Northwoods League
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) –Christian Smith-Johnson flared an RBI single into right field that scored Cade Baldridge (Cowley CC/Kansas) and gave the Wausau Woodchucks an 8-7 walk-off win over the Madison Mallards—the team’s fourth walk-off win of the season, and the second over Madison at Athletic Park. It was the first walk-off hit in Smith-Johnson’s Woodchucks career.
The walk-off secured Wausau’s third Fourth of July win in the last four years, and Wausau’s fourth win over Madison in 2025. The Woodchucks are now 3-0 against their rivals at Athletic Park and have won each of their last five games at home.
The Woodchucks continue to play close games and win them. The Woodchucks have improved to 8–5 in one-run contests, winning each of their last three. Three of Wausau’s last five wins have come in walk-off fashion. Tonight was the second straight year that Wausau won its Fourth of July game by just one run.
With the final run of tonight’s game crossing the plate, Wausau became the first team in the Northwoods League to score 300 total runs this season. The Woodchucks are on pace to eclipse last season’s offensive output when they scored 505 runs. The Woodchucks also had 17 total hits on the night, the third-most hits in a home game in the 2025 season.
Wausau now holds sole possession of first place in the second half Great Lakes West standings with a 3-1 record. Madison drops to 2-2. The Woodchucks and Mallards will begin a four-game set this coming Wednesday, July 9, which will be their final series of the regular season.
But first, Wausau will head on the road for three straight games following their thrilling win. The first of those games will be tomorrow afternoon at Green Bay, when the Woodchucks match up against the Rockers at 3:05 p.m. Wausau is 1-3 against Green Bay this season, with the Woodchucks losing two one-run contests to the Rockers at the end of June, a pivotal turning point in the first half race. Tomorrow will be their first road game against Green Bay in the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, the Ignite were shut out for the second straight game, falling 8-0 at Madison.
It was a quiet start to play at the Duck Pond, but Madison was the first squad to make noise with an Ella Stephenson home run to left in the third. It was her second game in a row with a homer and her league-leading eighth of the year.
Madison strengthened their lead in the fourth when Ava Carroll forced a bases-loaded walk to bring home Tayler Baker. Carroll would contribute another run in the sixth on an RBI single, starting a four-run frame that put the game out of reach for the Ignite.
Riley Stiles got the start and went 5.1 innings with two strikeouts, keeping it a two-run game until the sixth.
Wausau falls to 6-12 on the season and will head to La Crosse on Saturday for a doubleheader with the 6-12 Steam. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 5:05 pm CT, while game two will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
Other Independence Day scores from the Northwoods League- Great Lakes Division:
Lakeshore 14, Wisconsin Rapids 3
Green Bay 10, Fond du Lac 1
Kenosha 18, Royal Oak 4
Kalamazoo 9, Traverse City 3
Rockford 17, Battle Creek 12
Mankato 11, Eau Claire 9
Softball
La Crosse 6, Madison 4
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