Outlaws-1 Le Center- 6  

In the night cap the Outlaws squared off against their division rival Le Center Braves.  Confidence and calm could describe the feeling in the Outlaws dugout due to the fact they were sending Sam Baumgartner out to pitch.  Coming into the game Sammy had yet to give up an earned run and was coming off of a complete game victory in Webster.

The top of the first was uneventful for the Outlaws other than a John Maslow walk. 

Sammy set down the Braves in order in the home half.

With one out in the top of the second Travis Schuett pulled a base hit down the left field line and Ryan Meyer followed with a base hit of his own.  The Le Center defense ended the rally however by completing a double play.  

Baumgartner retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the 2nd.  The Braves then rallied with back to back singles and eventually loaded the bases on a walk.  With two outs Sammy shut the door with a strikeout.  

Justin Williamson led off the top of the third with a walk and was then sacrificed into scoring position by Jeff Miller.  Robb Larson followed with a pee rope single to left field.  Williamson was unable to score on the play because Robb actually hit the ball too hard.  (No Joke!)  With runners on the corners and 1 out, new comer Pat Nelson lifted a fly ball to shallow left field.  Willy showed his speed by tagging up and scoring on the play giving the Outlaws a 1-0 advantage.  Larson was also able to advance to second on the throw to the plate.  Baumgartner then walked and two runners were again on base.  Unfortunately the Braves pitcher ended the scoring threat by coaxing a fly ball to center.

The bottom of the third was interesting in more than one way.  It started with the Braves lead off hitter reaching on an Outlaws fielding error.  Sammy struck out the next Le Center hitter to secure the first out.  (The book gets a bit shady here and I can't remember exactly how this went down, but I'm going to give it my best shot.)  The runner on first was advanced to second base somehow during the next at bat.  With one out Le Center hitter Loopy lined a base hit down the left field line.  Outlaws left fielder Jeff Miller quickly gathered up the single and relayed the ball to Mike Roth who gunned down the Braves would be tying run at the plate.  The Outlaws dugout was all cheers until they looked to the mound and saw Baumgartner was down and clearly in pain.  Sammy's day was over, as he had to be helped from the field with a pulled groin.  Sam later said that he heard and felt the muscle just "pop" as he was delivering the pitch.  Troy Fritz then was called upon to take over on the mound.  With little time to warm up or get loose Fritzy took the reins.  Two more Braves reached with two outs to load the bases for Le Center.  Troy then shut down the rally and preserved the 1-0 lead by gathering the third out with a strikeout.

The Outlaws went quietly in the top of the 4th with only a Mike Roth single.  Fritz also cruised through the home half of the 4th only facing 4 batters and collecting 2 strikeouts.  

Ryan Meyer started the Outlaws 5th inning with a base hit.  On the next pitch a sacrifice bunt was attempted but the pitch was a ball.  Meyer was caught a bit out in no mans land and was picked off on the play.  Another out and one batter later, Justin Williamson lined a double to left center field.  Willy was stranded at second though as Le Center pitcher Mikey struck out the next batter.  

The bottom of the 5th is where the proverbial "Wheels Fell Off" for the Outlaws.  Fritzy opened the inning setting down the first two Braves hitters in order.  Then started the biggest non Outlaws two out rally of the year thus far.  The strike zone turned into a coffee can and the Braves plated 6 runs on 2 hits.  Fritz eventually gave way to Pat Nelson who secured the final out of the inning.  

With Le Center leading 6-1 there was only a couple more highlight for the Outlaws and they both belong to Pat Nelson.  Nelson doubled with one out in the top of the 6th but ended up stranded there.  He also pitched a scoreless 6th for the Outlaws setting down the Braves in order and tallying a strikeout.  

Mikey for the Braves also set the Outlaws down in order in the top of the 7th and locked down the 6-1 victory for Le Center.  Mikey pitched the complete game for Le Center and had a very impressive day on the mound.   

Ryan Meyer was the leading hitter for the Outlaws on the day going 2 for 2.  Justin Williamson was 1 for 1 with a walk and a double.  Willy also scored the Outlaws only run.  Pat Nelson was also 1 for 1 with a double and an RBI sac fly.  Mike Roth, Travis Schuett and Robb Larson each contributed one hit each.  

Sammy was on his way to pitching yet another gem for the Outlaws prior to being forced from the game with the groin injury.  He also maintained his streak of not allowing an earned run in the 2012 season.  Sammy is day to day right now but we all know how nagging that kind of thing can be.  Sammy did say that he felt "ok" the next day and is hoping the recovery time isn't typical of that type of injury.  His wrists might be sore though as he is spending the week slaying walleyes on lake Mille Lacs with his family.  Hi Jen!!!  

Hard to be disappointed in this loss as it was looking to be a classic pitching dual.  Both Troy Fritz and Pat Nelson pitched extremely well in relief.  A few calls go one way or the other and it's a completely different story.  But isn't that why we love baseball so much in the first place??  

See you all in Veseli next weekend!!!