April 26 at Benson

Minnewaska 10 

Benson 5  Game 1

The Lakers’ baseball team began their week on the road in Benson for a Tuesday doubleheader.

Benson took the lead after scoring a first inning run, but the Lakers responded with a big five-run outburst in the top of the second.

Only one Laker reached base via a hit, made by Jack Majerus, the second batter in the inning. The rest of the runners reached by walk or error. PJ Johnson, Jack Majerus, Hunter Johnson, Nathan Dell and Connor Stein all crossed home plate in the inning.

Two more Minnewaska runs scored in the top of the fifth inning when Jack Majerus reached base on an error with one out. Hunter Johnson followed with a triple deep right field, scoring Majerus. Johnson would come home on a passed ball and the Lakers led, 7-1.

A double and a single by the Braves resulted in their second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth.

Jacob Blair and Hunter Johnson scored in the top of the sixth inning, pushing the Lakers’ lead to 9-2, but the Braves kept things interesting, scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth.

Jack Majerus reached base on an error to lead off the top of the seventh and rounded the bases on steals and passed balls, putting Minnewaska up, 10-5.

Alex Panitzke relieved starting pitcher Torii Johnson in the bottom of the seventh and tossed a scoreless inning to wrap up the Lakers’ victory. Torii Johnson got the win, striking out six over his six innings of work.  

Lakers    050 022 1 – 10 5 1 

Benson   100 013 0 –  5  8 3

HITTING – Minnewaska:

Jacob Blair 0-1 r, Torii Johnson 1-3 r rbi-2, Dylan Alexander 2-4, PJ Johnson 0-2 r, Jack Majerus 1-3 r-3, Hunter Johnson 1-3 3b r-2 rbi-2, Nathan Dell 0-3 r, Connor Stein 0-1 r rbi  

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so)

Torii Johnson (W) 6-8-5-5-1-6

Alex Panitzke       1-0-0-0-2-1

April 26 at Benson

Minnewaska 4 

Benson 0  Game 2 

Minnewaska batted as the home team in game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader in Benson. 

The Lakers struck first in the bottom of the first after leadoff batter Jacob Blair was struck by a pitch. He circled the bases on a stolen base, a ground out and a passed ball. 

The game would keep the 1-0 score until the bottom of the fifth. Following a theme for the day, Connor Stein reached base and scored without the benefit of a hit, staking Minnewaska to a 2-0 lead.

Two more insurance runs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jack Larson and PJ Johnson reached base and scored thanks to errors and passed balls.

Nathan Dell tossed five scoreless innings to get the win. PJ Johnson wrapped up the final two innings, striking out four batters while not giving up any hits.     

Benson  000 000 0 – 0 5 3 

Lakers   100 012 x – 4 3 1

HITTING – Minnewaska:

Jacob Blair 0-2 r, Torii Johnson 1-3, Jack Larson 0-3 r, PJ Johnson 0-2 r, Jack Majerus 1-3, Nathan Dell 1-2, Connor Stein 0-3 r 

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so)

Nathan Dell (W) 5-5-0-0-2-5

PJ Johnson        2-0-0-0-0-4

April 28 at Minnewaska

Minnewaska 3 Sauk Centre 2 

A pair of undefeated teams collided at Marthaler Field on a raw Thursday afternoon. Minnewaska entered the game with a 4-0 record, while Sauk Centre boasted a 5-0 record.

The game was well-pitched and tight throughout. Sauk Centre struck first, scoring a run in the top of the third inning on a walk, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the fifth the Lakers scored twice to take the lead. Jacob Blair and Jack Majerus reached base and scored without the benefit of a hit.

The Mainstreeters would tie the score in the top of the sixth on a walk and a double.

Starting pitcher Jacob Blair retired Sauk Centre in order in the top of the seventh, setting the table for the Lakers’ offense to win the game in the bottom of the frame.

After the first two Laker batters made outs, it looked like the game would head into extra innings. But Jack Majerus singled, then took second after a bad throw tried to catch him as he rounded first base aggressively. Jack Larson stepped to the plate and ripped a single to score Majerus and give the Lakers an exciting walk-off win.

Majurus and Larson would account for four of the Lakers six hits. Jacob Blair tossed a complete game to get the win, giving up only three hits while striking out eight batters.

Three road games await the Minnewaska nine this week. On Tuesday the Lakers will be at West Central. On Thursday the Lakers and Mainstreeters have a rematch, followed by a game at Osakis on Friday.   

Sauk Centre 001 001 0 – 2 3 1 

Lakers       000 020 1 – 3 6 2

HITTING – Minnewaska:

Jacob Blair 0-4 r, Torii Johnson 1-4, Jack Majerus 2-4 r-2 rbi, Jack Larson 2-4, Connor Stein 1-3  

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so)

Jacob Blair (W) 7-3-2-2-3-8