The Minnewaska baseball team had a very successful week of play last week, winning four-straight conference games, including one on a walk-off homerun by Noah Jensen.

The Lakers swept a twin bill from Melrose last Tuesday, 2-0 and 9-8, and also won both games at West Central Area last Tuesday and Wednesday, 11-2 and 12-2 with Dylan Alexander going a combined 6-for-9.

The Lakers, who are 7-1 in the WCC and 8-3 overall, also won at ACGC, Friday, 5-4.  Results of that game will be highlighted next week.

On tap for this week are home doubleheaders against Benson, Tuesday (tomorrow) and versus BOLD, Saturday, along with a game at Paynesville, Friday.

Waska 2-9, Melrose 0-8

The Lakers swept a doubleheader at Melrose last Monday night, earning a 2-0 win in the first game on a two-hitter by PJ Johnson and also winning second game 9-8 on a walk-off solo homer by Noah Jensen in the eighth inning.

In the first game, Jack Majerus was 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the offense.  He led off the first with a single and came home on a one-out error and also scored in the sixth, leading off with a single again, stealing second and coming home on a two-out single by Johnson.

The Lakers, who went down in order in the second, third, fourth and seventh innings, also got hits from Noah Jensen and Alex Panitzke.

Johnson gave up just two hits and two walks over seven innings with five strikeouts.  He improved to 3-1 for the season.

•  In the second game, Noah Jensen went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a walk-off, solo homer with no outs in the eighth inning to give Minnewaska the 9-8 victory.

The Lakers rapped out 13 hits in the nightcap as Dylan Alexander was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, PJ Johnson was 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and walk, and Alex Panitzke was 2-for-4 with two runs and a double.

The Lakers scored three runs in the first inning and one in the third, but still trailed 8-4 after 4 1/2 innings.

Minnewaska Area scored two in the fifth on RBI-singles by Austin Weber and Panitzke and then tied it up with two more runs in the sixth on RBI-hits by Johnson and Panitzke.

After both teams failed to score in the seventh, Jensen ended the game with no outs in the eighth with his fourth hit of the game, a solo homer on an 0-1 count, sending his teammates and fans into a wild celebration.

Waska 11-12, WCA 2-2

The Lakers continued their great recent play with a 11-2, 12-2 doubleheader sweep at West Central Area last Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Dylan Alexander had six total hits in the two games combined, while Levi Johnson and Conner Erickson earned victories on the mound.

In the first game, Alexander was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI to lead the Lakers’ nine-hit attack. 

Alex Panitzke and Austin Ballhagen added two hits each, while Jack Majerus and Noah Jensen also had hits for Minnewaska, which led 2-0 through five innings before scoring nine runs over the final two at-bats.

Levi Johnson earned the win after giving up three hits and two walks over six innings.  Ballhagen pitched the final inning in relief.

•  In the second game, the Lakers led 7-2 after two innings and added five more in the fourth and fifth innings to end the game early due to the 10-run rule.

Conner Erickson pitched a complete game to earn the victory.  He gave up just one hit, six walks and two runs over five innings with four strikeouts.

Dylan Alexander had another big game, going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI, while PJ Johnson also had a big night, going 3-for-3 with a run, two RBI, a walk and double.

Jack Majerus added two hits, three runs and three stolen bases, while also recording hits for the Lakers were Noah Jensen and Austin Weber.

Waska 2, at Melrose 0

Waska (5-3) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 5 2

Melrose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 1

HITTING:  WASKA-Jack Majerus 2-for-3, 2 runs; PJ Johnson 1-for-3, RBI; Noah Jensen 1-for-3; Alex Panitzke 1-for-3; Levi Johnson sac, bb . . . MEL-two with one hit each

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  WASKA-PJ Johnson (W, 3-1)  7-2-0-0-2-5 . . . MEL-Orbeck (L)  7-5-2-1-1-7

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Waska 9, Melrose 8, 8 inn

Melrose 0 5 0 1 2 0 0 0 — 8 8 2

Waska (6-3) 3 0 1 0 2 2 0 1 — 9 13 4

HITTING:  WASKA-Noah Jensen 4-for-5, 3 runs, 3 RBI, 2 doubles, HR; Dylan Alexander 3-for-5, 2 runs; PJ Johnson 2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI, bb; Alex Panitzke 2-for-4, 2 runs, double, 2 RBI; Austin Weber 1-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Austin Ballhagen 1-for-3, hbp, sb; Levi Johnson 0-for-3, 2 runs, 2 bb; Jack Majerus hbp, bb  . . . MEL-Orbeck 2-for-4, 2 RBI; Anderson 2-for-4, RBI; four others with one hit each

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  WASKA-Alex Panitzke 4-5-6-6-6-4; Jack Majerus (W, 1-1)  4-3-2-2-3-3 . . . MEL-Wehlage 4-4-4-3-3-2; Anderson 1-6-4-4-1-2; UA (L) 2-3-1-1-0-3

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Minnewaska 11, at WCA

Waska (7-3) 0 0 1 0 1 3 6 — 11 9 1

WCA 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 — 2 5 3

HITTING:  WASKA-Dylan Alexander 3-for-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, double; Alex Panitzke 2-for-4, 1 run, bb; Austin Ballhagen 2-for-2, 3 runs, 2 bb, double, sb; Jack Majerus 1-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, bb; Noah Jensen 1-for-3, 2 RBI, double, 2 hbp; Austin Weber 1 run, bb, hbp; PJ Johnson RBI; Conner Erickson 1 run; Ryland Martin 1 run, RBI; Levi Johnson 0-for-3, 1 run, 2 bb . . . WCA-B. Bye 2-for-3, 1 run, sb

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  WASKA-Levi Johnson (W, 1-0)  6-3-0-0-2-0; Austin Ballhagen 1-2-2-2-1-2 . . . WCA-C. Bruss (L)  5-3-2-1-3-3; C. Nelson 1 1/3-5-9-5-3-2; J. Courrier 2/3-1-0-0-1-1

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Minnewaska 12, at WCA 2

WCA 0 2 0 0 0 — 2 1 2

Waska (8-3) 3 4 0 3 2 — 12 10 0

HITTING:  WASKA-Dylan Alexander 3-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI; PJ Johnson 3-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, bb, double; Jack Majerus 2-for-4, 3 runs, 3 sb; Noah Jensen 1-for-1, 2 runs, RBI, bb, hbp; Austin Weber 1-for-1, 2 RBI, bb, double; Levi Johnson 1 run, 2 bb; Thomas Poegel 2 runs; Alex Panitzke RBI, bb, sac fly; Austin Ballhagen 1 run, bb. . . WCA-one hit

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  WASKA-Conner Erickson (W, 1-0)  5-1-2-2-6-4 . . . WCA-D. Anderson (L)  4-9-12-10-6-1; B. Stark 0-1-0-0-1-0

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