Softball: Marathon Post 469 beats Wittenberg-Birnamwood twice to earn spot in American Legion Division 2 state tournament.

The Marathon Post 469 softball team beat Wittenberg-Birnamwood twice on Tuesday to earn a regional title and spot in next week's Division 2 American Legion state tournament in Merrill. Marathon won by scores of 7-0 and 13-8 and will face Bloomer in their first game at the double elimination state tourney next Friday, July 31st at 12 noon at MARC Field 1 in Merrill.

In the 7-0 victory Marathon got outstanding pitching. Allison Podjaski tossed 6 innings, allowing just 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 5. Tyla Beilke-Seubert finished by tossing a scoreless 7th inning and allowing 1 hit with two strikeouts. Mayven Schneider, Brinly Stencil and Ripley Skrzypchak each had two hits while Beilke-Seubert and Rehgan Martin each drove in two runs for Marathon.

In the other game, Marathon broke open a tight game with 4 runs in the 6th inning to pull away for the 13-8 win. Adessah Arneson went 3 for 3 with an RBI, Allison Podjaski, Rehgan Martin, and Tyla Beilke-Seubert all had two hits in the victory for Marathon. Podjaski was the winning pitcher, going 4 innings and allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits with no walks and 5 strikeouts.

Both Marathon and Wittenberg-Birnamwood earned spots at the D-2 Legion state tournament field of 8 teams. Witt-Birn will open play next Friday against Fall Creek at 4 pm. The tournament will run Friday through Sunday at the MARC in Merrill.