Outlaws Improve to 4-0 with one run win...Roth goes yard again! (Photo by Jen Baumgartner)

With the wet 2014 summer that is upon us, June 8th was the last time the Outlaws had taken the field.  The three week break had some worried a bit of rust may have re-developed for the Southwest 9.  Especially when they drew the tough task of traveling to Shakopee and taking on one of the best over 35 teams in the state.  

(Preemptive warning...I have no names of any Shakopee players so I can't include them.  It will only be Chief's this and Chief's that...no pre-game lineup card provided on this date.)  It ended up being a beautiful day to play baseball on a beautiful field.

The Outlaws couldn't muster much offense in the top of the first, as a Paul Oelrich double was the only noise.  Speaking of Oelrich...Paul was the Outlaw who took the mound to face off against the Chiefs.  Paul also pitched a quiet first inning only allowing one runner on a base on balls.  

With one out in the top of the second inning, Jeff Appel reached base by pulled a single down the line, out of the reach of a diving third baseman.  After Appel reached base, Robb Larson immediately followed by depositing a line drive double into the left center field gap that clanked of the fence.  (Robb is riding a 5 game hitting streak that started in the state tournament last year.)  As hard as Appel tried to run, it wasn't enough and he was cut down at the plate after a good relay by the Chief's center fielder and short stop.  Anyone that knows this team knows that Appel trying to score from first base isn't an ideal situation at any point.  hahahah!  The Outlaws weren't discouraged though as Jason Beckett followed Larson's double by rolling a ground ball to the shortstop.  The throw to first was a short hop that skipped away from the first baseman. An alert Robb Larson never quit running and scored on the play giving the Outlaws a 1-0 lead.  Chad Wiertzema then battled at the plate and worked a walk moving Beckett into scoring position.  With two outs the Chief's pitcher struck out the next Outlaw's hitter on a pitch in the dirt.  The pitch got away from the catcher and the throw to first was also off the mark.  Jason Beckett was running on the pitch and never slowed down rounding third and crossing the plate to give the Outlaws a 2-0 lead.  That would end up being the extent of the damage for the Outlaws in the 2nd.  

Oelrich worked a quick home half only allowing a two out single. The bottom half of the inning was highlighted by a an amazing defensive play by Sam Baumgartner.  A Chief's batter led off the inning with a duck fart looper towards left field, Bammy flashed some serious gold glove leather as he sprinted from short with his back to the infield and caught the pop up in stride while facing the outfield fence.  (AMAZING PLAY ALERT!) 

The Outlaws were back at it in the top of the third.  With one out Oelrich singled, (Paul started the 2014 season 5 for 5), Mike Roth and Grant Carlson then also singled.  Why not continue the trend....Jeff Appel then singled to left field driving in Ole' and putting the Outlaws up 3-0.  (The hit was Appel's 5th in his last 5 at-bats.)  With the bases still loaded, Robb Larson worked a walk to force across Roth and move the Outlaws lead to 4-0.  The Chief's pitcher then worked out of the jam to limit the damage to only 2 runs.  

Oelrich continued to pitch well for the Outlaws as he moved into the third inning.  After a lead off single, Ryan Meyer fielded a grounder to cut down the lead runner at second and secure the first out.  After the fielders choice, the inning was ended by a nice double play that started with a grounder to Outlaw's shortstop Sam Baumgartner.  Sammy stomped on 2nd and fired across to Meyer to end the inning with a nice double play.

The Outlaws went in order in the top of the 4th.  The Chiefs started the battle back in the home half with a one out walk.  A passed ball moved the runner up into a scoring position and a single drove in the first run of the game for the home team.  Sammy was at it again defensively as a two out middle infield pop up drifted into no mans land, Bammers made a diving catch to end the inning and limit the damage to one run.  Thanks to Sammy...the Outlaws carried a 4-1 lead into the 5th inning.

A new Chief's pitcher seemed to be just the change of pace that was needed as he struck out the lead off hitter in the top of the 5th.  Mike Roth then strolled to the plate and one pitch later he drilled a home-run to deep left center putting the Outlaws up 5-1.  The bomb was Mike's third of the season and third in as many games. Roth's dinger was the only damage for the Outlaws in the 5th.  Sam Baumgartner then relieved Oelrich on the mound.  With a no quit spirit, the Cheifs kept scratching away at the Outlaws lead.  They forced another two runs across in the home half to tighten the gap to 5-3 in favor of the Outlaws.  Things could have been worse for the Outlaws in the inning as things ended with a double to the gap in deep left center.  Oelrich...who had moved to center, ran the ball down and relayed a strong throw to his cut off man Robb Larson.  Larson spun and dealt a pee rod to home and cut down the Chief's runner at the plate for the final out of the inning. 

More good Chief's pitching kept the Outlaws off the board in the top of the 6th.  Yet again the Cheifs poked at the lead plating another run with their turn at bat, drawing the score to 5-4 heading to the 7th.  

Travis Schuett led off the Outlaw's 7th with a single to left field.  Sam Baumgartner then moved Shooter into scoring position with a text book sacrifice bunt.  It would prove to be a nail biter going to the bottom of the 7th however, as the Outlaws failed to push Trav across with the insurance run.  

Baumgartner quickly got the first two Chief's hitters in the bottom of the 7th and it seemed the Outlaws were on their way to another win.  Not so fast though....two singles in a row put the tying run at second base for the Chiefs.  In a huge way....Sammy was able to end the game by striking out the next hitter.  With the punch out the Outlaws improved to 4-0 in 2014 by sneaking past the Chiefs 5-4.  

Paul Oelrich earned the victory for the Outlaws tossing 4 innings and only giving up one run while striking out two.  Sammy Bammy came on in the 5th to earn the save pitching the remaining 3 innings and giving up three runs while striking out three.  

Mike Roth continued his blazing start to the 2014 season going 2 for 3 with a single, a bomb and two runs scored.  Jeff Appel was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Paul Oelrich was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored, Robb Larson was 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored, Grant Carlson and Travis Schuett rounded out the Outlaw's offense by both going 1 for 3.  Jason Beckettt scored the other run for the Outlaws.

Tid Bits

*Oelrich and Bammy pitched well against a very tough team.  Props to them!

*The Outlaws 4-0 start is the best in their short 3 season existence.

*Double spacing has all of a sudden started and I have no idea why and I can't stop it.....

*The Outlaws are hitting .365 as a team through 4 games.  That's a good thing.  

*Defense was the key to the victory for the Outlaws as Sammy Baumgartner turned in two gold glove web jems.  Da-Da Da!  Da-Da DA! (Espn noises.)

*Speaking of defense....Grant Carslon is one amazing catcher.  This guy blocks everything and calls one hell of a game.  His play may sometimes go unnoticed because he makes it look so easy, but not to his teammates.  Wowza!  Glad this guy is on our team.  He is a wall behind the plate and elevates the play of the whole team.  

*Mike Roth and Paul Oelrich are on fire!....just pull of the stats page and you will know what I'm talking about. The Tab is along the left hand side of the page for those of you who have internet struggles.

*Next up for the Outlaws is their 2014 home opener!  FINALLY!  It's a double header affair as the Belle Plaine Gray Tigers and the St. Peter Saints will visit on July 6th.  Game one is at 2:00pm and another to follow at 4:00pm.  See you there!!!  Go Outlaws!