The Minnewaska Area baseball team swept a doubleheader from Sauk Centre during the home opener last Tuesday night, 6-2 and 2-1.  The Lakers fell to NLS at home three nights later, 10-4, for the first loss of the season.

The Lakers, who are 2-0 in the WCC and 3-1 overall through the early part of the schedule, have three more games scheduled this week.  Minnewaska is set to play a doubleheader at Montevideo, Tuesday (tomorrow) before hosting Osakis for a single game, Thursday, May 4.

“Just a few weeks into our season, it is clear that this is a tight knit group of players in grades 9-12, unlike any I’ve seen before,” coach Joe Alexander said.  “They push each other and hold each other accountable while also celebrating individual successes as a group.

“Our leadership group is big and does amazing things daily.  If we can combine great pitching and timely hitting with our very good defense and excellent team speed, it promises to be a very good 2023 campaign.”

Waska 6-2, SC 2-1

The Lakers swept a doubleheader over Sauk Centre last Tuesday night at home, 6-2 and 2-1.  Minnewaska Area allowed just four hits in the first game and Alex Panitzke pitched a one-hitter in the nightcap as the Lakers improved to 3-0 overall after the two wins.

In the first game, the Lakers scored one run in the first inning, but SC went up 2-1 with a two-run third inning.

Minnewaska Area went ahead for good with two runs in the third inning and then added a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Levi Johnson went 2-for-3 with a run, two RBI, walk and stolen base to lead the Laker offense, while Dylan Alexander was 1-for-4 with an RBI-double in the first inning and PJ Johnson was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and two RBI.

Jack Majerus walked twice, stole three bases and scored three runs for the Lakers, while Ryland Martin and Austin Ballhagen also scored for Minnewaska Area.

PJ Johnson earned the win in the first game, pitching all seven innings and giving up four hits, one earned run and three walks with nine strikeouts.

•  In the second game, Alex Panitzke pitched a one-hit shutout with three walks and nine strikeouts to key the win.

Minnewaska Area scored single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.  Levi Johnson tripled to lead off the fourth inning and came home on a stolen base.  

In the seventh, PJ Johnson singled with one out, went to second on an error, to third on a stolen base and home on another error.

Austin Weber and Austin Ballhagen also had hits for the Lakers.

NLS 10, Minnewaska 4

The Lakers issued nine walks and committed six errors on the way to a 10-4 loss to New London-Spicer, Friday night at home.  Minnewaska Area outhit the Wildcats 8-5, but the Lakers left 11 runners on base.

The Lakers went up 2-1 after two innings, but four walks and an error led to a four-run third inning for the Wildcats.

Minnewaska cut the deficit to 5-4 with two unearned runs in the fifth, but NLS added two more in the sixth and three in the seventh for the final margin.

Alex Panitzke led the Laker offense, going 2-for-3 with a run and walk, while Jack Majerus, Dylan Alexander, PJ Johnson, Austin Weber, Thomas Poegel and Austin Ballhagen had one hit each.

Ryland Martin took the loss on the mound, pitching the first 2 2/3 innings and giving up four hits, five runs (only one earned) and five walks with two strikeouts.

Majerus came in for relief and pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up one hit, four walks and another five runs (one earned) with four strikeouts before Weber came in to get the final two outs.

#1-at Waska 6, Sauk Cen 2

Sauk Centre 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 — 2 4 3

Waska (2-0) 1 0 2 0 1 2 x — 6 4 1

HITTING:  WASKA-Levi Johnson 2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, bb, sb; Dylan Alexander 1-for-4, RBI, double; PJ Johnson 1-for-3, 2 RBI, sb; Jack Majerus 0-for-2, 3 runs, 2 bb, 3 sb; Ryland Martin 1 run, bb; Austin Ballhagen 1 run, sb; Noah Jensen hbp . . . SC-four players with one hit each

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  WASKA-PJ Johnson (W, 2-0)  7-4-2-1-3-9 . . . SC-UA-5 2/3-4-6-2-4-6; UA 1/3-0-0-0-0-0

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#2-at Waska 2, Sauk Cen 1

Waska (3-0) 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 — 2 3 0

Sauk Centre 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 2

HITTING:  WASKA-Levi Johnson 1-for-3, 1 run, triple; PJ Johnson 1-for-2, RBI, sac; Austin Weber 1-for-3, sb; Austin Ballhagen 1 run . . . SC-1 hit

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  WASKA-Alex Panitzke (W, 1-0)  7-1-0-0-3-9 . . . SC-Danielson (L) 7-3-2-1-0-8

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NLS 10, at Minnewaska 4

NLS 1 0 4 0 0 2 3 — 10 5 4

Waska (3-1) 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 — 4 8 6

HITTING:  WASKA-Alex Panitzke 2-for-3, 1 run, bb; Jack Majerus 1-for-4, 1 run, double; Dylan Alexander 1-for-4; PJ Johnson 1-for-3, 1 run, bb; Austin Weber 1-for-3, 1 run, bb; Thomas Poegel 1-for-3, RBI; Austin Ballhagen 1-for-2, bb . . . NLS-L. Knudson 2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, bb

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  WASKA-Ryland Martin (L, 0-1)  2 2/3-4-5-1-5-2; Jack Majerus 3 2/3-1-5-1-4-4; Austin Weber 2/3-0-0-0-0-0 . . . NLS-K. Rohloff (W)  5-7-4-1-4-8; E. Jacobson 1 2/3-1-0-0-1-2

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