Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Carson Meverden homered three times, and the Chargers Varsity erupted for 12 runs in the third inning, powering past the Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds 16-11 on Thursday, May 14.
The visitors built a commanding lead after the Thunderbirds briefly went ahead in the first, then held on through a spirited Iola-Scandinavia comeback attempt in the fourth. Wittenberg-Birnamwood finished with 13 hits while the Thunderbirds managed 10. Meverden provided the early spark with a solo home run to left field in the top of the first that put Wittenberg-Birnamwood ahead 1-0. The Thunderbirds answered in the bottom half when Ben Gruba singled to center field and RJ Opperman was hit by a pitch, with each player scoring to give Iola-Scandinavia a 2-1 lead.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood then seized control in the third. The visitors sent 12 runs across on eight hits, capped by Meverden’s two-run homer to left field. That outburst created a 13-2 advantage.
The Thunderbirds mounted their strongest response in the bottom of the fourth, scoring seven runs on six hits to trim the deficit. Wyatt Wolberg delivered a single that scored three runs, Carson Desrochers added a run-scoring single, Broghan Gullixon drove in two with a single, and Chase Timdal plated another with a single. The rally made it 13-9, but Wittenberg-Birnamwood added one more insurance run in the seventh on Meverden’s solo homer to left field.
T. Gagnon earned the victory on the mound for Wittenberg-Birnamwood. He worked five and one-third innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out nine and walking five. Meverden started and lasted two-thirds of an inning, giving up one hit and two runs with one strikeout and two walks.
Desrochers took the loss for the Thunderbirds after going two and two-thirds innings. He was charged with 13 runs, four of them earned, on 10 hits. He struck out two and walked three. Timdal pitched three and one-third innings in relief, surrendering two hits and two runs, one earned, with one walk.
Gullixon paced the Thunderbirds’ offense with three hits in five at-bats, including a double and two singles. Wolberg collected two hits in three at-bats. Timdal drew three walks as Iola-Scandinavia showed patience at the plate with 10 walks for the game and turned one double play.
For Wittenberg-Birnamwood, Olson and Meverden each drove in three runs. Meverden finished 2-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI. Oliver Fraaza and E. Nowinskey also had multiple hits. The visitors stole four bases.
The Thunderbirds will host St. Mary Catholic Varsity Zephyrs on Friday, May 15.
