MILROY - The Milroy Yankees capitalized early in the Region 9C playoff game against Morris Saturday in Milroy to get one step closer to the state tournament.
In the first three innings, the Yankees pounded eight of their 11 total hits en route to a 6-4 victory over the Eagles.
After Milroy lead-off hitter Christopher Eichten walked, Raymond draftee Tyler Steen blasted a double to deep left field. Then Matt Bauer and Justin Schlemmer both grounded out, driving in two runs.
After picking up the team in the last few games, the No. 3 and 4 batters went 0-for-4 against the Eagles. But Milroy didn't miss a beat as other players in the lineup stepped up.
"Sometimes you can rely on those guys a little too heavy," said Yankee manager Rohlik. "Bauer and Schlemmer have been hitting awesome for us this year. When they go hitless, guys don't put their heads down and just take it as a challenge to pick their team up."
Morris' Eric Asche led off the second with a double to deep left-center. Asche advanced to third after tagging up on Ross Haugen's flyout to left and then scored on Adam Torkelson's groundout.
But the Yankees added two more runs in the home half to stretch their lead to 4-1. Andy Schmidt earned a lead-off single to right. After Andy Williamson was hit by pitch, Micah Gronli bunted to load the bases.
Schmidt scored when Eichten took a walk and then Williamson was plated after Steen's groundout.
Morris answered with Kirby Marquart's RBI single to shallow center.
The Yankees had a chance to completely take control. Eric Dolan led off with a base hit past third base and Brian Dolan and Schmidt bunted to load the bases with no outs.
Williamson's sacrifice flyout to center scored Eric Dolan and Gronli singled to load the bases back up. But two straight flyouts stranded the three runners on base.
Gronli, the newest starter on the Yankee roster, went 4-for-4 in the game.
"I was feeling pretty good," said Gronli. "It was a fun game, except for getting thrown out. I thought it was going to be in the gap and a double for sure, but it took a perfect hop."
The score remained 5-2 until the eighth inning when Morris each team added to the scoreboard.
"All the jitters are going away now and it's more fun," Gronli said. "I'm getting used to playing with the team. Morris hit the ball well and stuck with us, but Dutch (Deutz) threw a good game."
Nathan Deutz went the distance and picked up the win on the mound. Deutz struckout seven, walked three and hit two with a pitch.
Intensity rose in the eighth as Haugen reached first when Eichten missed a catch in right, giving the Eagles an extra out. After a flyout, strikeout and a walk, Armstrong crushed a two-RBI single up the middle.
In the home half, Gronli doubled when he hit the fence in left-center. Eichten's RBI single gave Milroy a little breathing room with a 6-4 advantage.
"It was big for us to get that run in the eighth," Rohlik said. "We left a ton of guys on base and could have blown the game open in the first four innings. Micah really came through for us. He almost had two doubles, but it was a great play by the center-fielder to throw him out."
In the ninth, Cory Marquart reached base after Schlemmer was hit in the face with a throw to first. But another 6-4-3 double play squashed the Eagle rally. Deutz finished the game off with a strikeout.
Armstrong and Asche went 2-for-5 with a double apiece for Morris. Torkelson fanned four and walked five in the loss.
On Sunday, Milroy defeated Madison 12-2 in the next round of playoff action in Wheaton. Mahlon Zimmermann got the win. Gronli and Steen both smashed solo home runs, while Bauer doubled. Eric Dolan went 3-for-4, while Steen was 2-for-5.
Up next, the Yankees (32-3) face the winner of the Sacred Heart/Dumont game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Ortonville. One more win would secure a state tournament berth for Milroy.
Morris011 000 020-4 11 0
Milroy221 000 01x-6 11 1
Mi-Nathan Deutz. Mo-Adam Torkelson. WP-Deutz. LP-Torkelson. 2B: Mo-Ethan Armstrong, Eric Asche. Mi-Tyler Steen, Micah Gronli
Madison002 000 00-2 4 2
Milroy210 110 61-12 12 1
Mi-Mahlon Zimmermann, Tyler Knott (8). Ma-Derek Gritmaker, Matt Enger (4), Joe Karels (7), Darby Bjorgan (7). WP-Zimmermann. L-Gritmaker. HR: Mi-Gronli, Steen. 2B: Mi-Bauer.
