Comeback could help Hens

Bryce Gorder falls into that category of never giving up even when the odds are stacked against you.

During his senior year at Canby High School, he hurt his shoulder, an injury that seemingly ended his baseball career.

But, “I had Tommy John surgery,” he said. Professional athletes take the surgery all the time, lose a year off their careers and the results after coming back are sporadic.

Sunday, Gorder took the mound at K. P. Kompelien Field for the Minneota Mudhens, officially for the first time in his first Mudhen game and he pitched a one-two-three inning, striking out one batter.

“He said his shoulder felt a little sore so we took him out,” said Manager Tyson Sonnenburg. “Yes, it was sore,” said Gorder, who by this time had grabbed a rake and was helping manicure the field after the Mudhens pounded out 15 hits enroute to a 13-3, eight-inning pounding of Ruthton.

Minneota powered two home runs and 15 hits to win their season opener over the Royals at Minneota as Adam Durfee, another Canby native and freshman at Augustana College in Sioux Falls went 4-4 and hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.

Manager Tyson Sonnenburg added to the assault with a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

The Mudhens used four pitchers in their opener and all pitched well, with Zach Nuy (another Canby native) picking up the win in relief of Danny Hennen.

For Assistant Manager Beau Buysse, the key to the game was the pitching, and Gorder’s inning didn’t go unnoticed. “That was nice to see him pitch so well. We have a lot of pitching, and two of our pitchers, Henry Pesch and Tommy Fischer are still pitching college ball.”

“Pitching can take you a long way,” said Buysse.

As for Gorder, he’s happy to be playing baseball again. His shoulder problem and the fact the Canby Knights folded over a year ago didn’t stop him from giving baseball another try. “This is going to be a good team,” said Gorder, adding that he’s glad to be along for the ride. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll earn a solid role on this team. That could be as a closer. Buysse indicated keeping him in short-stint pitching situations may be the key and a closer is something that’s long been needed by the Mudhens.

As for the Mudhens show of power, Manager Sonnenburg said, “We don’t often get two home runs in a game.”

His homer came after he’d been walked three times in his first four at bat. 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

Adam Durfee 4-4, 3 runs, home run; Austin Buysse 3-5; 1 RBI; 3 runs; Danny Hennen 3-3 (4 rbi, BB); Cal Swedzinski 1-1 (2 RBI).

Double Play: Minneota Durfee to Beau Buysse and scooped nicely at first by Cal Swedzinski (6-4-3 in 8 eighth).

Friday, May 4: Milroy Yankees at Minneota, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 5: Minneota at Tracy, 2 p.m.

Minneota Mudhens 13, Ruthton Royals 3 (8)

MINNEOTA (AB-R-H-RBI) Beau Buysse, 2b 4-1-0-0; Jesse Drager, c 3-0-0-0; Drew Fadness, ph 1-0-0-0; Adam Durfee, ss 4-3-4-1; Tyson Sonnenburg, cf 2-3-1-2; Jake Leighton, lf-p 4-1-1-0; Austin Buysse, 1b-3b 5-3-3-1; Danny Hennen, p-1b 4-1-3-4; Cal Swedzinski, 1b 1-1-1-2; Preston Nuy, 3b-rf-lf 4-0-1-1; Mike Luke 1-0-0-0; Al Christianson, dh 2-0-0-1; Brant Buysse, rf 2-0-1-1; Zach Nuy, p 0-0-0-0; Bryce Gorder, p 0-0-0-0. Totals 37-13-15-13.

RUTHTON (AB-R-H-RBI) Shay Wabeke, ss 4-2-2-0; Walker Kor, lf 4-0-0-0; Chris Dougherty, 3b-p 2-0-1-2; Eric Wiering, c 4-0-0-0; Brent Wiering, p-3b 3-0-1-0; Phil Madsen, 2b 3-1-1-0; Mitch Biever, rf-p 3-0-1-1; Taylor Delaney, 1b 3-0-1-0; Dan Paluch, cf 3-0-0-0. Totals 29-3-7-3.

Score by Innings

Ruthton                    001 110 00 — 3   7   4

Minneota                    302 003 05 — 13 15 1

E-Minneota: A. Buysse; Ruthton: Wabeke 2, Delaney 1; SB; Minneota: Durfee; Ruthton: Wabeke. SAC-Minneota: Christiansen; Ruthton :Delaney; Dougherty.  P-