MARATHON STUNS STRATFORD TO TAKE WIAA DIVISION 3 BASEBALL REGIONAL FINAL
By Paul Lecker
For Zaleski Sports
STRATFORD – After being unable to defend its 2019 Division 3 state title a year ago as the season was canceled, the Stratford baseball team was hopeful to get that chance this season.
Marawood Conference rival Marathon had other ideas.
Brock Warren was brilliant on the mound and the Raiders took advantage of a number of Stratford mistakes in the field to defeat the Tigers 10-0 in five innings to capture the WIAA Division 3 regional final on Wednesday at the Tiger Stadium Baseball Field.
Warren allowed just one hit, a two-out single to Kale Weisenberger in the first inning. He promptly picked him off of first and didn’t allow another baserunner. Warren faced the minimum 15 batters in the five innings, striking out two.
Marathon (17-7) moves on to a D-3 sectional semifinal against La Crosse Aquinas (24-3) at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Viroqua. Mineral Point (25-3) and Markesan (18-2) will face-off in the other semifinal at 2 p.m., with the winners playing for a state tournament berth at 5 p.m.
Stratford finishes its season with another Marawood Conference South Division title and an 18-4 record.
Stratford pitcher Riley Bauman was able to wiggle out of trouble in each of the first two innings, but not the third, and it was a wild play that opened the floodgates for the Raiders.
Mike Hahn smacked a single with two runners on and Jake Sweno, trying to score from second, stopped halfway home as the throw from the outfield easily beat him to the plate. Sweno got in a rundown and Stratford catcher Colten Schillinger dove and tagged him out, however, Sweno was awarded home on fielder’s interference as the umpire ruled the Stratford third baseman was standing in the baseline.
Tyler Underwood followed with a single to load the bases and Pierson Hamann ripped a single to score two more. Underwood later scored on a wild pitch and Marathon had a quick 4-0 lead.
The Raiders added four more in the fourth thanks to two Stratford errors, and RBI singles by Hahn and Grant Warren.
Marathon pushed the lead to 10 in the fifth as Hahn delivered again, knocking in two with a single. Brock Warren sent Stratford down in order in the bottom of the inning to finish the game due to the 10-run rule.
Hahn finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, Sweno had a hit and scored three times, and Hamann and Underwood both added two hits for Marathon.
Raiders 10, Tigers 0
Marathon 004 42 - 10 10 0
Stratford 000 00 - 0 1 4
WP: Brock Warren. LP: Riley Bauman.
SO: B. Warren 2; Bauman (3 2/3 inn.) 4, Cam Daul (1 1/3 inn.) 0. BB: B. Warren 0; Bauman 2, Daul 3.
Top hitters: M, Jake Sweno 3 runs; Hector Pintor 2 runs; Mike Hahn 3x3, 4 RBIs; Peter Chesek 2 runs; Tyler Underwood 2x4, 2 runs; Grant Warren 1x3, RBI; Pierson Hamann 2x3, 2 RBIs. S, Kale Weisenberger 1x2.
Records: Marathon 17-7; Stratford 18-4.