Blake Nelson applied a critical tag to Adrian’s Nick Harder at third base to stop a rally by the Dragons in the first inning. Harder was out.

Vikings end 19 years of Adrian frustration

Win 8-7 in season opener.
"It was a personal thing." In those 19 years, Minneota hasn't played Adrian every year, but when they did, they lost. Not this time.

Nineteen years of frustration ended Friday when Coach Keven Larson and his Minneota Vikings baseball team beat Adrian, 8-7.

While Larson doesn't like personal accomplishments, he did feel, "It was a personal thing." In those 19 years, Minneota hasn't played Adrian every year, but when they did, they lost.

Not this time.

"We got so close down there last year. It was nice to see our experience pay off and the guys feed off of it," the coach said.

Preston Nuy pitched a masterful six innings and had an 8-2 lead when he left. Adrian picked up a little "Dragon fire" in the ninth, feeding off a huge three-run home run blast into the seats in left center by senior Zach Loosbrock that tightened the game at 8-7. But reliever Thomas Hennen settled down and got the final two outs to preserve the win for Nuy. "We'd lost to them four times," remembered senior Donnie Schuelke, who delivered a big double in the first inning to knocked in two runs and tie the game at 2-2.

The left-handed hitter sliced the ball down the left field line past Ryan Wieneke to knock home Alex Pohlen and Blake Nelson.

"Finally," said Schuelke about getting a big hit.

He had a tough time at the plate last year but started out the new season in good shape. "We were disappointed last year and wanted to start strong," said Schuelke about the team's 9-11 record a year ago. The team's catcher, Austin DeVlaeminck also came up with a big hit with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. He rapped a double to clear the bases and give Minneota a 5-2 lead. "Preston struggled with his curveball in the first inning, then he got it right," said the catcher.

While he liked his big hit, the senior said, "We had a lot of clutch at bats. This is the first time we've seen live pitching." Nuy was happy with the command he had on the mound and said, "I like my curveball. The fastball too, but I got the curveball working."

He felt he got stronger as the game went along. But he found it nerve racking at shortstop when Adrian scored seven runs to threaten the Minneota lead. “I had part of that too, with a throwing error, so I was nervous."

"What I liked was seeing us play this well and finish it off," said Schuelke.

“You can't win or lose championships in the first game, but this one does put a nice taste in our mouths," said Coach Larson.

 

 

 

Minneota 8, Adrian 7
MINNEOTA (AB-R-H-RBI) Austin DeVlaeminck, c 4 1 1 3; Brock Fox, 1b 3 1 1 0; Alex Pohlen, rf 2 2 0 0; Blake Nelson, 3b 2 1 0 0; Donnie Schuelke, cf 3 0 1 3; Preston Nuy, p-ss 2 0 0 1; Landon Abraham, dh 3 1 1 0; Thomas Hennen-ss-p 0 0 0 0;  Brant Buysse, 2 3 1 1 10; Mark Laleman, lf 2 1 0 0. Totals 22-8-5-7.
ADRIAN (AB-R-H-RBI) Ryan Wieneke, lf 3 1 0 0; Jake Stamer, p-2b 4 2 1 1; Zach Loosbrock, c 2 2 1 3; Nick Harder, rf-p-3b 4 0 2 2; Mitchell Wager, 1b 4 0 1 0; Nate Looneman, cf 4 0 1 0; Skylar Polzine, 3b-p 2 0 0 0; Jeffrey Cauwells, dh 3 0 1 1; Ian Stamer, 2b 0 0 0 0; Zach Hendel, ss 2 1 1 0. Totals  28-7-8-7.
Score by Innings
Adrian        200 000 5  —  7 8 3
Minneota        200 600 x —   8 5  4
E-Minneota: Nelson, Nuy 2; Adrian: Polzine, J. Stamer, I. Stamer. LOB-Minneota 6; Adrian 6. SB-Minneota: Fox 2, Pohlen 2. 2B-Minneota: Schuelke, DeVlaeminck; Adrian: Harder.
Pitching                  IP  R  ER  H  BB  K
Minneota
Preston Nuy (W)    6    2   2     4  1     4
T. Hennen (S)        1    5   0     4  1     0
Adrian
J. Stamer (L)          3.2 6   4     4  3     7
Harder                    0    2   2     1  4     0
Polzine                   2.1 0   0     0  0     3
HP-Minneota: Fox (by Polzine); Adrian: Loosbrock (by Nuy). WP-Minneota: T. Hennen. PB-Minneota-DeVlaeminck.
 

 

 

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