The LeSueur Legends made the trek to Welcome and did not suffer from any road fatigue.  The Legend's hurler kept Outlaw bats silent for the complete game not allowing a single run.  The Outlaws were limited to three hits off the bats of Mike Roth, Jason Beckett and Jesse Teerink.

Jeff "Spanky" Miller made his 2015 debut at home pitching 6 innings and striking out 4.  Jeffrey saw his first action since the State Tournament semi-final.  

Ultimately the Outlaws fell 4-0 and would have to wait a few more innings for the bats to wake up.  

In the back half of the double header the Outlaws squared off against the Northfield Millers.  Jeff Appel took the mound for the Outlaws returning from a 2014 shoulder surgery.  

Northfield jumped out to the early lead tallying 3 runs in the first inning.  The Outlaws wasted no time in answering plating 3 runs of their own.  Sam Baumgarter opened the home half with a line drive single.  Robb Larson added another runner by reaching with a base on balls.  Ryan Meyer drove in both Southwest runners with a double to the right center gap.  One batter later Jason Beckett forced across the third run of the inning, driving in Meyer with a sacrifice fly to center field.  

Appel worked a 1-2-3 2nd inning adding his second strikeout of the day.  The Outlaws would threaten in the 2nd loading the bases behind a lead off single from Jeff Appel, Ryan Carlson being plunked (yet again), and two batters later Justin Williamson working a walk.  Northfield would keep the game tied by quashing the threat with a ground ball.  

Northfield looked to be on the way to another explosive inning in the third after loading the bases with nobody out.  Appel then went to work striking out Northfield's clean up hitter and pitching a shallow fly ball to center-field.  With two outs the Millers did add one run on a wild pitch pushing the score to 4-3.  Appel went on the secure the third out by strikeout limiting the damage to 1.  With two outs in the bottom of the third Mike Roth reached base after taking a high and tight fastball to the shoulder.  Jason Beckett would then single and it looked like a rally might be in the works.  The Miller pitcher once again ended the threat with an infield pop-up.    

Jeff Appel continued to build off of his momentum working a scoreless 4th pitching around one runner who reached on an error.  4 innings would be the end of Appel's day finishing with 5 punch outs and giving up 5 hits.  Not much doing for the Outlaws offensively in the 4th, with a Jeff Appel lead off walk being the only base runner.  The score remained 4-3 after 4. 

Sam Baumgartner came on in relief of Appel in the 5th.  The Millers expanded their lead with two more unearned runs using three singles and an error.  No noise for the Outlaws in the 5th as they were set down in order.  

The Millers looked as if they were putting the game on ice scoring 2 more runs and opening the lead to 8-3 in the 6th.  That was far from the case though as finally....finally the Outlaws offense woke up.  Well...either the offense woke up or the Millers pitcher got tired.  With one out Mike Roth was once again plunked high and tight.  Big Mike was starting to get a bit annoyed with the location of the bean balls, but calmly (kinda) made his way to first base.  One out later the rally started.  Jesse "Muff" Teerink and Jeff Appel worked back to back walks to load the bases.  Ryan Carlson and Grant Carlson both did the same (walked) to push two runs across.  Jeff Miller then strolled to the plate and lined a base hit to center-field driving in Appel and RC.  Willy then joined the plunked club and took first base after being beaned.  Sam Baumgartner then piled on with another RBI inducing walk.   When it was all said and done the Outlaws had scored 5 runs and knotted the score at 8-8 heading for the 7th inning.  

Northfield did a great job curbing the home team's excitement by coming out in the top of the 7th and stealing the lead right back.  The Millers used a lead off double and a two out single to score one run and once again move out in front 9-8.  The Millers looked to be well on their way to a win by setting the first to Outlaw hitters down in order.  Ryan Meyer had opened the inning by hitting an absolute p-rope down the right field line that looked like it would get past the Miller's right fielder.  The Northfield player made a great running catch to deny Meyer an extra base hit and keep the Millers in the lead.  Back to back two out singles from Jesse Teerink and Jason Beckett put the tying run in scoring position for Jeff Appel.  On the first pitch Appel punched a single through the left side.  Beckett was held coming around third until the left fielder miss-played the hit from Appel.  Beckett then took off for home plate.  As Beckett was wheeling towards home plate, Teerink attempted to advance to third on the throw.  The now alert left fielder dealt a solid throw to third base and Muffy was tagged out prior to Beckett crossing home plate.  The game was over.  Northfield walked out of Welcome with a 9-8 win in dramatic fashion.

With the weekend dropping of two games the Outlaws fell to 1-2 in league play.  Encouraging to see Jeff Appel back on the bump for 4 innings as he still works back from surgery.  Appel also went 2-2 at the plate with 2 walks and a run scored.  Jason Beckett was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Jesse Teerink was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored, Jeff Miller was 1 for 3 with 2 RBI, Sam Baumgartner was 1 for 3 with an RBI- a walk and a run scored, and Ryan Meyer was 1 for 4 with the big 1st inning 2 RBI double along with a base on balls and a run scored.  

Special thanks to both the LeSueur Legends and the Northfield Millers for making taking the venture south.  We always appreciate those teams who are willing to travel south and play.  THANK YOU!!!