Marshall upsets top-seeded New Prague before falling to New Ulm
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MARSHALL -- One day after earning two impressive victories over strong competition, Marshall Junior Legion Black returned to the diamond with its season hanging in the balance.
Needing consecutive wins to keep its postseason run alive, Marshall delivered a complete performance against top-seeded New Prague before ultimately seeing its season come to an end against New Ulm in the tournament's deciding game.
Marshall 10, New Prague 4
Marshall opened the day with a challenging matchup against top-seeded New Prague, with the teams entering the contest as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the bracket. Facing one of the tournament favorites, Marshall rose to the occasion, combining timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and steady pitching to earn an impressive 10-4 victory and keep its championship hopes alive.
After trading early opportunities, Marshall's offense found its rhythm by consistently putting runners on base and capitalizing on scoring chances. The lineup produced quality at-bats throughout the game, preventing New Prague from settling into a groove on the mound.
Marshall finished with 13 hits, showcasing its depth from top to bottom in the batting order. Rocco Rignell and Brenden Price each collected two hits to pace the offense, while nine additional Marshall players contributed at least one hit. The balanced attack made it difficult for New Prague to focus on any one hitter, as nearly every spot in the lineup played a role in the victory.
On the mound, Marshall received another strong pitching performance. Grant Lingl worked five solid innings to earn the victory, keeping New Prague's hitters off balance while allowing Marshall's offense to build its lead. Brenden Price also contributed on the mound, with both pitchers recording a strikeout while limiting New Prague's opportunities to mount a comeback.
The victory sent Marshall into its second elimination game of the day with a chance to qualify for the championship and continue its postseason run.
New Ulm 8, Marshall 3
Standing between Marshall and a trip to the state tournament was third-seeded New Ulm, a team that took advantage of a pivotal inning to secure an 8-3 victory.
New Ulm's offense produced 10 hits and capitalized on its scoring opportunities, building enough of a cushion to withstand Marshall's efforts to rally. While the final score favored New Ulm, Marshall continued to battle throughout the game and never stopped competing.
Marshall's offense once again produced quality performances at the plate. Brenden Price, Carson Mensink, and Bennett Graven each recorded at least two hits, with Graven leading the way by collecting three hits in an outstanding offensive performance. Despite consistently putting runners on base, Marshall was unable to overcome New Ulm's decisive inning that ultimately proved to be the difference.
Bennett Graven was charged with the loss after pitching one and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on three hits.
Following the game, Marshall head coach Chace Pollock reflected on the team's postseason run and the growth his players showed throughout the tournament.
"We played a ton of baseball all week," Pollock said. "It was fun, and I definitely feel like we got better along the way. We got into a rhythm playing and there was just one inning in this second game that made all the difference."
Although the season ended one win short of advancing to the state tournament, Pollock emphasized the progress the team made and the bright future ahead for the group.
"This was a great group of guys to coach," Pollock added. "This was a very fun, coachable group, and I am very excited for the future for these guys."
Marshall's tournament run showcased the team's resilience and ability to compete with some of the strongest programs in the bracket. After knocking off the tournament's top seed and battling until the final out against New Ulm, the Junior Legion Black squad concluded its season with valuable postseason experience and plenty of optimism for the future.