The MFL MarMac baseball team opened its season last week with losses to Turkey Valley, Oelwein and New Hampton.

The Bulldogs earned just one hit on a single by eighth grader Jason Larson, but walked seven times, in a 7-0 shutout loss to Turkey Valley on May 26. Batters struck out 13 times.

The Trojans, meanwhile, picked up four hits and reached base twice on hit batters and 12 times via walk against a quartet of MFL MarMac pitchers. Only four of the seven runs the Bulldogs allowed were earned.

On May 27 at Oelwein, the Bulldogs broke their scoreless drought with three runs in the first inning and two in the second to take a 5-0 lead. The Huskies cut into that margin in the third inning, before going up 7-5 with a four-run fifth inning and another run in the sixth. Despite scoring once in the top of the seventh, MFL MarMac couldn’t complete the comeback and lost 7-6.

Leadoff hitter Tyce Wikner was responsible for three of the team’s seven hits and drove in a run. He stole a base and scored three times. Easton Lange was 2-for-3 and reached another time on a hit by pitch. He led the Bulldogs with two RBIs. Cameron Hagensick singled and had an RBI and a sacrifice, while Mason Hollar finished the game with one hit, two walks and two runs scored.

Hollar and Collin Wilder combined for six innings on the mound, allowing eight hits, two walks and a hit batter, while striking out seven Oelwein players.

The week concluded May 28, in an 8-1 loss at New Hampton. The Chickasaws picked up five hits and took advantage of 10 walks and six hit batters. They also pressured the Bulldog pitching and defense with 14 steals.

New Hampton pitchers Braxton Bundy and Jackson Kellogg were tough on the MFL MarMac offense, striking out 15 batters while allowing just three hits, four walks and a hit batter across seven innings.

This week, the Bulldogs had a doubleheader at North Fayette Valley on June 1 and hosted Edgewood-Colesburg on June 2, before heading to Kee June 3. They will close out action at home on June 5, versus Jesup.