Nuy pitches a "dandy" 8-1 win over Chokio
Peyton Nuy pitched high school ball for Minneota. Last year, he played for Lennox, SD and was drafted to play in the South Dakota State Tournament.
But Lennox folded — and Minneota Mudhen Coach Tyson Sonneburg came knocking at Nuy's door.
He lives and works in Sioux Falls, but made the committment to the Mudhens — and he's sure glad he did.
"It's so great to play with the guys you know — and play with my brother (Preston)," said Nuy, who fashioned a game of "catch" with catcher Jesse Drager that resulted in the best pitching performance of his career. Minneota beat Chokio, 8-1.
No greater praise for Nuy's effort than that of catcher Jesse Drager.
"I told him before the game to just hit my mitt — and he just kept doing it. He had one batter in which he threw five straight curveballs — and nobody ever does that," said Drager.
"He was putting the ball wherever he wanted," said the catcher. "It was like he was playing Championship Darts tonight," Drager said about the pitcher's accuracy. "He was spot on. I think he missed maybe two spots where I put my mitt," Drager added.
The catcher said Chokio was so frustrated the plate. "It was beautiful spot pitching. Very fun to catch," said Drager.
"I've never been the kind of guy to shake off my catcher. I trust him (Drager)," said Nuy.
Actually, "It's been awhile since I pitched (before this year)." Because he loves the game, he wanted to play some more this year. Then, when Mudhen Manager Sonnenburg asked, he responded.
Despite the drive from Sioux Falls, Nuy has found he's able to make most of the games — except for Wednesday games. He'll likely miss Wednesday's game at Dawson but will be back on Friday and Sunday.
Minneota has been trying to stretch a battered pitching staff and Nuy said, "I know we don't have a lot of pitchers so I was trying to go a long ways in this game." He went all nine, giving a boost to a staff that needed a break.
When Peyton Nuy looks around, he sees brother Preston backing him up at shortstop and cousin Zach Nuy warming up or playing first base. "It's always nice playing with my brother. It's something different. And nice to play with Zach, too."
Hennen, who had trouble earlier in his career hitting the ball, seems to have found his stroke. His two doubles helped put him over .300 this year. "I guess I need to go golfin' more often," Hennen laughed. He went golfing Friday and tried to relate that event to his new-found power.
Seriously, he said, "It feels good to get a hit and help out the team," said Hennen. While Hennen has confidence in the top five batters in the order, he said, "It nice to see the bottom of the order coming through." Hennen, Drager and DeVlaeminck had four hits in this victory.
As the ace of the pitching stafff, Hennen likeed what he saw from co-pitcher Peyton Nuy. "He was hitting his spots and he look confident," said Hennen. He also liked the way the Mudhens came off a 9-1 loss to the Milroy Irish Friday and bounced back with a win. "It's nice to see when you get knocked down and come back."
Assistant Manager Beau Buysse, who delivered a run-scoring single in the four-run fourth said, "We needed that win. Chokio has been in the state the last three years."
He added that, "Peyton (Nuy) pitched well and that was nice to see. Buysse added, "We played good defense and had good pitching. Now, we just need to continue to build toward the end of the season."
MUDHENS (AB-R-H-RBI) Beau Buysse, 2b 4 0 1 1; Bryce Gorder, 2b 0 0 0 0; Jake Leighton, lf 4 0 0 1; Tyson Sonnenburg, cf 4 1 3 0; Austin Buysse, 3b 4 0 1 2; Preston Nuy, ss 4 1 1 0; Noah Scott, rf 4 1 0 0; Jess Drager, c 3 1 1 0; Danny Hennen, 1b 4 2 3 3; Zach Nuy, 1b 0 0 0 0; Austin DeVlaeminck, dh 4 1 1 1; Peyton Nuy, p 0 0 0 0. Totals 35 8 11 8.
CHOKIO (AB-R-H-RBI) Chandler Erickson, p 4 0 1 1; Tom Holland, cf 5 0 1 0; Alex Erickson, ss 4 0 1 0; Jeremy Westerman, 3b 4 0 0 0l Tyler Reimers, ph 1 0 0 0; Parker Dierks, c-p 4 0 3 0; Chandler Vogl, 1b 3 0 0 0; Taylor McCalip, lf 4 1 1 1; Kevin Asfeld, dh 3 0 0 1; Alex Daugherty, rf 0 0 0 0; Justin Daley, 2b 3 0 1 0; Colton Scheidorf, ph 1 0 0 0. Ttals 35 1 9 1.
Chokio 010 000 000 — 1 9 1
Mudhens 020 204 00X — 8 11 0
E-Chokio: Daley. LOB-Mudhens 6; Chokio:13. SB-Chokio: Diercks. SAC-Mudhens: Drager, Leighton. DP-Chokio 6-3 (8), 2B-Mudhens: Sonnenburg, Hennen 2, DeVlaeminck.
Pitching IP R ER H BB K
Mudhens
Nuy (W) 9 1 1 9 1 6
Chokio
Erickson (L) 6 8 6 11 1 3
Diercks 2 0 0 0 1 1>P
HP-C. Erickson, A. Erickson, Vogel (by Nuy); WP-Erickson.