Bulldogs move into first place in the UIC
MFL MarMac senior pitcher Parker Kuehl kept the Kee Hawks offense in check during the first game of the Bulldogs doubleheader sweep of Kee High last week. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)
By Derick Kelly
The MFL MarMac Bulldogs varsity baseball team took advantage of a busy schedule last week to move into first place in the Upper Iowa Conference.
First up was a trip to Shooky Fink Field in New Albin last Monday, June 16 for a doubleheader showdown with the Kee High Hawks, who were ranked ninth in Class 1A heading into the twin bill.
The Hawks had taken a one-game lead in the UIC over the Bulldogs into the doubleheader thanks to a 5-3 win in Monona earlier this month.
On this night however, it was the Bulldogs night as MFL MarMac quickly jumped out to an early 5-0 lead with a five-run second inning in game one. Both teams pushed a pair of runs across in the sixth inning but the Bulldogs used stellar pitching from starting pitcher Parker Kuehl (two runs allowed (one earned) on five hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched) and reliever Jaxon Millage (zero runs allowed on zero hits and zero walks with two strikeouts in 1.0 inning pitched) to keep the Hawks offense to a minimum.
The Bulldogs offense had 10 hits in the win, including multiple hits from Ben Krambeer (3-for-4 with two RBIs), Jacob Schellhorn (2-for-4 with one run scored and three RBIs) and Kade Humble (2-for-4).
Game two saw the Hawks take an early lead with one run in the bottom of the second inning. The Bulldogs tied the game up at 1-1 with a run of their own in the top of the third inning before Kee retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Kee would score another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase their lead to 3-1 heading into the sixth inning.
The Bulldogs would rally in the top of the sixth inning with four runs to take a 5-3 lead. The lead would hold until the bottom of the seventh inning when Kee High scored twice to send the game to extra innings. MFL would retake the lead 8-5 with three runs in the eighth inning before shutting the door on the Hawks in the bottom of the inning to earn the doubleheader sweep.
Schellhorn started the second game on the mound for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched. He was relieved by Krambeer (zero runs on zero hits and two walks with one strikeout) and Millage (two runs allowed on hits and five walks with three strikeouts in 1.0 inning pitched to earn the win).
Offensively, the Bulldogs had 11 hits in the game with Krambeer (3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs) and Carter Lightfoot (2-for-4 with one run scored) each having multiple hits. Jaron Wille had a double in the win while Kuehl smacked a grand slam in the sixth inning that gave the Bulldogs the lead. Krambeer then put the team ahead for good in the top of the eighth inning with a three-run home run.
MFL MarMac was back at home the next night to host Postville and the Bulldogs earned a 24-1 victory over the Pirates in four innings. The hosts scored five runs in the first inning, 15 runs in the second inning and four runs in the third inning.. Tyce Wikner (one run allowed on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched) got the pitching win while Koda Warrington (zero runs on zero hits and zero walks with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched) wrapped up the game on the mound.
