tuesday’s trip allowed Medford to face a quality pitcher in Marathon’s Jaden Koeller, and he kept the potent Raider offense in check until the bottom of the sixth, when Medford did all of its damage.

Number-nine hitter Miles Searles drew a leadoff walk on an eight-pitch atbat where he was behind 1-2 at the outset. Seth Mudgett bunted him to second and Tanner Hraby scored him, singling with two strikes to rightfield. Guden’s single to right pushed Hraby to third and then he stole second. Baumgartner lofted a fly ball to deep right that scored Hraby. Guden scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

Gardner then showed off his running back speed by circling the bases when a liner to right scooted past the centerfielder and got all the way to the fence.

“Koehler was tough,” Medford head coach Justin Hraby said. “I was pleased that we got to see him. With our schedule, we will see a lot of guys like him. We put a lot of good swings on him, just didn’t have a lot to show for that until the sixth.”

Ironically, the winning rally started without a swing. “Miles had the at-bat of the year, grinding out an eight-pitch walk to get our four-run rally going,” Hraby said. “Miles and Parker Lissner both looked good in their two at-bats, hitting the ball hard and looking comfortable at the plate.

“Our sixth inning is going to be what we have to do this year to score runs,” Hraby added. “With our pitching and defense, we just need four to five runs to win most games. If we continue to move runners and are unselfish, we can manufacture runs against good pitchers. Aiden Gardner’s inside-the-parker was fun as well.”

Guden went three innings, allowing just a second-inning single to Grant Warren. He struck out five and walked one. Baumgartner got the win with four strong relief innings. He allowed a hit, while striking out three. Marathon got an unearned run in the top of the seventh.

“Caleb started where he left off last week,” Hraby said. “He threw three solid innings. Logan the same, throwing four efficient, one-hit innings. In his early performances, he already has eight nohit innings. Those two guys have been as advertised so far.”

Koeller went 5.1 innings for Marathon and took the loss, allowing two earned runs, two hits and two walks while striking out six.

The Raiders’ game scheduled for today, Thursday has been moved to May 20. Medford is scheduled to open Great Northern Conference play next week against Lakeland. A 3 p.m. doubleheader is now being planned for Monday at Raider Field.