Yankees Start Hot

Milroy shuts out Sacred Heart to move on in playoffs

By David Griswold

MILROY - A four-run, two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Milroy to a 10-0 win over Sacred Heart Friday night in the second round of the Corn Belt League playoffs.

The Yankees led 6-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but after the first two batters were set down by groundouts, Milroy's Dave Schmidt sparked a late rally with a single over Sacred Heart third baseman Mike Kuschel's head.

Chris Eichten then drew a walk to advance Schmidt to second for Sean Castle to drive him home with a single to right-center.

Dean Zwach drove in Eichten with a blooper to center field that was dropped by Sacred Heart's Josh Hebrink to keep the inning alive. Castle advanced to third on the play.

With the game-winning run standing on second base, aggressive base running and a final clutch hit enforced the 10-run rule.

With Andy Schmidt at the plate, Sacred Heart pitcher Dan Kluver threw a wild pitch that allowed Castle to score and Zwach to advance to second.

Another wild pitch advanced Zwach to third and Andy Schmidt delivered a single up the middle to score Zwach and give Milroy the win.

"We played really well tonight," said Milroy manager Ryan Rohlik. "We were hoping that we would step up on the defensive side. We played OK the last couple of games - our defense was shaky and we gave up a couple - tonight the guys regrouped. We knew it was now or never."

The game was the first of the playoffs for the No. 1-seeded Yankees. Sacred Heart earned the right to play Milroy after a 7-4 win over Granite Falls Wednesday night.

"A lot of people thought with some guys that we lost from last year, that we wouldn't be able to contend this year," said Rohlik. "We want to repeat as league champions and eventually make the state tournament."

The Yankees are off to a good start in their quest to repeat as champions after jumping on the Saints early.

In the home half of the first, Milroy acted quickly on back-to-back errors when Justin Schlemmer doubled to left-center to drive in two runs and give Milroy an early 2-0 lead.

"I had been struggling a little bit as of late and I wanted to come through with a big hit for the team and get those two RBI," Schlemmer said. "It was nice to get ahead early and give Nate (Deutz) a cushion."

The two runs would have been enough for Deutz on the mound as he pitched a three-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

"I just threw strikes and got ahead of them as much as I could," Deutz said. "We kind of spotted the fastball to start the game and then mixed in the curveball, which was really working for me tonight."

"Nate has been solid for us all year," Rohlik said. "It was good for Nate to get a good start and hopefully the next pitchers are ready to go, too."

After cruising though the first inning with three-straight outs, Deutz gave up back-to-back two-out singles. But then Deutz reached back to strike out the next batter to end the early Sacred Heart threat.

Milroy was held scoreless in the second, but in the third the Yankees took advantage of another Sacred Heart error to score two runs and go up 4-0.

Matt Bauer hit a sharp line drive to Sacred Heart shortstop Mitch Schwindt, who missed the catch to put Bauer aboard first base with one out.

Schlemmer then drew a walk while Eric Dolan singled up the middle to score Bauer and advance Schlemmer to third.

Brian Dolan drove a hard fly ball to center to allow Schlemmer to tag up from third and score the fourth run of the game.

"I am very happy," said Rohlik on the team's offensive production. "I look for us to continue the success throughout the run."

Milroy added another two runs in the fourth after Justin Schlemmer drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left field and Eric Dolan singled up the middle to score Schmidt from second for his second RBI.

The two led the Milroy offense with a combined five RBI of the Yankees 10 total runs.

"We did a good job of putting the ball in play," Schlemmer said. "We got some big hits when we needed them."

Milroy will continue Corn Belt League playoff play Sunday when the Yankees will play host to Raymond at 1:30 p.m. after Raymond routed Willmar 6-3 Friday night.

"I hope we can carry over the hitting because I know we are going to see some good pitchers on Sunday," said Rohlik.

Sacred Heart 000 000 0-0 3 5

Milroy 202 200 4-10 9 1

S-Andy Erickson, Dan Kluver (7). M-Nathan Deutz. WP-Deutz. LP-Erickson. 2B: M-Justin Schlemmer, Sean Castle.