The Southwest Outlaws traveled to Northfield this past Sunday night to open their 2014 season against the Millers.

The Outlaws wasted no time jumping out to a lead in the top of the first. With one out Ryan Meyer coaxed a walk and then stole second base standing up. (He's got wheels for a big fella.) Then RBI king Paul Oelrich in his 2013 season form, drove Meyer in with an RBI single. Mike Roth followed Paul with a single allowing Grant Carlson to step to the plate with two runners on. A few pitches later Carlson drilled a line drive to the left center field gap and drove in both Oelrich and Roth. Big Mikey was forced to score from 1st base which has become an amusing trend for him over the past two seasons. When it was all said and done Grant was standing on third base with a 2 RBI smash. Ryan Carlson didn't allow him to stand there long as he drove his brother in on a fielder’s choice. When the dust settled the Outlaws were off and running with a 4-0 lead.

Talk about a confidence builder...handing the ball to Jeff Miller with a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning. Jeff "Spanky" Miller has quickly become the Outlaws ace on the mound and happily took the hill for the opener. Miller made quick work of the Millers in the 1st setting them down in order.

Both clubs exchanged blank frames in the second inning with Miller adding two strikeouts in the 2nd.

Mike "Ringo" Ringnell started the third inning for the Outlaws by reaching on an error after hitting a fly ball to right field. Sam "Bammy" Baumgartner also reached on an error after hitting a hot shot to the third baseman. One batter later Paul Oelrich once again provided the fireworks with another RBI single. It was Paul’s second hit and RBI on the day with Ringnell scoring. The middle of the Outlaws line-up continued producing runs as "Magic" Mike Roth drove in Sammy with an opposite field line drive single to right. Grant Carlson had a lengthily at bat which produced a wild pitch that allowed Oelrich to score the third run on the inning. Carlson later worked a base on balls to reach base for his second time on the day. The three runs would be the extent of the scoring for the inning though pushing the lead to 7-0.

Spanky put it into cruise control on the mound and kept the Millers off the board in the home half of the third and the next 2 innings of work. Over the three innings Jeffrey added another strikeout and scattered 3 Miller hits. In the home half of the 5th Robb Larson flashed his gold glove defensive talents that had the crowd and both dugouts clamoring. A hot hit grounder to first base glanced off of Ryan Meyer’s glove and popped out towards second base in the air. Robb Larson snatched the deflected ball out of mid air with his bare hand in an all in one jump throw motion, feeding Jeff Miller covering at first base to nab the runner by a half step. No lie...this play will probably be the defensive play of the year and it's only the first game. I overhead a Miller's player say, "The baseball gods are smiling after seeing that one!". Very fun to watch Robbie at his craft out there at 2nd base.

The Outlaws remained scoreless in the 4th with Robb Larson's booming double off the fence in left field being the only hit of the inning. Mike Ringnell led off the 5th inning with a single to center field and Paul Oelrich continued his hot day by adding his third hit on a 1 out single. Both would be left stranded however and the score remained 7-0 after five innings.

Ryan Carlson started a rally in the top of the 6th inning by cracking a single to left field. Dennis Larson entered the game for Miller and worked a base on balls to move Carlson into scoring position. Jeff Appel then hit a grounder out to short which looked to be a double play ball, the throw from second was off the mark however and Carlson scampered across to score on the play. Robb Larson then added his second hit of the day with a single, but Appel and Larson were left stranded.

Sam Baumgartner took over on the mound for Miller in the 6th and had a quick and scoreless inning with only one Miller reaching base on an error. Sammy struck out one hitter and walked nobody.

The Outlaws were back at it in the top of 7 with Ringo reaching for the third time on the day working a one out walk. A scary moment then followed as Sam Baumgartner was hit in the back of the head with a high and tight fastball. Sammy would prove to be ok, but was pulled from the game as a precautionary measure. Ryan "Ryno" Meyer provided payback one batter later by lacing a ball down the right field line. Ryan just kept running and ended up with an error aided in the park scoring play. Ryan drove in 2 on the double and with him crossing the plate made it a 3 run inning for the Outlaws. Paul Oelrich would reach on a walk following Meyer, but the Millers limited the damage to 3 runs.

Trailing 11-0 the Millers didn't give up in the bottom of the 7th.  They scratched two runs across the plate against Paul Oelrich who took over for Baumgartner to close out the game. Paul did shut the door on the victory however as the Outlaws walked away with an opening day 11-2 victory.

Leading hitters on the day for the Outlaws were Paul Oelrich who was 3 for 3 with 2 RBI's and two runs scored, Robb Larson 2 for 3 with a double and a single, Mike Roth 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, Ryan Meyer 1 for 3 with a 2 RBI double, 2 runs scored, and a stolen base, Grant Carson 1 for 3 with a 2 RBI double and a run scored, Ryan Carlson 1 for 3 with a single an RBI and a run scored and finally...Mike Ringnell with a 1 for 2 day while reaching all three times and scoring twice.

Jeff Miller picked up right where he left off in 2013 tossing 5 shutout innings and extending his scoreless inning streak from last season’s state tournament to 21 innings. He's good! Sam Baumgartner tossed a scoreless inning of work to shake some off season rust off also.

Tid Bits

*The middle of the Outlaws line-up went 7 for 13 with 7 RBI's and 6 runs scored. Not a bad start for the big boppers.

*Jeff Appel who had off season shoulder surgery was able to make the opening day line-up in a limited DH role. 

*Sam Baumgartner gave the "All Ok" status after being hit in the head with a fastball.  I haven't heard if he later developed any droopie body parts as a result of the plunking. 

*The Outlaws will travel to Wilmont MN to take on the Cardinals on Saturday May 24th at 1:00pm. The game has become somewhat of a fun spring tradition for the two clubs.