Mudhens celebrate 10 year anniversary with a win

To the day, Friday was the 10th Anniversary of the first Minneota Mudhen game. They won that one 10 years ago — and they won again 10 years later, beating Granite Falls, 5-2.

"This was the 10th Anniversary of our first game, which was a win over Tracy," said Manager Tyson Sonnenburg. Only he, Jesse Drager (who was the first manager)  and Aaron Sanow are still on the team from 10 years ago.

Mudhen baseball began as an off-shoot of the Marshall A's, with several Marshall players on the team. As the years have gone by, the team has become a predominantly Minneota native team — with some players from Marshall and other towns.

"We're proud to have so many Minneota kids playing on the team," said Sonnenburg.

Friday night the Kilowatts, who united with Montevideo a couple of years ago, are supported by Montevideo players. in fact of this year's roster of  22 players, seven are from Montevideo, 10 from Granite Falls, with players from Hanley Falls, Hazel Run, Milan and Cottownood (2).

Former Montevideo Spartan Kolton Vien held the Mudhens hitless for three innings, then Manager Mike Richter replaced him with Jordan Odegard.

Using a couple of Granite Falls errors, the Mudhens picked up two runs in the fourth with a base hit by Danny Hennen.

They got another in the fifth after an Adam Durfee double and run-producing single by Preston Nuy. Granite Falls rallied for two runs in the seventh after Beau Buysse took over the pitching duties from Zach Nuy, who gave up just two hits and fanned six.

But Bryce Gorder came on to put out the fire with Minneota ahead 3-2.

In the eighth Austin DeVlaeminck ripped a triple to right-center field, then scampered home on a wild pitch. The Mudhens scored an insurance run in the ninth after Preston Nuy's second hit and a run-scoring single by Noah Scott, who relieved Buysse at catcher.

"It's crazy how much confidence I have in the bottom of our order. They could be hitting at the top," said Sonnenburg.

DeVlaeminck now has four hits in the last two games, causing Sonnenburg to say, "We're going to have to find a spot for him in the lineup. Fortunately, he's someone you can put anywhwere."

The Mudhens will open the Land O'Ducks League schedule with a home game at 2 p.m. Sunday against Clinton. The Mudhens are 4-0 on the year, Granite Falls 0-1.

Mudhens 5, Granite Falls 2

MINNEOTA (AB-R-H-RBI) Beau Buysse, c-p 3 0 0 0; Bryce Gorder, p 1 0 0 0; Jake Leighton, rf 4 0 0 0; Adam Durfee, ss 5 1 1 0; Tyson Sonnenburg, cf 5 1 2 0; Austin Buysse, 1b 3 2 1 0; Preston Nuy, 3b 5 0 2 1; Alex Pohlen, lf 3 0 0 0; Danny Hennen, dh 3 1 1 1; Zach Nuy, p 0 0 0 0; Noah Scott, c 1 0 1 1; Brant Buysse, 2b 1 0 0 0; Austin DeVlaeminck, 2b 2 1 1 1. Totals 36 5 9 3.

GRANITE FALLS (AB-R-H-RBI) Jordan Odegard, ss-p 4 1 0 0l Kolton Vien p-ss 5 1 1 0; Cam Vien, 1b 3 0 1 2; Craig Listul, cf 4 0 1 0; Marcus Kranz, 3b 4 0 1 0; Brandon Grund, c 4 0 1 0; Christian Kanten, 2b 3 0 0 0; Kyle TeBeest, lf 4 0 0 0; Kevin Lindstrom, rf 1 0 0 0; Reid Raddatz, rf 1 0 0 0. Totals 33 2 5 2.

Score by Innings

Minneota            000 210 011 — 5 9 1

Granite Falls      000 002 000 — 2 5 2

E-Minneota: Brant Buysse; GF: Marcus Kranz, Christian Kranz. LOB-Minneota 13; Granite Falls 11. SB-Minneota: Beau Buysse, Sonnenburg, Pohlen; GF: C. Kanten.  2B-Minneota: Durfee; GF: Cam Vien, Marcus Kranz. 3B-Minneota: DeVlaeminck.

Pitching                         IP    R    ER    H    BB     K

Minneota

Z. Nuy (W)                     5     0    0       2     2       6

Beau Buysse                 1.1  2    2       3     2       1

Gorder (S)                     2.2  0    0       0     1       4

Granite Falls

K. Vien                          3     0     0      0     1       5

Odegard (L)                  3     3     1      4     4       0

C. Vien                         3     2      2     4     1        2

HP-Austin Buysse (2) (by Odegaard); Raddatz (by Buysse). WP-Cam Vien.