Playoff drive is still alive

Tuesday night the Minneota Vikings did something they’d never done before since Section 3A was restructured. They won their third straight game, 3-0 over Lac qui Parle Valley and   advanced to the undefeated ranks along with Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.
“Being 3-0 is really big,” said Coach Keven Larson. And they did it behind their ace pitcher — who a year ago was sitting on the bench, nursing his ailing leg and hoping he’d one day play the game he loves.
Landon Rolbiecki threw a three-hitter, fanning four batters with only one walk and at the plate, sacrificed in a run and tripled in another.
“I came out last year but couldn’t play,” said Rolbiecki, who was paying attention to doctor’s orders as he recovered from a leg he broke in two places in a football game.
There may have been a time when he didn’t think he’d ever play again. “There was a little bit there (worry about not playing), but now everything has healed and healed good,” he said.
After playing football Rolbiecki was injured at the end of the year and had to sit out the wrestling season.
But he’s back and he’s not taking all the credit. “My team really played well behind me,” he said. And he was right — like the solid play at third by Josh Laleman, who made several huge throws to first and by Jaymes Moon who traveled a long way to make a diving catch in the fifth inning.
“I told the kids to take advantage of the moment,” said Coach Larson. And they did, eking out a run in the first after Thomas Hennen beat out an infield hit and scored on Rolbiecki’s sacrifice to centerfield.
In the third inning Austin Sorensen smashed a line drive to right-center field for a double. Although was thrown out at third, Moon scored ahead of him for a 2-0 lead.
Tate Walerius tripled to lead off the fourth but was thrown out at home trying to score on a bunt by Laleman.
In the fifth they scored the third run when a Lac qui Parle error but Teddy Pesch on base and Rolbiecki’s triple to the wall in right chased Pesch across the plate.
Sam Buysse made four catches in centerfield to also bolster the Viking defense.
“Landon really stepped up and we had some huge hits,” said Coach Larson.
He’s been happy with the way Laleman has played third base. “Our defense at third has been second to none,” said the coach. “He’s helped us been in this position,”said the coach.
Before the game Coach Larson indicated, “our pitching is lined up for us—we’ve just got to make our pitches.”
Lac qui Parle Valley was without their first two pitchers, both who used up their pitch count. So they started their third hurler,  Tucker Droogsma. He lasted until the fifth. After Rolbiecki tripled, Eagle Coach Bart Hill brought in Eean Allpress.
KMS, which beat Adrian 7-0, and Minneota, are the two No. 1-ranked teams who will now fight it out at noon on Saturday in Milroy.
The winner will be in the driver’s seat and the loser will have to fight their way back to the championship.
In consolations, Renville Co. West beat Yellow Medicine East 7-6 and Murray Co. Central beat Edgerton/SWMC, 5-3. Adrian plays RCW and MCC plays LqPV at 5 and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Milroy.

MINNEOTA (AB-R-H-RBI) Thomas Hennen, ss 2 1 1 0; Sam Buysse, cf 2 0 0 0; Teddy Pesch, 2b 2 1 0 0; Landon Rolbiecki, p 2 0 1 2; Ben Skorczewski, cr 0 0 0 0; Jaymes Moon, lf 3 1 0 0; Austin Sorensen,1 b 3 1 1 0; Tate Walerius, dh 3 0 1 0; Carter Schuelke, c 0 0 0 0; Cole Sanow, rf 2 0 0 0; Josh Laleman, 3b 3 0 1 1. Totals 22 3 5 3.
LQPV (AB-R-H-RBI): Eean Allpress, cf-p 3 0 1 0; Caden Bjornjeld, 2b 3 0 0 0; Dain Haas, 1b 3 0 0 0; Tucker Droogsma, p-lf 3 0 1 0; Brett Baldwin,c 3 0 0 0; Trevor Gearman, dh 2 0 1 0; Layton Wittnebel, lf 3 0 0 0; Wyatt Halvorson, 3b 3 0 0 0; Carter Amland, ss 3 0 0 0. Totals 26 0 3 0.
Score by Innings
LQPV             000 000 0 — 0 3 1
Minneota        101 010 x — 3 5 2
E-Minneota: Hennen 2; LQPV: Amland. LOB-Minneota 6; LQPV 6. SB-Minneota: Hennen; LQPV: Allpress. SAC-Minneota: Rolbiecki. DP-LQPV (6-4-3 (1). 2B-Minneota: Sorensen. 3B-Minneota-Walerius, Rolbiecki.
Pitching             IP    R    ER    H    BB    K
Minneota
Rolbiecki (W)    7     0     0      3     1       5
LQPV
Droogsma        4.1  3     2      5     4       1
Allpress            1.2  0     0      0     0       3
HP-Sanow (by Droogsma). WP-Robiecki 1.