Optimistic Mudhens excited to get underway
Still seeking that first trip to the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Class C State Tournament are the Minneota Mudhens. If optimism could get the job done, the Mudhens could punch their ticket to the state right now.
Instead, Manager Tyson Sonnenburg, Assistant Manager Beau Buysse and Assistant Austin Buysse have re-loaded an already solid roster and as Sonnenburg said, “We’re really excited for the season to start.”
Weather permitting, that should come around about 2 p.m., Saturday, April 27 when the Tracy Engineers travel to K. P. Kompelien Field in Minneota for the annual Engineers vs. Mudhens season lid-popper. The second game of the year is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3 at home against Pipestone. Both are non-league games.
“We lost a couple of players but we’ve gained Alex Pohlen, Mike Luke and Brant Buysse,” said Sonnenburg. Gone are Jordan Beck, Brock Buysse and Cal Swedzinski. Pohlen’s addition, one year after he graduated from Minneota High School, has the manager excited.
“He can play just about anywhere (including catcher, first base, outfield and pitcher), and he’s a really good hitter.
He should add pop to our lineup,” said Sonnenburg. There’s also good news from the Sonnenburg camp. The centerfielder/manager has a job that takes him away from the team at times, but ... “I’ve made arrangements and will be here much more often,” smiled Sonnenburg.
When he’s not available, Buysse has shown he’s more than capable of managing the team. “We work well together,” said Buysse. The addition of Luke, a strong outfielder with what Sonnenburg calls, “A sweet swing,” gives the team left-handed capabilities.
“I’m really excited for the season to begin,” said Luke, an out-of-state product who now lives in Minneota.
Beck has moved out of state and Brock Buysse decided not to play this year. His little brother (also Beau Buysse’s brother), joins the team after a good season pitching and playing infield for the Minneota Vikings High School.
Since the Canby Knights folded a few years ago, Minneota has been the beneficiary of some good Canby talent.
Back are pitcher Bryce Gorder, shortstop-pitcher Adam Durfee, pitcher Zach Nuy and catcher Noah Scott.
“They all want to come back and we’re glad to have them,” said Sonnenburg. When it comes to pitching, the Mudhens are “pitching rich,” — although they’ll have to wait and see exactly how the staff develops.
The “ace” of the staff is righthander Danny Hennen, who had perhaps his best campaign last year — earning him the honor of playing as a draftee with the Chokio Coyotes in the state tournament.
The hard-throwing Hennen was 4-1 last year with a 3.06 earned-run-average. He struck out 57 batters and walked just 28 — an average of just over seven strikeouts per game. Jake Leighton, who doubles as an outfielder, was 3-6 on the mound with a 3.65 earned run average. He fanned 47 batters.
And he also batted .352 a year ago with seven stolen bases. Durfee, who plays college ball at Sioux Falls University, the national champion, hit .415 and led the team with six home runs and 18 runs batted in.
“He’s been doing some pitching, too, so that should help us,” said Sonnenburg.
Nuy had a good season on the mound last year, going 4-1 with 30 strikeouts and 12 walks with a 3.33 earned run average. He became a dependable relief pitcher for the Mudhens last year. Other pitchers include Bryce Gorder, Thomas Fischer, Zach Nuy and others who can throw, like Preston Nuy, Pohlen, Brant and Beau Buysse and Durfee.
Gorder was coming off “Tommy John” surgery a year ago and pitched just 19 innings. He has electric stuff and could be counted on for more innings this year. Injuries always play a part in a teams success or failure, and they will be part of the Mudhens entering the season. Austin Buysse, who has held down the third base spot for years, injured his leg a year ago and he’s still recovering.
“Our plan is to move him to first base and put Preston Nuy at third. We’ve got to find a place for Nuy because he hits so well,” said Manager Sonnenburg. Nuy hit .276 and knocked in 11 runs in 2018.
But Minneota has versatility with catcher-infielder Jesse Drager, Scott, who can catch and play just about anywhere else, Leighton and Brant Buysse and will be able to fill the holes. Austin Buysse, when healthy, has also made himself a good hitter, batting .282 last year with eight runs batted in. It likely would have been better had he hadn’t been injured.
The Mudhens will hold their annual four-team, one-day tournament called the, “Paul Larson Memorial Mudhen Tournament” on Saturday June 8. Team in the tournament include the Mudhens, Ruthton Royals, Castlewood, SD Monarchs and the Searles Grizzlies. “It’s always a fun day,” said Sonnenburg.
Two teams from Section 9 advance to the state and it’s always a tough double-elimination tournament that has seen Minneota lose its first game by a single run twice in the past two years. They’ll have to overcome Dumont, Chokio, Morris, Ortonville and a tough field of opponents if they want to meet their goal.
The schedule is filled with tough non-conference opponents, including Marshall, the Milroy Yankees, the Milroy Irish and the Granite Falls Kilowatts.
“We like to use that to get ready for league play,” indicated Sonnenburg.