Mudhens lose more than game

The new wasn't good — and we don't mean just the Wednesday night 8-5 Mudhen loss to the Milroy Yankees.

"I think we may have lost Adam Durfee for the year," said Manager Tyson Sonnenburg.

Durfee, the Mudhen shortstop and leading power hitter last year, has shoulder problems at Sioux Falls University, where he plays baseball.

"It looks like he's going to have shoulder surgery," said Sonnenburg. "At best he could help us in playoffs but the outlook isn't good," said the Mudhen manager.

In addition, the Mudhens second starter, Zach Nuy went just two innings against Milroy, and while, "He really pitched well," Sonnenburg took him out because of muscle problems in his throwing shoulder. It's not known how serious that problem may be.

Minneota is beginning to have pitching problems. They won't have Henry Pesch, the submariner pitching at U of M Crookston. He's decided to stay in Crookston this summer.

And outfielder-pitcher Jake Leighton has suffered arm problems and has decided to stick to the outfield and not pitch this year.

Tommy Fischer could help, but he's still at Gustavous Adolphus where he pitches on the college team.

Also on tap to help the Mudhens with their pitching woes is Payton Nuy, who lives in Sioux Falls but is on the roster. He is available to pitch when he's able to make it to the games.

Durfee was also expected to throw some for the Mudhens this year as well. So, with the thin pitching core getting thinner, Sonnenburg called on short relief man Bryce Gorder. He went two and two-thirds innings and ran into trouble in the fifth, when Milroy put together four hits and a sacrifice.

So Sonnenburg turned to assistant manager and second baseman Beau Buysse to throw three and a third innings and he gave up just two runs. One wa a double to Derek Rasmussen. But he walked two batters and hit another. Team ace Danny Hennen finished up on the mound in the ninth. He gave up a solo home run to Rasmussen to end the scoring.

"We're getting thin on pitching," said Sonnenburg. Fortunately, the Mudhens have Preston Nuy to fill in at shortstop with AustinBuysse moving from first to third, where Nuy was playing.

"It's not good news, but we've got a lot of good players and they'll pick it up," said the manager.

One of them is catcher Noah Scott, who banged out a pair of hits against Milroy. Alex Pohlen has been hitting well and walked twice against the Yankees. And outfielder Mike Luke is on hand to help fill the holes.

Minneota is now 5-1 on the season and hosts the Ortonville Rox at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Milroy Yankees 8, Minneota Mudhens 5

MINNEAOT (AB-R-H-RBI) Beau Buysse, 2b-p 5 0 0 0; Jake Leighton, rf-2b-lf 5 0 2 0; Tyson Sonnenburg, cf 5 0 2 2; Austin Buysse, 3b 5 0 1 1; Preston Nuy, ss 3 0 0 0; Drew Fadness, ph 1 0 0 0; Alex Pohlen, lf 2 1 0 0; Danny Hennen, 1b-p 4 1 2 2; Jesse Drager, c 2 0 0 0; Mike Luke, rf 2 0 1 0; Noah Scott, dh-c 4 0 2 1; Zach Nuy, p 0 0 0 0; Bryce Gorder, p 0 0 0 0; Brand Buysse, 2b 0 0 0 0. Totals 38 5 11 4.

MILROY YANKEES (AB-R-H-RBI) Dylan Criquet-Danielson 6 1 1 1; Coy Greve, ss 4 1 0 1; Matt Bauer, c-p 3 0 2 1; Nolan Scheffer, 1b-c 3 1 0 1; Nathan Deutz, p 0 0 0 0; Eric Dolan, lf 3 0 0 0; Brian Dolan, lf 5 0 1 2; Braydin Kvistero, rf 3 1 0 0; Isaac Schmitt, ph 1 0 0 0; Derek Rasmussen, 2b 5 3 3 1; Zach Felcyn ph 0 0 0 0; Jackson Hughes, cf 4 1 2 0; Ty Kemp, ph 1 0 1 0.Toptals 39 8 11 7.

Score by Innings:

Yankees              000 050 021 — 8 11 2

Mudhens             000 001 040 — 5 11 0

E-Yankees Duetz, Hughes. LOB-Minneota 8; Yankees 11. SB-Yankees: Criquet-Danielson 2; Rasmussen; Hughes. SAC-Yankees: Bauer. DP-Yankees 4-6 (6). 2B-Minneota: Sonnenburg 2, Hennen 1; Yankees: Rasmussen, Hughes. HR-Yankees: Rasmussen.

Pitching                    IP    R    ER     H     BB     K

Minneota

Z. Nuy                      2     0     0        1      0       1

Gorder (L)                2.2  5     5        4      4       2

Beau Buysse           3.1   2    2         4      2      6

Hennen                   1      1    1         2      0       1

Milroy

N. Deutz (W)            6     1     0        2     2        8

Bauer                       2     4     4        7     1        1

Kemp                       1     0     0        1      0       1

HP-E. Dolan (by Buysse); Schaeffer (by Buysse). PB-Beau Buysse 2.