Bulldogs hit double-digit win total
Kaleb Tilson gets an out at first base during game one of the Bulldogs’ doubleheader sweep of the War Eagles. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac baseball team closed out its regular season schedule with a record of 10-5, following a doubleheader sweep of Clayton Ridge/Central and loss to South Winneshiek last week.
The Bulldogs took on the War Eagles July 6, winning the first game of the doubleheader 9-4. MFL MarMac trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth, but cranked out five runs in the top of the inning, followed by three more in the seventh. The team collected just six hits, but took advantage of six walks, two hit by pitches and 11 steals to earn the victory.
Max Havlicek had the big hit for the Bulldogs, smashing a two-run homer to break the sixth inning tie. He had four total RBIs in the game.
Chaise Ziegler picked up two hits, including a double, and scored twice, while JT Stocker went 2-4, swiped two bags and scored a run. Drew Mezera drove in one run on a sac fly.
Senior pitcher Cedrick Drahn limited the War Eagles to just six hits and three earned runs over seven innings. He struck out seven batters and walked only two.
MFL MarMac won the second game 10-3, again relying on a big inning, this time a five-run third.
JT Stocker carried the load offensively, going a perfect 4-4 with two RBIs, four steals and three runs scored. Havlicek doubled and drove in three runs, and Kaden Stocker singled, knocked in a run and scored once himself. Kaleb Tilson tallied two hits, including a double, and Cullen McShane finished the game 1-2 with two walks, three steals and two runs scored.
The Bulldogs relied on four different pitchers in the contest—JT Stocker, McShane, Havlicek and Tilson—who gave up a combined seven hits and three earned runs.
MFL MarMac tried to make it five wins in a row the following night, July 7, at South Winn. The Warriors, who’ve lost just one game all season, failed to cooperate, erupting for nine runs in the opening frame en route to a 13-3 victory.
Drahn earned his first career home run in the game and had a team-high two hits and two runs scored. Kaden Stocker picked up one hit and an RBI, while JT Stocker singled and scored once.
The Bulldogs had originally planned to face Kee and Turkey Valley to close out the regular season schedule, but the Wednesday and Thursday games were both canceled. That left the team’s overall record at 10-5 and Upper Iowa Conference mark at 8-4. South Winn topped the standings at a perfect 15-0, while Kee was next at 9-4, followed by MFL MarMac.
The Bulldogs were slated to kick off postseason action Saturday night, July 11, against Central City, but the game was postponed due to rain. It was played Monday night instead, with the winner moving on to face Kee in Monona on Tuesday, July 14.
