MILROY - Two timely hits in the bottom of the eighth was enough to push the Milroy Yankees past the Tracy Express 3-2 in amateur baseball Thursday night.
Leading off in eighth, Milroy's Justin Schlemmer welcomed Lucas Walling to the mound by crushing a double to left-center. Dan Riley then replaced Schlemmer on base as a pinch runner.
After David Schmidt's sacrifice bunt advanced Riley over to third, Corey Schmidt came up huge, pounding an RBI single to shallow right-center.
"It was a hard-fought battle and I give Tracy a lot of credit," Milroy manager Ryan Rohlik said. "They've definitely improved since the first time we played them. They've been playing other teams like Marshall and Raymond tough, too. They had just as much right winning this game as we did."
Milroy hurler Andy Williamson picked up the win after getting the Yankees out of a jam in the top of the eighth when Tracy loaded the bases. Williamson came in and earned a third-out strikeout to keep the Express from scoring any further runs.
Jason MacKinnon started a rally for Tracy in the eighth by forcing an error at shortstop. Kyle Mathiowetz blasted a line drive down the rightfield line to advance MacKinnon to third. The Express tied the game at 2 when MacKinnon scored on a passed ball.
After the run scored, Anthony Rohlik walked two Tracy batters, loading the bases. Rohlik went eight-plus innings, struck out five, walked four and hit two. He gave up two runs and seven hits.
"Willy was huge for us coming in with bases loaded and getting out of that jam," said Rohlik. "He's an important part of the team. It was nice to see him step up for us. Anthony has been struggling with some control, but it was nice to see him come through some tough situations.
"Hopefully this is a springboard for him to keep improving."
In the top of the ninth, Tracy's Matt Suby was hit by Williamson's pitch. Bryan Nikkel's bunt advanced Suby to second, but then a strikeout and a groundout crushed the Express' chance at tying the game.
"The strikeout on Jake Munsch was big," said Tracy manager Aaron Ziemer. "We got our lead-off guy over to second and coming up with our clean-up hitter. We couldn't ask for anything else. They pitched well and made enough plays."
Tracy was the first to put a run on the scoreboard. Aaron Walling led off the third with an infield single. Suby bunted Walling over to second and then Nikkel ripped an RBI single.
The Yankees answered in the bottom of the fifth with one run. Brian Dolan singled to right and Dean Zwach ran out a bunt. Christopher Eichten drove Dolan across home plate, but a fielder's choice put Zwach out at second.
Dolan scored when Tracy attempted to turn a double play, but Eichten beat the throw.
Milroy took a 2-1 lead in the seventh when Express pitcher Mark Priegnitz walked in a run. Williamson led off the inning with a single to shallow right-center. After Dolan's bunt, Zwach forced an error at shortstop.
Then Sean Castle struck out, but a passed ball allowed him to advance to first, loading up the bases.
Express shortstop Munsch made a great play, successfully throwing home for the second out on Eichten's groundball. But then Andy Schmidt took the run-scoring walk.
Mark Priegnitz went seven innings and earned two strikeouts for Tracy. He gave up two runs, five hits and two walks in the no-decision.
At the plate, Mathiowetz was 2-for-3 for Tracy. Corey Schmidt was 1-for-1 for Milroy.
The Yankees (11-3) play host to Adrian on Saturday. Tracy (6-8-1) plays host a doubleheader Sunday, beginning with league rival Hadley at 1 p.m. and Adrian at 4 p.m.
Tracy001 000 010 - 2 7 2
Milroy000 010 11x - 3 7 1
