Wausau Woodchucks edge Madison in 10 innings, clinch Northwoods League playoff berth

For Wausau Pilot & Review

MADISON – The Wausau Woodchucks clinched the Northwoods League Great Lakes West Division title and a playoff berth with a 2-1 win over the Madison Mallards on Monday night at Warner Park.

Adiel Melendez (Montavello) made his fifth start of the season on the mound for the Chucks and recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts, and a season-best 6 2/3 innings-pitched. Melendez kept the Mallards scoreless in six separate innings, and allowed just one earned run.

The Woodchucks fell behind early, after going down 1-0 early in the first inning. Wausau would be kept quiet offensively until the fifth, when Isaac Webb (Corpus Christi) scored from third after Drew Berkland (Minnesota) beat a throw to first to tie the game at 1-1. The game would stay tied until extra innings.

Jorge Decardenas (Charlotte) came in relief of Melendez late in the seventh. Decardenas would strike out nine straight, including three in a row in the bottom of the 10th to finish off the win.

In the top of the 10th, Webb stole third, a crucial base-running decision that ultimately decided the game. Max Galvin (Miami) ripped single up the middle to allow Webb to score from third for what proved to be the game-winner for Wausau.

Decardenas shut down the Mallards in the bottom of the 10th to clinch just the ninth playoff berth in franchise history, and the first since 2022.

The Woodchucks (26-8) will wrap up the home-and-home series against the Mallards (24-10) on Tuesday at Athletic Park to close out the first half of the season. It’s free hotdogs night at the ballpark. Free hotdogs for the first 90 minutes of game time. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.