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Countdown to STATE!!! (Aug 14/08)

Mudcats seeking first state baseball title since ’77 Chiefs

The Bemidji Mudcats head to Gaylord tonight to begin play at the State Class B Amateur Tournament, still in search of their third state championship.

 

The Bemidji Mudcats head to Gaylord tonight to begin play at the State Class B Amateur Tournament, still in search of their third state championship.

The Cats open against Region 7B champ Sauk Rapids at 8:30 p.m. with the Region 6B champion Blaine opening against 7B runner-up Cold Spring at 6.

It will be the only game for both teams this weekend. The losers of the first round games are eliminated under the new state format.The eight winners this weekend return to Arlington Aug. 29 for second round contests in the opening round of double elimination play.

The game will be broadcast locally over WMIS-FM (92.1) with Brian Schultz at mike side.

Blaine defeated Bemidji 5-2 in the Region 6B winners bracket final to gain the first state berth Bemidji defeated Hibbing 10-2 in the losers bracket final to clinch the second.

The pair were to have met Sunday at BSU to determine seeding positions. But Sunday’s rain deluge washed out those contests.

Sauk Rapids’ Cyclones turned back Cold Spring twice within a 24 hour period to take the 7B crown, winning 3-2 Sunday afternoon after a 4-1 win Saturday night.

That was the Cyclones’ first win over the Springers since 1994.

Mankato is the defending state champion beating Dundas 8-2 for the title last year.

Paul Fenner (8-1) will get the starting call tonight with Tyler Norland (6-0) set for Game 2 next week should Bemidji get that far.

Hibbing draftee Shaun Ross, a long-time former Mudcat star, will be behind the plate. Jeff Schaper, John Grindeland, Dan Bauer and Neil Huewe will start around the infield from first to third with Tony Klaers, Ryan Johnson Doug Peterson in the outfield from left to right. Sam Anderson will be the designated hitter.

Pitcher Jamie Steinberg of Hibbing was the second Bemidji draft choice.

The Mudcats are 27-8-1 on the year.

Last title in 1977

It has been 32 years since Bemidji won its second title at Wadena in 1977 where the then Bemidji Chiefs won five straight games to claim the Class B title, then destroyed the Class A winner, Mr. Roberts of Minneapolis, the following week to become the state’s overall champion.

That game is no longer played with the state now divided into three classes, A, B and C, the Class C tournament for smaller communities.

The ‘77 champs were led by a pair of stellar lefthanders George Landreth and Andy Kannenberg.

The team finished the Paul Bunyan League season unbeaten, captured the playoff title and took the regional crown with wins over Crookston and Kennedy.

Kannenberg, then a Princeton University junior, hurled a four hitter in the state opener to beat Sobieksi 4-2.

Landreth, an Oklahoma University graduate, gave up 11 hits in eight innings in the second game but kept them well scattered as the Chiefs won over Motley 8-4.

Jim Conway added two hits to the Bemidji attack.

Landreth gem

Landreth came back to go the route in the quarterfinals, a three-hit 2-0 victory over Cold Spring.

Steve Donahue’s two-run homer which deflected off a leaping outfielder’s glove over the fence, was the Chiefs lone hit of the game.

It came in the last of the seventh to end the game.

That game was a replay of one rained out a day earlier when the Chiefs saw a 3-2 lead washed away.

In the semifinals against potent Red Wing, the Chiefs tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth, matched Red Wing’s run in the eighth and won in the ninth 4-3.

Kannenberg worked the first 6 1/3 with draftee Lance Chambers going 1/3 and Landreth coming on to hurl the final 2 1/3 innings to win his third game.

Donahue, Randy Beck and Steve Long had two hits in the Chiefs nine-hit attack. Red Wing had 10.

Conway had driven in a first inning run for a 1-0 lead. Beck doubled in Donahue in the sixth to tie 2-2 and Long’s double and Jim Grimm’s single made it 3-2 in the eighth.

After Red Wing tied, Landreth singled in the ninth, took third on Beck’s one bagger and beat the throw home on Conway’s grounder to short.

The thrills go on

Bemidji out slugged St. Augusta 10-7 to take the title in a 10 inning thriller.

Harry Hunt’s first home run of the season tied the game at 7-7 in the ninth.

In the tenth, doubles by Donahue and Long sent home the winning run. Long scored on a sacrifice fly and Grimm added the icing to the cake with a solo four master.

Kannenberg, who followed Frank Fairbanks and Landreth to the hill, worked the final four innings, allowing one run, to get his seventh win.

Donahue led a 16 hit attack with five, earning him the tournament’s MVP Award.

He went 10-19, playing five different positions and tied the final at 6-6 with a home run.

No contest

The following week’s playoff was no contest as the Chiefs blasted Mr. Roberts of Minneapolis 14-0. Landreth hurled a three hitter for his ninth win and Grimm blasted a grand slam.

Conway had three hits and Long, Donahue and Grimm two each in a 12 hit attack.

Jack Fairbanks guided the Chiefs that year to a 25-5 record.

Landreth left the area shortly thereafter to return to Oklahoma and Kannenberg suffered a career ending arm injury and the Chiefs never attained that level again.

Grimm returned for a long, successful career as Chiefs Coach well into the 90’s before age took its toll and the team disbanded.

He then guided the American Legion for three seasons before taking over the reins of the BSU baseball program for seven years which he left after the 2002 season.

Conway was high school assistant coach with John Buckanaga for six seasons.

The Chiefs were displaced by the Bemidji Merchants, a team made up of younger players, who have since become the Mudcats.

They appeared in the state in 1996 where they bowed out quickly. Jake Thompson and Joe Burgess guided that team.

They returned again in 1998 under Tony Warno, losing twice to Jordan 7-4 and Dassell-Cokato 8-6.

Robbie Bahr took over the manager’s reins in 2000 with Warno becoming general manager.

Scott Seaton became the field manager in 2001.

Virtually all of the ‘77 champs were graduates of the Bemidji youth ranks and high school program with Donahue, Conway, Hunt, Bob Johnson, Kannenberg, Pete Maus, David Drown, Beck and John Fairbanks all Bemidji Braves grads and Grimm and Frank Fairbanks coming through the Bemidji Bucks and Lions program. All played Legion ball before moving into the amateur ranks.

Long was a BSU performer and Landreth a Sooner.

First title in 1956

The first Bemidji state amateur title came in 1956 at Little Falls when the Chiefs defeated St. Charles in the title game 12-3. They had won earlier over Rockville 4-1, Perham 3-2 and Wheaton 3-1.

Another Johnson, this time the legendary Corky, won the first and fourth games while Bill Lawrence beat Perham and Jerry Daniels, a Cass Lake draftee, won the Wheaton game.

The Chiefs lost their fourth game of the year that summer to Cass Lake and never lost again in finishing 22-1.

Bob Charlton hit two homers and a double to pace the attack in the title game.

Other regulars were Oba Edwards, Dick Lawrence, DarrellErickson, Keith Mooney, Ross Fortier, Bill Hachey and DuWayne Syverson plus Cass Lakers Jamie Eidsmoe and Daniels, both drafted.

Hachey would go on to a long time successful career as Coleraine baseball coach and become a key official in the State High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Johnson spent a year at Minnesota University under Dick Siebert before signing a pro contract and playing six years in the Giants organization, reaching the triple A level at Vancouver in the Pacific Coast League before arm problems ended his career. He was the most successful BHS graduate in the pro ranks until Bryan Hickerson reached the majors in the 1990’s, also with the Giants.

Johnson was a long time basketball and baseball coach at Hutchinson, Crosby and Brainerd before entering into private business.

Bill Lawrence also played a season of pro ball with the Tigers organization and remained in the Bemidji area for many years publishing the Obibwe News.

His older brother Dick was a long-time coach and athletic director at Eveleth while Fortier went on to star in football at NDSU and was Moorhead State’s grid coach and Athletic Director for a generation.

Both Lawrences and Johnson are members of the Bemidji High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mooney, a retired California teacher, still spent his summers at Bemidji at his Grace Lake home until his death earlier this year.

 

MUDCATS BACK TO STATE!

 

 

The Bemidji Mudcats will return to the state tournament.

They clinched a berth Sunday with a 10-2 win over Hibbing after losing earlier in the winners bracket final 5-2 to Blaine.

Those two will meet at BSU Sunday at 1 to determine seedings for the state with Bemidji needing to win twice to secure the No. 1 seed. Blaine is in its first season in Region 6B.

Bemidji advanced to the winners bracket final Saturday night in an unusual method.

The Duluth Express had taken a 3-2 lead in the third inning when the Mudcats filed a protest on their opponent using ineligible players.

The protest was upheld and the Cats awarded a forfeit.

Bemidji had scored twice in the first against Jeff Adams but the Express countered with three in the third off Doug Peterson on a bases loaded double after two walks around a single had filled the bases.

Bemidji then faced Blaine Sunday, a team that had beaten Hibbing 7-5 to gain the final.

The Twin Cities team took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on a walk and doubles by Corey Johnson and Joey Olson, Olson’s driving home both runs.

Bemidji drew even in the last of the frame. Two walks around an Andrew Hengel single filled the bases. After a force at home on Dan Bauer’s grounder to third, Neil Huewe delivered both runs with a double. Another walk refilled the bases but a strikeout ended further scoring.

Bemidji was not to threaten again until the ninth.

In the meantime, Blaine went ahead 5-2 in the sixth when Dan Massey tripled with two outs after a single and walk.

That ended Bauer’s stay with Sam Anderson relieving, Massey crossed on a wild pitch before he got the final out. But he blanked Blaine the rest of the way.

Bemidji put two runners on base on walks with one gone in the ninth inning but a pop up and ground out ended the game.

Bemidji had only four hits,, two by Tony Klaers. Blaine had 10, four by Olson.

Bauer dropped to 1-1 with the setback.

Clinch state berth

Hibbing, which had fallen to Blaine in the opening game of the day, beat Grand Rapids 9-0 in its second start to face Bemidji.

The Mudcats, who had beaten Hibbing three times this summer by one run, wasted little time in the rematch, spotting the Miners two runs in the first, then scoring 10 unanswered runs to win.

Paul Fenner worked the first five to get his eighth win with Peterson closing with two scoreless frames. The pair limited the Miners to seven hits.

Hibbing opened with two in the first after two outs when Andy Finco and ex-Mudcat Shaun Ross singled and David Grabowski tripled.

But they managed only four more hits the rest of the game, two coming in the eighth when Nick Zubich singled with one gone and Ross doubled one out later. but Peterson fanned Grabowski to end that threat and retired the side in order in the ninth,

Bemidji got one back in the first on Bauer’s leadoff home runoff Ben Sartori.

The Mudcats went ahead 5-2 in the second, scoring four times against Ben Sartori.

Singles by Hengel, John GrIndeland and Peterson loaded the bases and Hengel crossed on a wild pitch.

Anderson delivered the other three with his second home run of the tourney.

Four more scored in the fifth when Bauer and Huewe singled and Klaers doubled home Bauer.

Klaers’ double sent Huewe across and another two bagger by Jeff Schaper scored Klaers. Hengel plated Schaper with a single.

With two gone in the seventh, Peterson and Anderson doubled for the 10th run.

Bauer and Hengel had three hits and Huewe, Klaers, Grindeland, Peterson and Anderson two each in the 17-hit Bemidji assault.

The 3-1 finish at the region lifted the Mudcats to 27-8-1 on the year.

Tyler Norland and Anderson will get the mound starts Sunday. Fenner will pitch the state opener.

The state meet will be held at Arlington and Gaylord, opening Aug. 20 and concluding three weekends of play Labor Day.

Duluth 003

Mudcats 20x

(Game forfeited to Bemidji, use of ineligible players)

 

MUDCATS OWN TOWN OF BEMIDJI AGAIN!!!!!!!!

 

The Bemidji Mudcats staged a pair of three-run innings late in the game Wednesday night to overcome the Blue Ox 6-3 in the third and deciding game of the City Series.

It marked the third straight year the Class B team prevailed but the first time that the series was extended to the third game. Each team had taken a one run decision earlier.

The Blue Ox led through much of the night, taking a 2-0 lead into the seventh.

But the Cats scored three times in that frame to go ahead, only to see the Blue Ox tie it in the last of the frame.

But the Mudcats added another three in the ninth and made that lead stand up.

It lifted the Mudcats to 23-9-1 entering Region 6B playoff action Friday when they face Nashwauk at 7:30 at Grand Rapids’ Legion Field in an opening round game.

The Blue Ox ended a disappointing season 11-14, unable to compete at the 12C regional for a lack of bodies.

For six frames Matt Fossen was the big story of the night.

The BSU sophomore took a shutout into the seventh, allowing only three hits.

His mates staked him to a 2-0 lead in the fourth off Matt Stasch when Dan Bennett singled, Joel Conway walked, both advanced on a ground out and scored on Auston Zetah’s line single down the left field line.

Fossen retired the first two batters to start the seventh, the sixth time he had accomplished that feat and the seventh time he retired the first batter in a frame.

But he made the cardinal error of walking the No. 8 and 9 batters and Dan Bauer made him pay with a ringing double off the left center field fence to score both.

Cody Gross relieved at this juncture and the go ahead run scored as Neil Huewe reached on a wild throw.

But the Blue Ox, which had stranded a pair in the sixth, tied the score in the seventh off Sam Anderson when Thor Josefson walked, took third on Justin Huether’s single and scored on a hit by Nate Brown.

They stranded another pair in the eighth and paid the price when the Cats launched their winning rally in the ninth.

With one gone, Andrew Hengel opened the surge with a booming triple to the right center field fence and scored as Bauer b bounced a single through the left side, his fourth hit of the game.

Huewe singled and with two outs, pinch runner Scott Seaton scored as Dan Nolan reached on an error. Jeff Schaper followed with a one bagger to plate the third run.

Bauer shut down the Ox in the last of the frame despite a walk, to preserve the win.

Anderson got the win, his second in three decisions. Schaper had two hits to join Bauer as the only multiple hitters for the winners. Brown and Zetah had two for the Blue Ox.

Tyler Norland will go in the opener Friday with Fenner working the second game Saturday.

Blaine joins the five Arrowhead League teams this year for the first time and is considered the team to beat.

The top two teams advance to the state meet.

 

MUDCATS CLINCH LEAGUE TITLE!

 

The Bemidji Mudcats nailed down the Arrowhead League title Monday night, blanking the Grand Rapids Indians 5-0 on Legion Field.

It lifted the Cats to 12-3 in league play with a single game remaining tonight at Nashwauk.

It leveled the season mark between the Rapids and Bemidji at 2-2. Bemidji taking the final two meetings.

Grand Rapids. which has led the league through most of the summer, dropped to 7-6 with three games to play.

Tyler Norland was in midseason form, setting down the Indians on seven hits, six of them singles He fanned five and walked none and was in serious trouble only once.

That came in the fourth after he set down the first nine Indians in order.

Bill Martinetto, Sam Sparen and Jim Brubaker opened the fourth with singles to load the bases.

But Kyle Figgins grounder to third was turned into a force at home. Norland then fanned Josh Stanek and got Alex Orgon to ground to second to end the frame.

He allowed one base runner in the fifth and eighth before Stanek and Orgon singled with two gone in the ninth. But Ryan Graupman flied to left to end the game.

Bemidji scored the only run it would need in the second when Paul Fenner singled and reached second on Sam Anderson’s grounder to short which was thrown past second trying for the force.

Dan Bauer singled to score Fenner.

Two more scored in the third. Tony Klaers reached on an error and Jeff Schaper singled.

Andrew Hengel moved them up with a sacrifice. Klaers scored as Fenner reached on a fielder’s choice and Schaper when Doug Peterson forced Fenner at second.

Two insurance runs padded the score un the sixth. Fenner and Peterson opened with singles and Anderson doubled home Fenner. Peterson crossed on a wild pitch.

Starter Tyler Blomberg left after six with Gabe Woods working three scoreless innings in relief..

Bauer and Fenner had two hits for Bemidji. Martinetto had a pair for he Indians.

Brainerd stops Cats

Last night the Cats stepped out of league play to face the Brainerd Bees.

Showing, perhaps, the effects of their Monday win, the Cats played with a lack of intensity and fell to the visitors 4-3.

Sidearmer Chris Smolke held Bemidji in check through eight innings, spacing eight hits, and survived a ninth inning comeback to win.

The winners had eight hits off three Bemidji hurlers with lefty Matt Stasch working the first six to take the loss, his first. His only previous win had come over the Bees at Brainerd.

The Bees combined four hits with a hit batter to score twice in the first and might have had more had they not hit into a double play.

They scored twice more in the fifth when Tim Rusk doubled, Joel Martin reached on an error and two walks and a hit batter completed the damage, the runs scoring on the second walk and the hit batsman.

Bemidji broke the ice in the sixth when Tony Klaers was hit by a pitch but forced at second by Dan Nolan. He took second on Jeff Schaper’s single and both advanced on a wild pitch with Nolan scoring on Paul Fenner’s ground out.

Smolke took the 4-1 lead into the ninth when Ryan Johnson reached on a throwing error with one gone. Andrew Hen gel walked and Dan Bauer cashed both with a ringing double up the gap in left center.

He moved up on Greg Skerik’s ground out but was stranded as Smolke struck out the final batter.

He fanned only two and walked three while yielding nine hits. Nolan and Schaper had two. The three Bemidji hurlers allowed eight hits, two each by Rusk , Kyle Crocker and Kevin Peterson. They struck out 10 and walked three.

Bemidji lost a golden scoring chance in the fourth when a walk and hits by Nolan and Schaper loaded the bases with no outs. But Smolke got Fenner to hit a comebacker for a 1-2-3 double play and retired the side on a fly to right.

Fenner will get the mound start tonight at Nashwauk in the final Arrowhead League game of the season. Bemidji will probably earn a first round bye while the bottom four teams play off for berths in the semifinals.

 

Amateur baseball: Mudcats sweep Hibbing, stay in race

The Bemidji Mudcats swept their Sunday twin bill at Hibbing to remain in the race in Arrowhead League amateur baseball.

 

The Bemidji Mudcats swept their Sunday twin bill at Hibbing to remain in the race in Arrowhead League amateur baseball.

The Cats went extra innings to take the opener 4-3, then dominated the nightcap in a 9-1 triumph.

It lifted the Cats to 6-3 in the Arrowhead percentage points behind the Grand Rapids Indians (5-2).

Hibbing dropped to 0-7.

The two teams meet again Sunday at BSU at 1 in the next Mudcats action.

They face three single games the following week on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Mound duel

The opener was a mound duel between Bemidji’s Tyler Norland and Ben Sartori of the Miners.

Bemidji took a 3-1 lead into the last of the seventh before Hibbing scored twice to force extra innings.

Bemidji scored in the eighth to win.

Dan Bauer singled to open the game and Neil Huewe was hit by a pitch. With one gone, Sam Anderson singled to plate Bauer and Jeff Schaper’s double sent Huewe across. But Sartori got the next two batters to prevent further scoring.

Norland carried his shutout into the fourth.

Then Beau Vlatkovich singled with two gone, took third on Sartori’s double and scored when the throw to the plate got loose.

Norland got an insurance run in the seventh when Ryan Sander walked, Andrew Hengel singled and Doug Peterson reached on an error with Sander scoring.

Norland retired the first two batters in the seventh when Zakk Bandemer singled and scored when ex-Mudcat Shaun Ross singled to right and the ball got loose. Ross got to third on the misplay and scored on a wild pitch.

The tie lasted only briefly. In the eighth, Anderson walked with one gone and Schaper was hit by a pitch. Paul Fenner followed with a single to plate Anderson.

Norland set down the side in order in the last of the frame to gain his fifth straight win.

He fanned seven an d walked two. Bemidji’s five hits came off as many different bats.

Bandemer and Vlatkovich had two for the Miners.

Bats come alive

The Mudcats bats came alive in the nightcap, running home five runs in the second and adding two spots in the third and sixth.

Bemidji had 12 hits off three Miners hurlers including Ross, who worked a scoreless seventh.

Sander went the distance spacing five hits for his fifth win in six decisions.

Bemidji took charge in the second aided by two errors.

Schaper walked to open the big frame and hits by Fenner and Hengel filled the bases.

Doug Peterson was hit by a pitch to force in the first run.

A second crossed as Bauer reached on an error and Huewe’s one bagger sent two more home, The fifth scored on another misplay.

In the third, Pederson walked and Norland doubled.

Bauer scored one run with a single and Huewe’s sacrifice fly plated the second.

It became 9-0 in the sixth when Huewe and Tony Klaers hit back to back doubles and Schaper gained a life on another boot as the second run crossed.

Hibbing averted a shutout in the last of the frame when Aaron Kritz doubled with one gone and David Grabowski singled with two outs to send him home.

San er fanned four and walked three. No Hibbing player had more than one hit. Huewe had three and Bauer, Klaers and Hengel two in the 12-hit Bemidji assault.

 

CATS SWEEP Duluth!!

 

The Bemidji Mudcats used excellent hurling Sunday to sweep its Arrowhead League double header at Duluth and climb back into the league race.

Paul Fenner hurled a 4-0 win in the opener with Tyler Norland pitching the 5-2 second game victor.

The sweep lifted the Cats to 3-2 in the league and 13-5-1 overall.

Grand Rapids leads the Arrowhead at 4-1 with Bemidji 3-2, Nashwauk 4-3, Duluth 1-3 and Hibbing 0-3.

Fenner closed down the Express on two hits in the opening game for his third win of the year. He struck out eight and walked two in going the route.

Bemidji scored twice in the first on an error, Tony Klaers’ single and a wild pitch, which plated one, and Neil Huewe’s double which sent home the second.

They were then blanked by Jeff Adams through the sixth before scoring twice in the seventh on Phil Ronnebaum’s single a walk, sacrifice and Klaers’ two-run single.

Klaers and Ronnebaum each had two hits in the eight-hit Mudcats attack.

Bemidji scored three runs in the sixth to snap a 2-2 tie and win the nightcap.

Norland scattered seven hits, fanning three and walking three to reach 3-0..

Bemidji had 11 hits off two Express pitchers with Josh Petka working the first six to take the loss.

Dan Bauer reached on an error and scored on a ground out in the first.

Duluth took a 2-1 lead in the second on a walk, Grant Kolhase’s double and Kevin Knock’s single, each hit driving home a run .

But they managed only two base runners the rest of the way as Norland was in complete control.

The Cats tied the game in the fourth when Huewe doubled and scored on Norland’s two bagger.

They won in the sixth when Jeff Schaper singled, Sam Anderson reached on an error and Norland singled to load the bases.

Ronnebaum sent home two with a single and Ryan Johnson plated the third.

Norland had three hits and Klaers and Huewe two for Bemidji. Duluth’s five came from as many different batters.

 

CATS WIN 5TH ROSCO TOURNY IN 9 YEARS!!!

The Bemidji Mudcats returned to the throne of the 9th annual Rosco Invitational Tournament Sunday, beating Ada’s A’s 8-0 in the title game.

The Blue Ox took third place with a 1-0 decision over Wadena’s Shockers.

The title was the fifth for the Mudcats in their own meet, returning to the top after a one year absence,

The defending champion Ft. Ripley Rebels finished seventh with a 5-4 win over Nimrod. Dent took fifth place 5-4 over Roseau

Earlier consolation play found Roseau beating Nimrod 12-2 and Dent stopping Ft. Ripley 5-4,

Pitching was the name of the game at BSU.

Tyler Norland made his second appearance of the season for the Mudcats and hurled a five hitter in a route going performance.

He was far from mid season form, allowing base runners in every inning. But he was strong in the clutch with only one advancing past second base. He ended with three strikeouts and four walks.

The only serious threat came in the second when two walks and a sacrifice placed runners at second and third with one gone.

But he avoided a score with a comebacker and strikeout. He allowed one runner aboard in each of the next five frames.

The Cats gave him the only run he would need in the third when Neil Huewe reached on an error with two gone, took third on Dan Nolan’s one bagger off the shortstop’s glove that rolled dead in short center field and scored on a one bagger by Ryan Sander.

Bemidji broke the game open against lefthander David Spies in the fifth.

Dan Bauer beat out a grounder to deep second base and Huewe looped a single over first.

Nolan’s single to right filled the bases and a walk and Jeff Schaper’s single each scored a run. Sam Anderson singled in two more for a 5-0 lead.

The final three crossed against reliever Kyle Nelson in the seventh when Nolan, Sander and Schaper singled for one.

Two more followed when Andrew Hengel’s bouncer to third was thrown wildly trying for a force at second, 

Bauer and Nolan ended with three hits and Sander and Schaper two in the 13-hit Bemidji attack.

The Cats played errorless defense. Aaron Cook had two of the five Ada safeties.

Nolan was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

The win lifted Bemidji to 11-4-1 The Cats play at the Nimrod Invitational this weekend opening Friday at 6 against the host Gnats.

MUDCATS GO TO TITLE GAME!

 

The Bemidji Mudcats and Ada A’s moved to the final of the 9th annual Rosco Invitational baseball tournament Saturday.

The Mudcats rode the strong right arm of Paul Fenner to a 2-0 win over the Wadena Shockers. Ada ousted the Bemidji Blue Ox 5-1.

The pair will clash at BSU at 1:30 today for the title. The Blue Ox and Wadena will square off at 11 for third place.

The seventh and fifth place games will be played at the Arena diamond at the same times with Nimrod facing Saturday’s Ft. Ripley-Dent loser for seventh and Roseau’s Royals battling the winner of that game for fifth.

The Blue Ox shocked Ft. Ripley’s defending champions 7-6 in Saturday’s opening games. Wadena turned back Roseau 5-1.

The Mudcats’ win was all Fenner. The veteran right hander tantalized Wadena with a variety of speeds and locations, allowing only four singles, while fanning one and walking none.

In fact, he never reached a three ball count against any of the 25 batters he faced, a remarkable performance..

The Shockers only threat came in the third when they put runners at second and first with two outs. But a grounder to third brought a force out to end that frame. Fenner retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced in the last three frames.

His effort was needed since Bemidji struggled to score against righthander Jordan Wohlwend.

He allowed seven hits, fanned three and walked one.

The Cats scored in the first when Dan Bauer singled, stole second, advanced to third on Neil Huewe’s grounder and scored on Dan Nolan’s single.

The second run crossed in the second when Sam Anderson walked, Jeff Schaper singled, Doug Peterson moved them up with a sacrifice and Anderson crossed on a wild pitch.

That was the last serious Bemidji threat though the Cats had base runners in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

Nolan went 3-3 to lead the batting attack. Both teams played errorless defense.

The win lifted the Cats t0 10-4-1 on the year,Tyler Norland will get today’s starting call seeking his second win this summer.

The Cats play in the Nimrod tournament next Friday and Saturday.

Ox socks champs

The biggest shocker of the tournament came Saturday morning when the Blue Ox overcame three deficits to shade the defending champion Ft. Ripley Rebels 7-6.

Bemidji pounded out 14 hits against two Ripley hurlers with Thor Josefson and Dan Bennett getting three and Colton Smith, Justin Huether and Josh Kelsey two.

The Ox trailed 3-0 at the start, 5-4 after three and 6-5 after four but rallied to tie with a run in the fifth and won with another in the sixth.

The winning score came when Nate Brown was hit by a pitch, Kelsey singled and Huether plated Brown with a sacrifice fly.

It was a different story in the afternoon, however.

Jameson Benson, who had stopped the Ox 7-4 on eight hits last weekend at Ada in a league game, limited them to five Saturday, fanning three and walking one. Aaron Cook pitched a scoreless final inning.

Matt Fossen gave up seven hits and three eared runs, fanning two and walking two.

Ada scored in the first when Chris Ellingson walked, moved up on a sacrifice and scored on Benson’s two-out double to the right center field fence.

The A’s made it 4-0 in the third. Adam Lee singled and stole second. He scored as Ellingson reached on an error. With two gone, Benson plated the second run with a single. Sam Kinney followed with a one bagger and scored as Mike Gullingsrud reached on another misplay.

Ken Hayden scored the final A’s tally when he lofted a high fastball over the green monster to open the Ada fourth.

The Blue Ox broke the ice in the last of the fourth when Justin Huether singled. He was forced at second by Nate Brown who advanced a base when the relay to first went wild.

He got to third on a wild pitch and scored on Bennett’s sacrifice fly.

But that was it. Brown reached third with two gone in the sixth but was stranded and a two out walk went to waste in the seventh.

The Blue Ox four hits came off as many different bats, all singles. Benson had three of the seven Ada safeties.

Cody Gross (0-2) will get today’s starting call. The Ox dropped to 3-6.

 

MUDCATS WQIN ON WALK_OFF BOMB!

Jeff Schaper powered a high curve ball well over the green monster Friday night to lift the Bemidji Mudcats to a 6-5 victory over Nimrod.

The Cats battled back from a 4-0 deficit in the third inning to tie the score in the sixth and avoid constant threats by the visitors down the stretch.

Reliever Doug Shequen, the former Staples high star, came in to start the ninth as the third Nimrod hurler. He retired the first two batters easily. But he hung a curve on his first pitch to Schaper and the big first sacker hung it over the highest sign on the green monster in deep left center field to send the Bemidji fans home happy.

It was not a well played game with each team committing four errors.

Bemidji had runners on base in every innings but was able to score in only four.

Nimrod went down in order in three of the first four frames but threatened constantly thereafter.

Doug Peterson was a surprise starter for Bemidji and retired the Gnats in order the first two frames.

But he lost the strike, zone in the third walking four of the first five batters he faced to force home a run.

After a force at home, Aaron Funk singled in two more and a single by Gunner Johnson made it 4-0.

Ryan Sander, the expected starter, came on to start the fourth and allowed only one unearned run the rest of the way, spacing three singles.

But the Cats struggled to catch up.

They scored in the last of the third when Sam Anderson walked and Dan Bauer singled. Neil Huewe advanced the pair with a sacrifice and Anderson crossed on a wild pitch.

Two more walks filled the bases but the promising rally ended when Andrew Hen gel’s shot to third was turned into a force at home and Peterson fanned.

Bemidji drew within one with two in the fifth.

A hit batter and wild pickoff attempt was followed by a Paul Fenner single for one run. Fenner took second on the throw home and scored on Sander’s double.

Nimrod made it 5-3 in the sixth when Johnson singled, was sacrificed to second and scored with two gone when Dylan Shequen reached on an overthrow.

Nimrod had runners on in the last three innings but failed to score again.

The Mudcats knotted the score in the sixth when Anderson reached on an error and Bauer singled. Huewe again moved them up with a sacrifice and both scored when Anderson was trapped between third and home on Dan Nolan’s grounder but escaped when the ball was thrown into left field on the rundown.

Nolan reached second on the misplay but was stranded.

Nolan singled with two gone in the eighth and advanced on a wild pitch but was stranded again..

But Schaper ended the night on a happy note with his blast in the ninth.

Eight different Mudcats had hits with Bauer the only one with two.

The win lifted Bemidji to 9-4-1.

The Cats will play their semifinal game at 12:30 today against the winner of the early morning game between Wadena’s Shockers and the Roseau Royals.

Ada and Dent played the lower bracket opener Friday night, a game that started at 9:30 an was still in progress at press time.

That winner goes against the Fort Ripley-Bemidji Blue Ox game which will be played at10 this morning at the Arena.

The semifinals are set for 12:30 and 3:00 on both fields. The final four games will be played tomorrow, the title game at 1:30 at BSU.

Fort Ripley is the defending champion.

 

CATS SNEAK AWAY FROM NASHWAUK!

The Bemidji Mudcats turned the tables on the Nashwauk Colts Tuesday night, shading the Arrowhead League leaders 4-3 at the BSU Stadium.

Nashwauk had taken the first meeting of the year by the same score at Nashwauk.

The Cats built up a 4-0 lead through the first eight innings, then hung on by the skin of their teeth, throwing out the tying run at home plate on the final play of the night.

The game matched Arrowhead League veterans Jamey Fillman of the Colts with Bemidji’s Paul Fenner.

For eight innings, Fenner had the visitors eating out of the palm of his hand, scattering five hits in as many different innings while fanning ten and seemingly home free.

But his mates squandered a golden scoring chance in the eighth that could have broken the game open and almost paid dearly for their mistake.

They scored twice in the third when Fillman walked Dan Bauer and Neal Huewe. Bauer stole third and scored on a wild pitch with Huewe taking second.

He reached third on Tony Klaers’ single and scored on Dan Nolan’s sacrifice fly.

The Cats doubled the score in the sixth when Ryan Sander singled with one gone and reached third when Joe Chimento speared Doug Peterson’s shot to third but threw past second base trying for the force.

Jeff Schaper singled to left to plate Sander and Peterson crossed when Sam Anderson reached on an error.

Nolan’s infield single between two walks filled the sacks in the eight with no outs.

But Fillman wriggled out of the jam with a fly to short center, a pop to first and a ground out to second, leaving the sacks loaded.

It became a near fatal error in the ninth.

Chimento beat out a bunt to open the frame and Joe Martire doubled of the right center field fence. Jeff Cl.usiau reached when his topper to the left side of the mound was bobbled with the two lead runners holding.

Pinch hitter Eric Wright’s sacrifice fly plated one run.

Dan Mell walked to refill the sacks and the second run scored as Sam Martire forced Mell at second.

Fillman then singled to send home the third run and Vince Gangl followed with his third hit of the night to right field.

But Nick Stenberg’s throw to the infield was relayed by Huewe to Klaers who nipped Sam Martire sliding home to end the game.

Gangl was the only Colt with more than one hit. Bauer, Klaers and Sander had two for Bemidji,.

The win lifted the Cats to 1-1 in league play and 8-4-1 overall.

They open the 9th annual Rosco Invitational Friday night facing the Nimrod Gnats at 6:30.

Ada and Dent meet at 9.Saturday, Wadena and Roseau open at 10 at BSU with the Blue Ox facing Ft. Ripley at the same time at the Arena..The semifinals will be at 12:30 and 3 at BSU with the consolation semi’s at the same times at the Arena.

Sunday, the seventh and fifth place games will be at the Arena at 11 and 1:30 with the third and first place games at BSU at 11 and1:30.

 

BUSY WEEKEND LANDS MUDCATS A 3-1-1 RECORD

The Bemidji Mudcats emerged from a busy weekend with a 3-1-1 record.

They opened with a 9-3 win Friday night at Brainerd before dividing two games Saturday at Ft. Ripley,. losing to that team 3-2 but beating Henderson in the second game 6-0.

Sunday Bemidji won its opener at Nisswa 9-0 before playing to a 13 inning 5-5 tie, called by agreement at that point.

Tonight they return to Arrowhead League play, hosting Nashwauk at7:30 at BSU.

The Colts took the first meeting of the pair 4-3 at Nashwauk.

Paul Fenner (0-1) will get the mound start tonight.

Friday, Bemidji spotted the Bees a 2-0 first inning lead, then came back to take a 4-2 lead in the second, expanded it to 7-2 in the sixth and coasted home.

Joe Andersen started but Matt Stasch, who came on in the third, picked up the win.

The pair limited the Bees to eight hits while fanning eight.

Two hits and two walks produced the two Brainerd runs in the first.

Singles by Doug Peterson, Fenner, Ryan Sander and Andrew Hengel sent home the four in the Bemidji second. A walk, error and hits by Dan Bauer and Dan Nolan sent home three in the sixth.

After the Bees scored their final run in the sixth, Bemidji added two in then ninth on hits by Sam Anderson, Sander and Nick Stenberg around a walk.

Bauer and Sander had three hits for the Cats. Anderson and Fenner had two.

Mudcats 040-003-002—-9—14—1

Brainerd Bees 200-001-000—-3—8—2

J. Andersen, Stasch (1-0) (3) and Clark. Nolan

Flanagan, Joel (3), Crocker (7) and Schmolke

Mound duel

Saturday morning’s opener was a mound duel between Sam Anderson of the Cats and Weletzko of Ft. Ripley.

John Grindeland walked and scored on a wild pitch in the first. Nick Jelacie tripled and scored on a ground out in the second after two walks.

Ft. Ripley went ahead in the fifth on a hit, walk, ground out and sacrifice fly.

Bemidji tied it in the sixth when Nolan doubled, was sacrificed to third and scored as Peterson reached on an error.

The game winner came in the seventh on a walk, sacrifice and double.

Peterson who relieved Anderson to start the sixth, got the loss. His first. Schmolke, who pitched only the seventh, got the win.

Bemidji managed only four hits.

Mudcats 100-001-0—-1—4—0

Ft. Ripley 010-010-1—-3—5—2

Anderson, Peterson (0-1) (6) and Klaers

Waletzko, Schmolke (w) (7) and Haberman

Sander gem

Sander hurled a five hitter in the afternoon game fanning six and walking one to get his third win.

Bemidji scored three in the third on hits by Grindeland, Tony Klaers and Sander around a walk and three in the seventh on a walk, Nolan’s single, a double by Hengel and Sander’s one bagger.

Sander had two of Bemidji’s seven hits.

Mudcats 003-000-3—-6—7—0

Henderson 000-000-0—-0—5—2

Sander (3-1) and Nolan

Nagel and Pedt

Another blank

Tyler Norland made his season debut Sunday and appeared in mid season form,

Last year’s mound ace allowed six hits, two in each of the final two frames. He fanned five and walked one.

Bemidji took charge at the start.

The Cats scored three in the first on a walk, Nolan’s single and Hengel’s three-run homer.

Four more crossed in the third on Grindeland’s single, doubles by Klaers and Nolan, a walk and error.

The final pair crossed in the fourth on Grindeland’s single and doubles by Klaers and Hengel.

Grindeland, Klaers, Nolan and Hengel all had two hits in the nine hit Bemidji attack. Hengel had five rbi.

Mudcats 304-200-0—-9—9—0

Nisswa 000-000-0—-0—5—0

Norland (1-0) and Klaers

Cook (L), Anderson (7) and Morgan

Marathon game

The nightcap was a marathon.

Bemidji took a 3-1 lead in the third only to see Nisswa tie with a pair in the fifth.

Each team scored twice in the 11th and after two more frames, agreed to call it a day.

Bauer went the first nine with Hengel pitching the final four.

Chris Hiltz worked the first six for Nisswa with BHS assistant coach Aaron Jenkins coming on in the tenth.

Three walks filled the bases for Bemidji in the third and Klaers’ single and an error plated all three.

Nisswa had scored in the second on an error, single and passed ball.

It scored twice in the fifth on a walk and two singles.

Both teams went scoreless the next five frames before Bemidji took a 5-2 lead in the 11th on an error, Klaers’ single, Nolan’s double which sent home one and a single by Hengel which plated the second.

But Nisswa came back to tie on a single, walk and two out error which filled the bases and a double by Jenkins.

Neither team threatened in the final two frames before agreeing to end the day.

Nolan had four hits and Klaers and Hengel three in the14 hit Bemidji attack.

Nisswa had only eight.

Cats 300-000-000-020-0—-5—14—2

Nisswa 010-020-000-020-0—-5—8—2

Bauer, Hengel (10) and Nolan

Hilts, Anderson (7), Jenkins (10) and Dickmeyer

 

MUDCATS WIN!

 

The Bemidji Mudcats snapped a brief two-game slide Friday winning 7-2 at St, Francis to reach 4-3 on the year.

Saturday’s scheduled game at Shakopee was canceled by the host team, the second Twin Cities team to pull out of a date against Bemidji in two weeks.

This weekend, Bemidji faces another busy slate playing at the Brainerd Bees Friday, facing Ft. Ripley and Henderson in a twin bill Saturday at Ft. Ripley and stopping at Nisswa Sunday on the way home for a single game.

The next home game will be an Arrowhead League contest June 9 against Nashwauk. The Colts won their first meeting with the Cats 4-3 at Nashwauk and followed with a 5-1 win at Grand Rapids to take the early league lead.

Ryan Sander got the win Friday, his second in three decisions.

The BSU hurler allowed only four hits, fanned seven and issued no walks in a route going performance.

Jeff Carp worked into the sixth for St. Francis, giving up the first three runs. The final four came off Bill Rentz in the ninth.

St. Francis took a 2-0 lead in the third when Rentz walked with one out, Cory Raby singled and Tyler Earls doubled home both runners.

From that point on, the home team never had more than one base runner on base in any inning.

The Mudcats scored in the fifth when newcomer Nick Stenberg singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Dan Bauer’s two-out double. Bauer was cut down at third trying for an extra base to end that frame.

Bemidji went ahead in the sixth when John Grindeland reached on an error and scored on Tony Klaers’ double.

With two gone, Paul Fenner singled to plate Klaers.

That finished Carp with Tim Johnson coming on to get the final out.

The 3-2 lead lingered through the eighth inning as Johnson worked two scoreless frames before Rentz relieved to end an eighth inning threat.

He gave up a walk and single before ending that frame but was not as fortunate in the ninth.

Jon Clark was hit by a pitch to open that frame and Bauer singled., They advanced as Klaers grounded out and scored on a double by Klaers.

After Doug Peterson was hit by a pitch, Fenner singled home Klaers. A walk followed before Dan Seaborg’s single delivered Peterson with the final run.

Bemidji ended with14 hits, four by Bauer and two each by Klaers, Fenner and Stenberg.

Earls had two of the losers four.

The three St. Francis hurlers fanned 10 and walked four.

Mudcats 000-012-004—-7—14—2

St. Francis 002-000-000—-2— 4—1

Sanders (2-1) and Clark

Carp (L), Johnson (6), Rentz (8) and Nissen

 

MUDCATS SLIP OPENING WEEKEND!!!

 

The Bemidji Mudcats opened their new season dividing a twin bill at Nimrod Saturday.

They beat the host Nimrod Gnats 8-1 in the opening game before falling to Midway’s Snurdbirds 8-7 in the nightcap.

The Cats play another twin bill next Saturday at Wadena taking on Verndale in the opener before facing the host Shockers in the nightcap.

Three Cats hurlers limited Nimrod to six hits in the opener with Andrew Hengel working the fourth and fifth frames to get the win.

Bemidji scored in the first when Ryan Johnson doubled, moved up on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

The Cats scored again in the fifth on Ryan Sander’s single and a three base error on Pau Fenner fly to deep center.

It became 6-0 in the fifth when Dan Nolan doubled and scored as Sander reached on an error. After a walk, Hengel blasted a three run homer.

Nolan’s single and doubles by Jeff Schaper and Hengel produced two more in the seventh.

The Nimrod run scored in the sixth off Matt Stasch on two walks and a single by Steve Funk.

Doug Shequen, who worked the first four innings, took the loss.

Midway moved to a 5-1 lead after three in the nightcap and added three more in the fourth for an 8-1 lead.

The Cats fought back with a run in the fifth and five in the seventh but came up a run short.

Sander worked the first three to get the loss with Josh Silvernagel and Dan Bauer working in relief.

Silvernagel singled in a Bemidji run in the third. Paul Fenner’s single and Johnson’s double produced another in the fifth,

With two outs hits by Hengel, Silvernagel, Nolan and Sander followed to cut the lead to one.

But Schaper flied out to end the game.

Jake Lund hurled the distance for Midway to get the win.

Bemidji 100-014-2—-8—11—-0

Nimrod 000-001-0—1——6—4

Fenner, Hengel.(1-0) (4), Stasch (6) ad Huewe

Doug Shequen, Funk (5) and Dylan Sheguen

 

The Bemidji Mudcats are gearing up for another summer of ball.  Many players will return for Skipper Scott Seaton this summer, however there will be holes to fill in the field and in the lineup.  The core players will return, including All-State selection Tony Klaers and his red hot stick.  Paul Fenner will man the mound this season as the teams ace.  Pitching depth will be a point of reflection this spring training for Seaton.

 

"We need to find depth on the hill this summer.  Some guys need to step up and take that roll. We lose a big arm we have had for a long time, but I am confident we will have guys step up."

 

Dan Bauer and Sam Anderson are 2 guys hoping to step up and fill starting rolls and much needed depth on the hill. 

 

Tune in at another date to get more of an update on Mudcat baseball!!!