Medford Post 147 pounces on its chances, gets sweep at Rib Lake

LEGION BASEBALL

When Rib Lake offered Medford extra outs, it took advantage of them and earned a sweep in Thursday’s doubleheader between the two Legion baseball squads held in Rib Lake.

Medford’s Post 147 squad took the lead with a two-run third and put the first five-inning game away with a three-run fifth in a 5-1 win. A three-run third inning turned around game two and sent Medford to a 6-3 win that completed the sweep.

Nick Steliga went the distance for Medford in game one, allowing just an RBI groundout by Rib Lake’s Tyler Matyka in the bottom of the second inning. That scored Andrew Wudi who led off the inning by singling to right and advancing on an error. Steliga struck out seven hitters, walked three and gave up just two hits. Matyka had the other hit in the fifth.

Jackson Blomberg threw well for Rib Lake. He also covered all five innings and allowed six hits while striking out eight and walking only two. But Rib Lake didn’t give its pitcher enough run support and defensive miscues hurt the cause as well.

In the third, Medford’s Hayden Strebig hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored when Rib Lake misplayed a fly ball by Evan Wilkins, who raced all the way to third. He scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

In the fifth, Evan Czarnezki hit a one-out triple and scored on a single by Wilkins, who stole second and scored two wild pitches later. Steliga walked and scored on a single by Charlie Gierl.

Six players had a hit apiece for Medford.

Rib Lake jumped ahead early in game two as well. Talon Scheithauer led off the bottom of the first with a base hit, but was wiped out at second on Seth Borchardt’s fielder’s choice. Borchardt stole second and, after Blomberg walked, scored on Ethan Cook’s single. Wudi drove in a run with a groundout and Brady Heiser added an RBI single to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.

That, however, was the end of Rib Lake’s offensive production and Medford didn’t need long to match and surpass it.

Gierl singled in the second and scored on Logan Kawa’s sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. In the third, Wilkins beat out an infield hit and stole second. With two outs, he scored on an error. Jack Wojcik and Kawa added RBI singles to put Medford in front. Czarnezki walked in the fifth and scored when another misplayed fly ball hit by Wilkins allowed him to go all the way around the bases.

Carson Carbaugh got the win for Medford. In four innings, he struck out two, walked two and hit one batter while giving up five hits. Strebig worked around a walk and a hit in the fifth. Talon Scheithauer had two hits and a walk for Rib Lake.

Borchardt had a strikeout, walked one and hit one while pitching all five innings for Rib Lake. Medford had seven hits, including two apiece from Gierl and Wojcik.

Medford hosts Rib Lake on Monday, July 10 for two more five-inning games at 6 p.m., goes to Chequamegon on July 12 and then to Auburndale on July 14.

Rib Lake sweeps Merrill

On June 27, Rib Lake picked up a sweep in Merrill, taking the five-inning games 9-7 and 6-1.

Down 2-1 in the third inning of game one, Rib Lake took the lead with a threerun rally. Blomberg doubled, Cook reached on an error and Wudi singled in Blomberg. Aiden Stapleton and Slade Scheithauer capped the rally with twoout, RBI singles.

A five-run fourth gave Rib Lake a 9-4 cushion. Blomberg and Cook were hit by pitches, Wudi singled in a run and Heiser drove in one with a groundout. Matyka singled in one and Slade Scheithauer singled in a pair, which was enough to keep Rib Lake ahead after Merrill’s three-run rally in the bottom half.

Wudi was two for three with two RBIs. Matyka, Stapleton and Slade Scheithauer had two hits apiece.

A four-run first-inning put Rib Lake ahead for good in game two. Wudi drove in a run by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, then Heiser cleared them with a double. Wudi and Heiser hit sacrifice flies in the fifth. Heier was one for two with four RBIs.

Rib Lake (7-5) hosts Ladysmith tonight, Thursday, in a 6 p.m. doubleheader, is at Medford on Monday at 6 p.m. and then hosts Merrill July 13 at 6 p.m.

Medford second baseman Sam Hierlmeier slides to his left and fields a ground ball hit by Rib Lake’s Ethan Cook during the fourth inning in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader.PHOTOS BY MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS

Rib Lake pitcher Seth Borchardt makes the easy throw to first base to retire Medford leadoff hitter Evan Wilkins after fielding a comebacker for the first out of game two in Thursday’s doubleheader.