Bluejay American Legion Girls’ Softball Drop Two in State Tournament 

In a pair of games heard Friday and Saturday on WJMT, wjmtfm.com, and the WJMT app and seen Saturday on WJMT-TV on YouTube, the Merrill Post 46 girls’ softball team saw their title chase end as they lost Friday to a hard-hitting Medford squad 12-0 and Saturday 12-2 to the Allenton Blue Hawks. Both games were shortened to five innings and six innings respectfully due to the mercy rule.

Friday’s contest saw Medford jump out to an 11-0 and add a single tally in the fifth inning, while the Bluejays could only muster a single and a walk against two Medford hurlers. Abbie Krueger started for the Bluejays and took the loss, while incoming freshman Charlee Krueger (pictured) pitched the final three frames, allowing only the single tally in the fifth, earning her AmericInn Player of the Game honors.

In Saturday’s game, the Bluejays scored single runs in the first and second innings before allowing six tallies in both the third and sixth innings before the game was stopped in the bottom of the sixth. Madde Barker started for Merrill and took the loss, with the Krueger trio of Abbie, Miley, and Charlee Krueger (also pictured), along with the rest of the squad collectively being names the AmericInn Players of the Game.

During Saturday’s Incredible Bank post-game show, pitching coach Taylor Krueger noted that the squad was very young and gained valuable experience through extended playing time during the year. She also noted that she, head coach Chad Krueger, and assistant coach Huey Krueger (all three include in picture) had achieved the goal of having the Merrill squad earn their place in the state playoffs and were already looking forward to next season.

Merrill hosted the state tournament this year and could conceivably receive the honor of hosting the event next year based on their excellent efforts this year.