Mudhens beat Yankees, 12-1

The signs on the outfield wall at Milroy’s Yankee stadium relate a history of success and a proud baseball tradition.

The Yankees have been the standard of success held up to other aspiring amateur baseball teams. In past years, they’ve dominated the Minneota Mudhens — until last year when Minneota broke through with a win.

But it wasn’t until Saturday that the Mudhens stood on the brink of a new season and came out slugging, banging out 19 hits to beat the Yankees, 12-1 in seven innings.

“Hitting is contagious,” said Manager Tyson Sonnenburg. “We’re doing everything right,” added Assistant Coach Beau Buysse.

But Assistant Coach Austin Buysse added a warning to the Mudhens. “This is a big game, but what matters is what happens in July and August. Never settle, keep building,” he said.

The Mudhens broke open a scoreless game when newcomer Austin DeVlaeminck doubled and scored on a single by Jake Leighton.

But they broke the game open off Milroy pitcher Zach Felcyn with a four hit, five-run fourth inning. Once the hits began, they just didn’t stop. A Milroy error opened the gates for the rally as Danny Hennen doubled, Beau Buysse singled and  Austin Buysse added a hit that knocked it two runs. Suddenly it was 6-0 and the Mudhens felt something “special” was happening.

On the mound, Danny Hennen was twirling a masterpiece. “Danny’s our horse and we played amazing behind him,” said Manager Sonnenburg. “Danny’s performance was huge. It was good to stretch him out,” aid Beau Buysse, about Hennen’s seven-inning, three-hit, four strikeout performance.

Yet, while  this was a great hitting performance with very solid pitching, it was the defense that stood out in everyone’s mind. “We didn’t make a single error,” added Austin Buysse.

The Mudhens, not content to sit on the big lead, got a run-scoring infield run batted in by DeVlaeminck in the fifth to score Alex Pohlen and put the game away with five more runs in the sixth. Sonnenburg started this rally with a single followed by singles from Austin Buysse and Preston Nuy. Jesse Drager ripped a double in left center field to score two runs. 

He was surprised to see it get past the Yankee outfielders. “I looked out there and they were still running after it,” joked an elated Drager. 

Then DeVlaeminck delivered his third hit of the day to drive in another run.

“This felt so good. I walked a guy early but the fastball was stickin’ in there and Jesse (Drager) was calling a good game for me,” said Hennen about his veteran catcher.  “It really helps a pitcher when the team is putting up runs,” said Hennen.     

He credited the defense with helping him pitch a solid game.

“When they play like that you feel more relaxed out there,” Hennen added. “We trust each other. It was a lot of fun on both sides of the field (offense and defense),” he said.

The additions of players like Alex Pohlen, Austin DeVlaeminck and Brant Buysse have added youth to the Mudhens. And they are paying dividends. DeVlaeminck’s three hits, the hitting and defense of Pohlen and Brant Buysse playing well late in the game at second base have been key factors.

When Adam Durfee returns, Coach Sonnenburg says it may create a “jam” figuring out how to play everyone, but he added, “It’s a nice problem to have.”

Sonnenburg was happy with, a “Great job of hitting.” And Beau Buysse added, “This is pitching like we’re going to see in the league this year.”

Minneota is 3-0 and will play Friday at Granite Falls against the Kilowatts.

Minneota 12, Milroy 1 (7 innings)

MINNEOTA (AB-R-H-RBI) Beau Buysse, 2b 3 1 2 0; Jake Leighton, rf 5 0 2 1; Tyson Sonnenburg 5 2 3 1; Mike Luke, cr-cf 0 1 0 0; Austin Buysse, 3b 5 1 2 2; Preston Nuy, ss 4 1  2 0; Alex Pohlen, lf 5 2 1 0; Danny Hennen, p 5 0 1 3; Brant Buysse, cr-2b 0 2 0 0; Jesse Drager, c 4 0 1 1; Austin DeVlaeminck,1b 4 2 3 1. Totals 40 12 19 9.

MILROY (AB-R-H-RBI)  Brian Dolan, lf 2 1 1 10; Andy Schmidt cf 3 0 1 0; Matt Bauer, ss 3 0 0 0; Eric Dolan, dh 3 0 0 0; Derrick Walker, 2b 2 0 0 0; Riley Carpenter, 3b 2 0 0 0; Brandon Kristro, c 3 0 1 0; Ethan Deutz, 1b-p 3 0 0 0; Ty Kemp 1b-p 2 0 0 0; Zach Felcyn, p-2b 2 0 0 0. Totals 23 1 3 0.

Score by Innings

Minneota            001 515 0 — 12 19 0

Milroy                 000 001 0 — 1    3  3

E-Milroy: Bauer, Felcyn 2. LOB-Minneota 11; Milroy 5. SB-Minneota: Sonnenburg. SAC-Minneota: Beau Buysse. DP-Minneota 4-6-3 (6). 2B-Minneota: Hennen, DeVlaeminck.

Pitching                  IP    R    ER     H    BB     K

Minneota

Hennen (W)           7     1     1        3     1        4

Milroy

Felcyn (L)              4     6     4        11    1        2

Kemp                     2     6     3        8      1        1

N. Duetz                1     0     0        0      0        2

HP-Carpenter (by Hennen); Nuy (by Deutz). WP-Hennen.