Vultures pull off two upset wins
For the second straight playoff game, the Minneota Vultures upset a higher seed, this time knocking off Dawson, the No. 2 team in the West, 6-2 on Friday in Bird Island.
Three days earlier, the Vultures (8-5) upset BOLD, the No. 1-seeded team in the East, 6-3. Minneota is seeded No. 4 in the West and opened the playoffs with an 11-5 win over Canby.
Minneota takes on Montevideo, the No. 1 team in the West, on Tuesday, July 25 in the winner's bracket final (the Mascot went to press before the conclusion of the game).
"I think just the fact that we've had nearly the entire group present for the playoff run has been super helpful," said Minneota coach Braeden Panka. "They've played together now for a while and they've grown up mentally this summer. It hasn't been the easiest summer with kids missing and going through growing pains, but we've seen some obvious improvements in the past weeks."
Minneota had eight hits against BOLD and nine against Dawson.
"Our lineup has been a complete 1-9 team that can be lethal by finding all kinds of ways to score runs," Panka said.
Minneota scored in each of the first four innings against Dawson and never looked back.
Ryan Meagher singled in the game's first run in the first inning. Eli Gruenes followed with a run-scoring double for a 2-0 lead.
Adam Dalager's two-run single in the third inning gave the Vultures a 5-0 lead. Gruenes also had a run-scoring single in the fourth inning.
Ryan Meagher started on the hill for the Vultures and picked up the win with five innings of work. He allowed three hits and two runs, while walking two and striking out three. Carson Javers earned his second straight save with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit.
"We've had a few guys step up and give us their very best on the mound in these playoffs," said Panka, referring to Meagher, Javers and Larson. "They throw strikes and often get weak contact. The defense has stepped up, too."
Gruenes went 3-for-4 with three RBI against Dawson. Parker Bradley, Kellen Bradley, Brody Larson, Meagher, Dalager and Javers had one hit apiece.
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Vultures upset top seed
Minneota, seeded No. 4 in the West half, upset top-seeded BOLD 6-3 on Tuesday, July 18 in Bird Island.
Brody Larson started on the hill for the Vultures and earned the win with five innings of work. He scattered six hits, while allowing just one earned run. He walked four and struck out seven. Carson Javers pitched two scoreless innings for the save.
Minneota scored twice in the top of the second inning for a 2-0 lead when Adam Dalager doubled home the first run and then scored on a double steal after Javers walked.
BOLD took a 3-2 lead in the last of the fourth before the Vultures tied in with a single run in the fifth on a run-scoring double by Eli Gruenes. Minneota then scored twice more in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to Kellen Bradley and a sacrifice fly by Larson.
The Vultures added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Kyson Arndt.
Arndt and Dalager had two hits apiece of the eight amassed by the Vultures. Meagher, Gruenes, Lacek and Javers had the other hits.
Minneota 6, BOLD 3
Minneota................................................020 012 1 - 6 8 2
BOLD.....................................................000 300 0 - 3 7 1
Minneota hitting: Landon Esping 0-for-0; Parker Bradley 0-for-2, 2 bb's, hbp; Kellen Bradley 0-for-3, 2 bb's, rbi; Brody Larson 0-for-3, sf, rbi; Ryan Meagher 1-for-3, bb; Eli Gruenes 1-for-3, 2b, bb, rbi; Joey Lacek 1-for-4, 2 runs; Adam Dalager 2-for-3, 2 runs, 2b, sac, rbi; Kyson Arndt 2-for-3, run, bb, rbi; Carson Javers 1-for-3, bb
Minneota pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Brody Larson (W) 5-6-3-1-4-7, Carson Javers (S) 2-1-0-0-0-2