Amateur Baseball

Minneota staged a four-run rally to tie the game in the sixth inning, but couldn't get a another run in extra innings and fell to Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 8-7 in 10 innings in the first round of the Section 3A tournament Saturday in Slayton.
Neither team played solid defense, each committing six errors. There were also 15 walks and seven hit batsmen in the game.
"It didn't start out the way we had hoped," said Minneota coach Keven Larson. "We gave up a couple of early runs and switched pitchers in the fourth inning."
Teams losing in the first round are eliminated. The tournament then goes into a double-elimination format after that.
Minneota ace Ryan Dalager worked the first three innings and allowed two hits and one earned run, while walking three and striking out four. Peyton Gillund, in his longest outing of the season, worked the final seven innings and absorbed the loss, allowing five hits and four earned runs. He walked two and struck out eight.
"(Peyton) held the team together and put the team on his shoulders," Larson said. "We just couldn't get a run across in extras for the win."
Sophomore Trevor Smith started on the mound for the Panthers. He gave up five hits and no earned runs. Jeret Ankrum, the second of four TMB hurlers, got the win. Noah Knakenmuhs recorded the final out of the game for the save.
Jackson Lacek and Parker Bradley drove in two runs apiece for Minneota.
Minneota finished the season 11-4.
"I was pleased with the way we battled all season and the wins we collected," Larson said. "The three seniors (Gillund, Lacek and Isaac Pohlen) we had really brought everyone together and showed the younger guys how to play the game. I just feel awful for them because of how much time and effort they have put into playing during their high school careers. They will be deeply missed next year."
The Vikings will have a lot of players with varsity experience next season as some of the younger players stepped in due to injuries.
"We had quite a few first-year (varsity) players that stepped in and played key roles," said Larson. "When we had injuries, there were guys that moved into different roles and played well. This will be something that they can carry with them throughout life as well. When the unexpected happens, you have to adjust. The definitely did that and it showed on the field and in the stats."
Pohlen, Gillund and Dalager earned all-Camden Conference honors this season. Lacek was an Honorable Mention selection.

TMB 8, Minneota 7
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton.............102 011 200 0 - 8 7 6
Minneota...............................100 002 400 0 - 7 6 6

Minneota hitting: Peyton Gillund 1-for-4, 2 bb's, rbi; Jackson Lacek 1-for-5, run, hbp, 2 rbi; Isaac Pohlen 1-for-6, rbi; Peyton Sheik 0-for-5, bb; Ryan Dalager 0-for-4, 2 bb's; Eli Gruenes 1-for-5, 2 runs, bb; Brody Larson 1-for-4, 2 runs, bb; Ryan Meagher 1-for-2, run, 2 bb's, hbp; Parker Bradley 0-for-2, run, bb, hbp, 2 rbi; Kyler Lozinski 0-for-0

Minneota pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Ryan Dalager 3-2-3-1-3-4, Peyton Gillund (L) 7-5-5-4-2-8

Vikings top CMCS in 9th
Minneota scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning and defeated Central Minnesota Christian School 9-5 in the regular-season finale on Tuesday in Prinsburg.
The Bluejays led 5-4 before the Vikings scored in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game and eventually send it into extra innings.
Isaac Pohlen led the Vikings (11-3) at the plate, going 4-for-5, including a double, and drove in three runs. Brody Larson, who was 2-for-5, also drove in three runs.
Minneota outhit CMCS 12-4. Peyton Gillund continued his hot hitting by going 2-for-6 with a double. Parker Bradley had two hits, including a double, and knocked in two runs. Jackson Lacek reached base four times with a double, two walks, and a hit by pitch. Adam Dalager had the other Minneota hit.
Larson started on the mound for Minneota and allowed just one hit and no earned runs over the first three innings. Ryan Meagher pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Bradley came on to start the fifth inning but left after walking the first two batters he faced. Gillund, in his longest outing of the season, hurled the final five innings for the win. He allowed three hits and no earned runs, while striking out four.
Ethan Bulthuis, who was tagged with the loss in relief, had two hits and drove in a run for the Bluejays.

Minneota 9, CMCS 5
Minneota..................................001 301 004 - 9 12 5
Central Minnesota Christian.....100 040 000 - 5 4 2

Minneota hitting: Peyton Gillund 2-for-6, 2 runs, 2b; Jackson Lacek 1-for-2, run, 2b, 2 bb's, hbp, sb; Isaac Pohlen 4-for-5, 2 runs, 2b, sb, 3 rbi; Ryan Dalager 0-for-3, run, bb, sac; Eli Gruenes 0-for-4, run, sac; Brody Larson 2-for-5, run, sb, 3 rbi; Joe Voit 0-for-1, bb; Ryan Meagher 0-for-5; Parker Bradley 2-for-4, run, 2b, hbp, 2 rbi; Adam Dalager 1-for-2, sac

Minneota pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Brody Larson 3-1-1-0-2-3, Ryan Meagher 1-0-0-0-1-1, Parker Bradley 0-0-2-1-2-0, Peyton Gillund 5-3-2-0-0-4