Yanks keep rolling
Yankees defeat Sacred Heart 6-2 to gain upper seed in RegionsJenny Kirk jkirk@marshallindependent.com
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MILROY - It might not have been the biggest game of the season, but the Milroy Yankees did not take the seeding game against Sacred Heart lightly.
After clinching the top two places in the Corn Belt South playoffs, both teams automatically advance to the six-team Region 9C playoffs next week, so the season-ending pressure was alleviated.
But the Yankees, who have made four straight state tournament appearances, know the significance of earning the hard-fought 6-2 win in Milroy Saturday.
"Getting the No. 1 seed is big because you get to play a No. 2 seed out of the league right away," said Milroy manager Ryan Rohlik. "You also get the first draft pick and that can really help you. I'm not taking anything away from any two-seeds, but you're better off playing them than a No. 1 team."
Sacred Heart got the game going with three straight hits in the second inning off Yankee pitcher Nathan Deutz to load the bases. But Milroy got out of the inning unscathed after Gronli and Eric Dolan turned a double play.
The Yankees then drove in the game's first run when David Schmidt hit into a fielder's choice to send Justin Schlemmer across the plate. Back-to-back RBI singles from Brian Dolan and Cory Schmidt extended the Yankees' lead to 2-0.
"We came out a little rusty and we just weren't as sharp as we usually are," Rohlik said. "But it was good to see the guys battle when we needed a little adversity."
The Saints' offensive exploded in the fourth and they tied the game 2-all. Ryan Hebrink led off with a single up the middle and Jeremy Hinderks followed up with a double to the left-field line.
After Mike Kuschel's RBI single to left-center and a fielder's choice from Jeff Hinderks, Mike Johnson pounded a RBI single just out of reach of Zwach at third base.
"You come into a game after an emotional win against Raymond and it was a real relaxed atmosphere," said Schlemmer. "I don't think our intensity was quite where we wanted it, but I'm pretty sure our intensity next week will be be a lot higher."
Milroy regaind the momentum with another run in the home-half of the fifth after Gronli forced an error at shortstop and was plated by Bauer's well-hit flyball, which was lost in the air in right-center an allowed Bauer to reach second.
"I was feeling pretty good at the plate," said Bauer. "It's been a week, so I felt a little rusty at first. But you just have to adjust to the pitching they put out there."
Schlemmer smashed a single to left-center and almost plated Bauer, who was thrown out at home by Sacred Heart outfielder Jeremy Hinderks.
"When they tied it up in the fourth, we responded well," said Rohlik. "We were still playing good defense and timely hitting came through for us.
In the sixth, David Schmidt made an impressive diving catch in shallow left-field. After a single from Johnson, who went 3-for-4 in the game, another flyout and a groundout closed out the inning.
All was quiet until the seventh when Milroy rallied with two outs away. Gronli walked and was plated by Zwach, who singled to left-center. After Bauer doubled to the left line, Schlemmer crushed a two RBI double to left-center.
"I knew this guy (Koenen) threw fairly slower speeds, so we had to sit back and wait," said Schlemmer. "I felt good up there. I was actually looking for off-speed pitches the whole time. He did a good job and kept us off-balance, but we're more comfortable against guys who throw harder."
Schlemmer finished the game 3-for-3, while Bauer was 2-for-4.
Matt Koenen took the loss on the mound for Sacred Heart. Squeezed between two Koenen strikeouts in the eighth, Hebrink made a fabulous diving catch to keep the Yankees from doing more damage.
But Mahlon Zimmermann pitched in relief in the ninth, fanning two batters, forcing a flyout and squashing the Saints' hope of a comeback.
The Yankees drafted catcher Tyler Steen and pitcher Tyler Knott, both from Raymond, who was knocked out of the playoffs Wednesday in an 11-inning 3-2 loss from the Saints.
"I'd probably say this was as important as our playoff games," Bauer said. "We played loose because there wasn't as much pressure. Yet we took it very seriously because we know that first draft pick can make or break your state run. I'm excited for regions."
With Andy Williamson and Schlemmer a little bit nicked up, Rohlik went with Steen first. He's also concerned about David Schmidt's possible absence due to Winona football starting.
"We felt that we needed to get a little insurance policy to make sure our hitting doesn't come back to haunt us," Rohlik said. "We wanted to have a guy that could hit very well and is a good defensive catcher too. It'll be more intense now, but we're confident that if we pitch and play defense, hopefully we'll have enough hitting to keep us going."
The 30-3 Yankees will play one of the No. 2 seeds from either the Land O'Ducks Wood or Teal league, tentatively slated for Saturday. The Saints, who drafted Raymond pitchers Tom DeBoer and Jordan Smith, will face a No. 1 team.
S.H 000 200 000-2 9 1
Milroy 020 010 30X-6 9 1
M-Nathan Deutz, Mahlon Zimmermann (9). SH-Matt Koenen. 2B: SH-Jeremy Hinderks. M-Matt Bauer, Justin Schlemmer. LOB: M-6, SH-7.
