MFL MarMac baseball team picks up three more victories
Outfielder Parker Kuehl throws the ball to the infield during MFL MarMac’s doubleheader against Turkey Valley on June 7. The Bulldogs lost the first game, but won the second. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Cullen McShane hits against the Trojans. He had one hit and three walks during the doubleheader.
Chauncy Drahn keeps a Turkey Valley runner close at first base.
Kaden Stocker pitched three and one-third innings in game one versus Turkey Valley, surrendering six hits, a walk and four earned runs, while tallying six strikeouts.
Ben Krambeer heads for home during the Turkey Valley doubleheader.
Catcher Austin Schlee snags a pitch.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac baseball team went 3-4 last week, in a busy seven-game stretch that included wins over Turkey Valley, Edgewood-Colesburg and North Fayette Valley.
The Bulldogs kicked off the week June 7, splitting a home doubleheader against Turkey Valley. The teams were tied 5-5 at the end of the sixth inning in game one, but a four-run outburst from the Trojans in the top of the seventh gave them a 9-5 victory.
MFL MarMac had plenty of chances to score, racking up six hits and 14 walks along with five stolen bases. Kaden Stocker had two hits and two walks, stole two bases and scored a run. Jacob Schellhorn was 2-4 with a walk and an RBI, while Max Havlicek doubled, walked twice and stole a base, in addition to driving in a run and scoring two runs.
Havlicek started the game on the mound, allowing five hits and five runs—only one of which was earned—over three innings. He walked two batters and struck out five. Stocker pitched the following three and one-third innings, surrendering six hits, a walk and four earned runs, while tallying six strikeouts. Parker Kuehl allowed no hits and struck out two batters in the final two-thirds of an inning.
Game two saw the Bulldogs excel in all facets of the game, as they cruised to a 10-0 victory. The team cranked out 10 hits and walked seven times, pushing three runs across in the third inning, two in the fourth and five in the fifth.
Havlicek was a perfect 4-4, including two doubles, drove in six runs and scored once himself. Elias Hatt was 1-2 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Ben Krambeer singled, drove in a run and scored once. Stocker was 1-2 with two walks and three runs scored.
Schellhorn pitched five strong innings, allowing only five hits, two walks and a hit batter. He whiffed five Trojan batters in the shutout victory.
Unfortunately, that momentum didn’t carry over to the June 8 game, which MFL MarMac lost 23-4 to Assumption. The Knights picked up 15 hits off Bulldog pitching, along with eight walks and three hit batters, and capitalized on four errors. After scoring five times in the first inning, they had nine-run innings in both the second and third.
MFL MarMac had just three hits, but drew six walks. Schellhorn singled, walked, drove in a run and scored once. Havlicek doubled and picked up an RBI, while Chauncy Drahn was 1-2 with a run scored.
Next up for the Bulldogs was a non-conference match-up at Ed-Co. MFL MarMac hung on to win 9-7 despite a five-run Viking rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Havlicek had another perfect day at the plate, racking up four hits, including two doubles. He had one of the team’s 10 stolen bases, drove in four runs and scored twice. Cullen McShane went 2-4 with two stolen bases, two RBIs and a run scored, and Krambeer was 1-2 with two RBIs.
Chauncy Drahn pitched four and two-thirds innings, giving up eight hits, two walks and four runs—only three of which were earned. He also struck out eight Viking batters and earned the win. Krambeer allowed two walks and a run in one and one-third innings, while Kuehl surrendered one hit, two walks and two earned runs in one inning.
The Bulldogs made it two in a row on June 10, eking out a 1-0 victory over North Fayette Valley. They pushed the lone across in the fourth inning and relied on some key pitching to keep the TigerHawks at bay.
MFL MarMac wrapped up the week June 11, suffering a doubleheader sweep at Kee. The Hawks won the first game 13-0, thanks in large part to an eight-run second inning. They had nine hits against Bulldog pitching, along with six walks and two hit by pitches, and stole seven bases.
Game two was a thriller. Kee took a 5-2 lead through the first inning, but MFL MarMac battled back with four runs in the top of the second, taking a 6-5 advantage. The Hawks tied it up in the bottom of the inning, then went up 7-6 in the third. After single runs in the fifth and sixth, the Bulldogs were ahead 8-7 by the bottom of the seventh inning, but Kee scored twice in that frame for a 9-8 walk-off win.
Head coach Brandon Burke said Krambeer and Schellhorn pitched well against the talented Kee lineup, and an offensive highlight included two homeruns from Havlicek.
“Lots of positives to build on, and also found some weaknesses we need to work on,” Burke added.
MFL MarMac is now 6-9 overall and 4-4 in conference play. This week’s schedule is a little less busy for the Bulldogs, who will play at Clayton Ridge/Central on June 15, before hosting Jesup on June 16, Kee on June 17 and Wapsie Valley on June 18.
