Marshfield Chaparrals baseball wins season opener over Merrill in 10 innings

MARSHFIELD – Jason Kurth’s infield single in the bottom of the 10th scored Al Lalicata with the winning run as the Marshfield Chaparrals amateur baseball team won its 2019 season opener over the Merrill Rangers 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Jack Hackman Field.

The Chaparrals battled back from a 4-1 deficit, scoring single runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings to force an extra frame.

Lalicata led off the 10th with a single and went to second when Jared Krasselt was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Westhuis reached on a fielder’s choice as the Merrill defense couldn’t record an out. Kurth followed with the infield single to plate the winning run.

Westhuis tied the game with a home run to right field to lead off the ninth for Marshfield.

Nate McDonald had an RBI single in the sixth and Bobby Pilz had an RBI single in the seventh for the Chaps.

Pilz earned the win, throwing five innings of relief. He allowed two unearned runs in the sixth before throwing four shutout innings to allow the Chaparrals to come back.

Kurth finished 4-for-6 and scored twice, Pilz had three hits, and McDonald and Luke Wirtz each had two hits for Marshfield.

The Chaparrals’ next game is Sunday, June 2, at home against the Abbotsford Merchants at 1:30 p.m. at Hackman Field. Click here to view the Marshfield Chaparrals’ schedule.

Chaparrals 5, Rangers 4
Merrill 000 022 000 0 – 4 9 2
Marshfield 000 101 101 1 – 5 15 2
WP: Bobby Pilz. LP: Justin Pyan.
SO: Chase Nelson (7 inn.) 8, Pyan (2 2/3 inn.) 2; Hunter Korger (4 2/3 inn.) 6, Kade Lancour (1/3 inn.) 1, Pilz (5 inn.) 7. BB: Nelson 3, Pyan 0; Korger 3, Lancour 0, Pilz 4.
Top hitters: MER, Trevor Asmundsen 2×6, 2 runs; Nelson 2×6; Pyan 2×4. MAR, Nate McDonald 2×6, 2B, TBI; Luke Wirtz 2×6; Kyle Westhuis 1×6, HR, RBI; Jason Kurth 4×6, 2 runs, RBI; Pilz 3×4, RBI.
Records: Merrill not reported; Marshfield 1-0.