A tough one in State Tournament game two on Saturday.  It seemed the Outlaws were in control early and then Bloomington fought back and held the Outlaws at bay to secure the victory.  Sam Baumgartner single handedly attempted to put the Outlaws on his back and win this one.  Sammy was close, but just short in carrying the team to victory. 

 

Once again the Outlaws were the visiting squad as the Bloomington Eagles came into Saturday's action as the number one overall seed in the B-C tournament. 

 

It appeared the Outlaws where in business in the top of the first as Chris "Nellie" Nelson opened play with a base on balls.  Sam Baumgartner laid down a near perfect sacrifice bunt that the pitcher couldn't muster a good throw to first.  With Sammy reaching on the throwing error, one batter later Mike Roth singled and the Outlaws had the bases loaded with one out.  McNally, who was the pitcher of choice for the Eagles, did a great job of working out of trouble and setting down the next two Outlaw hitters in order and chewing up and spitting out the rally that looked to be. 

 

Sammy faced the minimum in the home half of the first using a nifty double play by Ryan Meyer to set down Bloomington in the first.

 

With one out in the top of the second Jeff Appel slapped a single through the right side of the infield.  One batter later Appel was erased on a fielders choice of the bat of Jeffrey Miller.  Robb Larson maintained his hot stick and followed Miller with a single.  Chris Nelson then joined in with a single and the bases were loaded.  Sam Baumgartner then lined a ball to the outfield that found it's way past the Eagle outfielder and rolled, and rolled, and rolled!  When it was all said and done Bammers was standing on second base and the Outlaws were leading 3-0.  Josh Noble followed Sammy with a walk but McNally ended the damage by securing the third out by strikeout.

 

Bloomington was able to answer back with one run on their own in the 2nd using a lead off double from Stevens.  Two batters and two outs later, Hamilton picked up the RBI with a single and made the score 3-1 heading into the third. 

 

McNally appeared to find his groove for Bloominton in the third.  He worked around a single by Troy Fritz but mowed down three other Outlaws by strikeout to work a quick inning. 

 

The Eagles continued to chip away in the 3rd.  A lead off walk to Peer, followed by a sacrifice bunt had another Bloominton run in scoring position.  Once again with two outs, Bobbit drove in Peer and Boomington crept to within one run at 3-2. 

 

With one out in the top of the 4th, Robb Larson reached for the second straight time with a walk.  Chris Nelson then reached on a fielding error at second base and Robb Larson moved over the third base.  With runners on first and third Nellie attempted to swipe second and was tossed out on the play.  Larson was unable to score on the throw.  With two outs Sam Baumgartner once again came through.  Sammy slammed an RBI single to left field to score Larson and move the Outlaw's lead back to two runs at 4-2. 

 

In the bottom of 4, Bloomington immediately answered back with a lead off double off the bat of Stevens.  It was Stevens's second double of the day.  A walk and two singles later the Outlaws were finally able to end the inning on a close play at the plate.  Travis "Shooter" Schuett's sweep tag at home secured the third out, but not before the Eagles had scored 3 runs and jumped out to a 5-4 lead. 

 

Both pitchers settled in at that point.  McKnally set down the Outlaws in order in the 5th and 6th innings.  Sam Baumgartner followed suit by doing the same while securing 5 of the 6 outs by strikeout. 

 

The Outlaws attempted to rally back in the top of the seventh with Josh Noble reaching on a walk with two outs.  It wasn't to be though as McKnally secured the final out by coaxing an infield pop out. 

 

Final score was Bloomington nipping the Outlaws 5-4.  Sam Baumgartner was the story of the day for the Outlaws pitching a complete game striking out 5 Eagle hitters and going 2 for 2 at the plate.  Sammy had a doulbe, a single, a walk and a sacrifice, to go along with all four RBI's the Outlaws were able to muster on the day.  Robb Larson was 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored.  Chris Nelson, Mike Roth, Troy Fritz, and Jeff Appel were all 1 for 3. 

 

With the loss the Outlaws are out of the running for a B State Championship.  Play is not over however as they will now square off against the Braemar Bees on Saturday August 25th at 1:00pm in Jordan MN.  Let's hope the Outlaws can finish the season on a good note and find a way to get two victories this coming weekend.