Slidin’ into the semis
n Milroy Yankees rout Bird Island 10-0 Friday night in Milroy to advance to Corn Belt South semifinals on SundayJenny Kirk jkirk@marshallindependent.com
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MILROY - Patience is a virtue, especially in baseball.
After a somewhat slow start, the Milroy Yankees kept plugging away at the plate and ripped the game wide open in the seventh.
"We struggled a little bit early trying to get a clutch-hit, but we came through" Milroy infielder Eric Dolan said. "We just kept getting guys on base and eventually it worked out."
The No. 1-0seeded Yankees closed out the game early as they scored eight runs on six hits and earned a 10-0 win over No. 5 Bird Island in the Corn Belt South playoffs in Milroy Friday.
"Emotions run high during playoffs when the season is on the line," said Milroy manager Ryan Rohlik. "I think we were a little antsy early. They threw a crafty lefty and he did a heck of a job keeping us off-balance the majority of the game. But obviously we got to him in the seventh."
Matt Bauer led off the seventh with a single to left-center as the Yankees held a 2-0 lead. Justin Schlemmer followed up with a sky-high single to left-center and then handed the base-running duties over to Sean Castle.
After receiving the signal to lay down a bunt and sitting at a 0-2 count, Eric Dolan worked his way to a full-count. Then Dolan surprised his teammates by smashing a three-run homer to left.
"It took me nine years, but I finally got my first home run," said Dolan. "It feels pretty good. I've hit some balls close before. At first I heard Cory (Schmidt) yell 'get going', so I thought it didn't go over. But then I saw the umpire waving his finger."
Dolan knew the team needed a hit at the time.
"I was supposed to bunt, but I screwed that up twice," he said. "I was honestly just trying to go the other way with it and get the guys over to second and third. He hung me a change-up and I got it. I'm more of a single hitter, but I guess I got lucky."
After David Schmidt's walk, the Islanders replaced Jesse Bjur with Eric Gass on the mound. But Gass couldn't stop the bleeding as the Yankees continued to rally.
Brian Dolan, who went 4-for-4 in the game, doubled and Andy Williamson followed up with an RBI single to right-center.
"I was being patient at the plate and looking for something up in the zone," said Brian Dolan. "This is my first game this season that I've been over two hits. I thought we had a good hitting performance. We were pretty patient at the plate."
With one out away, Christopher Eichten forced a walk. Then Andy Schmidt crushed a two-run single through the infield. Bauer capped the game with a walk-off double, scoring the final two RBI.
Bauer went 2-for-2 in the game, was intentionally walked twice and took one off the hand in his at-bat in the fifth.
Milroy slugged 14 hits in the contest and left runners on base in every inning except one. Andy Schmidt and Schlemmer went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Micah Gronli was 2-for-4.
Schlemmer got the Yankees started in the third when he smashed a two-run bomb to left. Eichten led off with a single to right-center and Andy Schmidt laid down a bunt. Bird Island chose to intentionally walk Bauer and then caught him stealing second. But Schlemmer made the Islanders pay by giving Milroy the 2-0 advantage.
"Justin lit a big spark with a two-run home run to break the seal so to speak," Rohlik said. "I give Jesse Bjur a lot of credit. He pitched his butt off. He threw really well and got us to flyout a lot of the time. We'd get guys on base and he'd work his way out of jams."
While the Yankees were cracking the bats, Nathan Deutz was shutting down the opponents. Deutz went the distance and picked up the one-hit shutout win.
"Nate threw a gem out there," said Brian Dolan. "He threw great. He was painting corners all night."
Deutz fanned nine batters, including three in the fifth. The Yankees played stellar defense behind the ace.
Bjur took the loss on the hill for Bird Island. Bjur struck out four and gave up 10 hits and three walks. Gass struck out one, walked one and allowed four hits.
"It was slow starting, but we had the hits," Brian Dolan said. "It was just a matter of time before we put runs on the board."
Brian Dolan has played 14 seasons with the Yankees, ever since he was 16 years old.
Milroy saved a run from scoring in the sixth when Luke Kramer spoiled a Deutz no-hitter with an infield single. After Ty Hebrink's sacrifice bunt, Kramer was thrown out at home on Dylan Gass' fielder's choice.
The Yankees improve to 28-3 and advance to the next round to face the winner of the No. 3 Sacred Heart and No. 2 Raymond game at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Milroy.
"I told the guys before the game that it was a great regular season, but they don't give you anything for that" said Rohlik. "It doesn't matter what anyone's record is coming into the game or even the seeds. It's the game of baseball. We didn't want to give them any confidence and wanted to go out and play the way we can. The next game will be even more intense."
Bird Island000 000 0x-0 1 0
Milroy002 000 8x-10 14 0
M-Nathan Deutz. BI-Jesse Bjur, Eric Gass (7). WP-Deutz. LP-Gass. HR: M-Justin Schlemmer, Eric Dolan. 2B: M-Brian Dolan 2, Matt Bauer. LOB: M-10, BI-2.
