Mudhens beat Drakes in playoff opener

The Amateur Baseball 9C Section Tournament opened Friday night in Madison with the Morris Eagles winning a 1-0 game in 15 innings over the Hancock Orphans.

That gives Morris the chance to move on to a 1 p.m. Sunday game at Madison against the Minneota Mudhens, 4-1 winners over the Dawson Drakes.

Other games at Madison are Dumont vs. Clinton at 5 p.m. and Chokio vs. Cottonwood at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday the Dumont/Clinton winner plays the Chokio/Cottonwood winner at 3:30 p.m. — following the Morris vs. Minneota.

Dumont was undefeated In the Land O'Ducks League and has the No. 1 seeding. Minneota, at 10-1 in the league and 19-5 overall, were ranked No. 2. Morris was ranked No. 3 and Chokio No. 4.

By Byron Higgin

Mascot Sports Editor

The Minneota Mudhens Saturday did something they've never done before . They won their first game in the Section 9C Playoffs, 4-1 over the Dawson Drakes.

"We've never won this game. It was good to get the monkey off our backs," said Manager Tyson Sonnenburg. Assistant Coach Beau Buysse mouthed the same phrase, whle taking a big sigh of relief.

Not that it was easy. It wasn't until the seventh inning when they rallied for four runs to beak open a 1-1 pitcher's battle.

Danny Hennen was holding the Drakes at bay, but he was pretty much matched by Drake hurler Josh Staab. Danny was getting some good movement on his fastball," said Beau Buysse."That was good to see," he added.

In the seventh the Mudhens finally go to Staab, and it was Hennen who helped himself. He delivered his second single of the game to left field to get the rally started. Austin DeVlaeminck was safe on an error to bring Buysse to the plate. He laid down a perfect bunt, Dawson was unable to handle it and the bases were loaded. Minneota scored on a groundout by ake Leighton — then Sonnenburg came to the plate.

On an 0-2 count, Sonnenburg lined a single to centerfield score to a pair or runs and give the Mudhens a 4-1 lead.

Just a day earlier Sonneburg had two sessions of hitting practice. "I wasn't feeling good after the first one so I went to SMSU (Marshall) and did some more hitting," he said.

The extra work certainly paid off. He was 3-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored.

"You don't know the anticipation we had about this game," said Sonnenburg. As for getting the bi ghit with two strikes, Sonnenburg said, "I've felt a llttle more comfortable with two strikes."

But nothing would have been possible with the way Hennen pitched. ""He pitched an awesome game," said Sonnenburg.

"Very good defense makes it easier," said Hennen. Known as a fastball pitcher, Hennen, "Began mixing in breaking pitches late in the game. "This was a fun game to play," he said.

KEY MOMENTS:

•In the first inning the Drakes Alex Swenson tried to steal home. But Danny Hennen tossed to catcher Jesse Drager, who easily tagged out Swenson.

•With a runner on base, Mudhen right fielder Jake Leighton made a diving catch to help end the threat.

MUDHENS (AB-R-H-RBI) Beau Buysse, 2b 3 1 1 0; Jake Leighton, rf 5 0 0 1; Tyson Sonnenburg, cf 4 1 3 2; Austin Buysse, 3b 3 0 1 0; Preston Nuy, 3b 3 0 1 1; Alex Pohlen, lf 4 0 1 0; Jesse Drager, c 4 0 0 0; Danny Hennen, p 4 0 2 0; Noah Scott, pr 0 1 0 0; Austin DeVlaeminck, 1b 4 1 0 0. Totals 36-4-9-4.

DAWSON (AB-R-H-RBI) Alex Swensen, clf- 4 0 2; Braxton Thompson, cr 3 0 1 0; Austin Schmidt, 2b 4 0 0 0; Estan Weber, rf 4 1 1 0; Braeden Thompson, c-p  4 0 1 1; Kalib Greenman, ss 3 0 0 0 ; Tyler Fransky, 1b 3 0 0 0; Josh Staab,  3 0 0 0; Nolan Harding, lf 0 0 0 0; Nick Thompson, 3b 3 0 2 0; Hunter Cleveland, pr 0 0 0 0. Totals 31 1 7 1.

Score by Innings:

Dawson           010 000 000 — 1 7 2

Minneota         100 000 30x —  4 9 0

E=Dawson: Greenman, Nick Thompson. LOB-Minneota 12; Dawson: 5. SB-Dawson-Swenson. SAC-Dawson-Braxton Thompson. DP-Dawson 6-3 (6). 2B-Dawson: Esten Weber.

Pitching                           IP    R    ER    H    BB    K

Minneota

Hennen (W)                     9     1     1      7     0       6

Dawson

Staab  (L)                         6.1    4     3     8     1      1

Braed. Thompson            1.2     0     0    1     2      0

HP-A. Buysse (by Staab); Greenman (by Hennen). BALK-Hennen.