Mudhens win battle of the Ducks
Posted June 1, 2019
Believe me, the Ducks were on the Pond in the Land O'Ducks League Friday night in Minneota.
And when it was over, the Mudhens of Minneota had landed safely on the pond with a 10-2 victory over the Madison Mallards.
"When everyone is hitting, it's contagious," said Austin Buysse, who slammed out three hits, one a double, scored three runs and knocked in three.
Minneota, now playing without their bestpower hitter, Adam Durfee, who is out with a shoulder injury, didn't look like a duck without a rudder in the big pond. They banged out 18 hits and had an 8-0 lead before the Mallards even got on the board.
"Durfee is a great player, but it is what it is. We've got to step up a little bit," said Buysse. He was joined in the hitting circle by Austin DeVlaeminck, who wears No. 14 on his back, drawing comparisons with former Minnesota Twins slugger and No. 14, Kent Herbek. DeVlaeminck, who skipped the Mudhen Pond a year ago due to a heavy work schedule, came back this year and has quickly earned his way into the starting lineup.
He went 4-5 Friday night, including a pair of doubles and he knocked in a run. "We just have to find a place in the lineup for Austin because he's doing such a good job. Teams don't expect to find a hitter like him at the bottom of the lineup," said Coach Tyson Sonnenburg.
The Mudhens took the early lead on a single by Jesse Drager and back-to-back doubles by Danny Hennen and DeVlaeminck.
It went to 4-0 in the third after Jake Leighton led off with a double. In fourth they got four more by using five singles. Austin Buysse knocked in two of those runs and Preston Nuy another. Nuy was 3-5 with a run batted in and he started the first of two double plays in the first inning, then in the second, charged toward the pitchers bound, caught the ball and flipped it to Beau Buysse and second and he got the twin killing at first.
All that hitting gave pitcher Danny Hennen more than enough to earn the victory. He pitched eight innings, gave up just four hits, fanned six and walked just two.,
"Danny's been a horse for us. He's the guy, the heart beat of the team," said Austin Buysse.
Minneota will play a 1 p..m. makeup game at Rosen today against the Express.
MUDHENS (AB-R-H-RBI) Beau Buysse, 2b 4 1 0 0; Brant Buysse, 2b-cr 2 1 0 0; Jake Leighton, rf 4 1 2 0; Noah Scott, rf 1 0 0 0; Tyson Sonnenburg, cf 4 1 0 0; Austin Buysse, 3b 5 3 3 3; Bryce Gorder, 3b 0 0 0 0; Presotn Nuy, ss 5 1 3 1; Tommy Fischer, cr 0 0 0 0; Alex Pohlen, lf 3 0 2 2; Mike Luke, lf 1 0 0 0; Jesse Drager, c 3 0 1 0; Danny Hennen, p 5 1 3 1; Zach Nuy, p 0 0 0 0; Austin DeVlaeminck, 1b 5 1 4 1; Peyton Nuy, 1b 0 0 0 0. Totals 43 10 18 8.
MADISON (AB-R-H-RBI) Brandon Hill, ss 4 0 1 0; Matt Enger, c 4 0 1 0; Matt Monson, 1b 2 0 0 0; Avton Kells, 3b 4 0 0 0; Peyton Mortenson, 2b-p 3 1 0 0; Zach Flickinger, lf 4 0 1 0; Brandon Bornhorst, p-2b 4 0 0 0; Joe Devorak, dh 3 1 1 0; Isaac Gerdes, cf 1 0 0 0; Connor Oie, rf 3 0 0 0. Totals 32 2 4 0.
Score by Innings:
Madison 000 010 001 — 2 4 2
Mudhens 022 402 00x — 10 18 0
E-Madison: Hill, Bornhorst. LOB-Mudhens 11; Madison 7. SAC: Mudhens-Pohlen. DP-Mudhens 6-4-3 (1); 6-4-3 (2); Madison 6-4-3 (6). 2B-Mudhens: DeVlaeminck 2, Hennen, A. Buysse, Leighton; Madison: Flickinger.
Pitching IP R ER H BB K
Mudhens
Danny Hennen (W) 8 1 1 4 2 6
Zach Nuy 1 1 0 0 0 2
Madison
Bornhorst (L) 4 8 6 11 1 2
Mortenson 4 2 2 7 0 1
HP-Oie (by Hennen); Mortenson (by Nuy); Drager (by Bornhorst). WP-Mortenson.