04/08/2026
T-Birds hit the road for opening night as they traveled to Merrill for both Varsity and Junior Varsity contests.
In the Varsity matchup, Merrill capitalized on four errors and three walks in the bottom of the third inning to turn what was a one-run game into an 8-0 lead.
T-Birds would threaten late, loading the bases in the sixth and getting a two-RBI double off the bat of Drew Warren to make it 8-3. That's how it would end as the inning stalled and Merrill took it's first Great Northern Conference win of the season.
Lakeland had hits from Warren, Gabe Karch and Justin Doud while Benny Gahler, Jack Stella and Cooper Jahn each scored a run apiece. Warren got the start and went two innings, allowing an unearned run on one hit, striking out three and walking two. Both Karch and Tyrone Moore each pitched also, neither allowing an earned run.
In the JV contest, the T-Birds would get an early lead but fall behind 3-1 going into the fifth. There they were able to get one back, but Merrill would capitalize in their half and made it 4-2 going into the sixth which is how it would end.
T-Birds pitched well, allowing only four hits over six innings, striking out eight and walking seven. Noah Peterson got the start and went 2.1 innings before giving way to Landyn Kropidlowski who pitched through the fourth. Tevin Wildcat finished up in the fifth and sixth.
The teams are back on the road Friday, taking on Medford at 5 p.m. JV will be played at Jaycee Park with the Varsity game set at Raider Field located next to the Medford Elementary School.