It would prove to be a tough Sunday for the Outlaws as they traveled to Prior Lake to take on the Mariners at Memorial Field.  The game was originally scheduled to be played in Welcome but Prior Lake advised they would have to take a forfeit unless the game was played on their field.  Prior Lake stated that they didn't have enough players willing to drive down to Welcome and spend the whole day tied up with baseball.  The unfortunate cards dealt did allow the Outlaws to make up a previous rain out with Bloomington however....so it wasn't all junk news.  It was an easy decision for the Southwest boys, either remove 2 games from the schedule, or travel to Prior Lake and play 2 games on Prior Lake's field.  That's what we did.......

The Outlaws were first at bat against the home team 10-0 Mariners.  Paul Oelrich would represent the only runner in the first after being hit by a pitch.  Coming off of his 10 inning complete game win only 6 days prior, Jeff Miller would be the starting pitcher for the Outlaws.   Miller ran into a bit of trouble in the first, walking the first 4 batters he faced.  Miller would eventually get the arm loose, but the Mariners jumped out to an early 6-0 lead.

Jeff Appel led off the 2nd inning with a single to right center, but one out later would be erased on a double play to end the inning.  Spanky settled back into a bit of a groove in the bottom of the 2nd facing only three batters and adding his 2nd and 3rd strikeouts.

In an attempt to get back into the game, Travis "Shooter" Schuett led off the top of the 3rd with a single and Sean Mangan followed with a walk.  Chad Wiertzema advanced Shooter to third on a fielders choice that erased Mangan at 2nd.  Justin "Willy" Williamson then hit it where they weren't and drove in Shooter with an RBI single.  One out later Sam Baumgartner cut the Mariners lead in half driving a 2 RBI single to right field scoring both Wertz and Willy.  Ryan Meyer would add a single to follow Sammy, but the 3 runs would be all the damage the Outlaws could muster.  Miller would pitch another scoreless inning in the 3rd to keep the score 6-3 in favor of the Mariners heading into the 4th.  

With one out in the top of the 4th Jeff Appel added his second hit of the day lining a double to the right center field gap.  It would be the only noise for the Outlaws in the inning however as the Mariners pitcher set down the next two hitters in order.  Spanky worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 4th while adding his 4th K of the afternoon.  

The Outlaws were quiet in the 5th and 6th innings with only one base runner represented by a Chad Wiertzema base on balls.  The home half of the 5th wasn't a quiet inning for the Mariners as their offense once again woke up.  The home team would plate 4 additional runs using two hits and five walks to extend their lead to 10-3 with 5 innings in the books.  

Prior Lake pitching continued to stymie Southwest hitters retiring them in order in the top of the 6th.  Ryan Carlson entered the game in relief of Miller in the 6th.  Prior Lake would continue to roll adding two more runs and opening their lead to 12-3.  

Not willing to go down without a fight, Mike Roth and Jeff Appel started an Outlaw rally in the 7th by reaching on back to back walks with one out.  One out later Jason Beckett drove in Roth with a single cutting the lead to 12-4.  The deficit was unfortunately too large to overcome, as the rally and the game would end with the next batter being retired.

A tired Outlaws pitching staff walked 13 Mariner hitters and plunked one.  Jeff Appel led the Outlaws in hitting going 2 for 2 with a single, a double and a walk.  Sam Baumgartner was 1 for 3 with a 2 RBI single, Ryan Meyer was 1 for 3 with a single, Mike Roth walked and scored, Jason Beckett was 1 for 3 with an RBI single, Travis Schuett was 1 for 3 with a single, Sean Mangan walked, Chad Wiertzema walked and scored a run,  and Justin Williamson was 1 for 2 with an RBI single and a run scored. 

Trying to put the game one loss behind them the Outlaws had a cold beverage and then once again laced them up to face the Bloomington Eagles in game 2.  

Josh Noble would start things for the Outlaws in the first with a one out single.  Oelrich would then reach on a fielders choice that erased Noble.  Somehow Oelrich advanced to 2nd base where Mike Roth drove him in with an RBI single to left field.  Ryan Meyer joined in and played copy cat, adding a single of his own.  Roth would eventually score moving the Outlaws out to a 1st inning 2-0 lead.  The two runs would be it for the visiting team in the first.  Sam "Bammy" Baumgartner took the hill for the Outlaws and pitched a harmless home half securing the final 2 outs by strikeout.  

Both teams would go down quietly in the 2nd inning with the Outlaws falling in order and the Eagles adding only one base-runner on a base on balls from Jerry Peer.  

With one out in the 3rd Jeff Miller attempted to get the Outlaws on the scoring track by lining a single to left.  One batter later Baumgartner would also single and a few pitches later both runners advanced on a passed ball.  That is as far as they would go, as the Eagles pitcher John Bannigan coaxed a pop out to short-stop to end the threat and the inning.  Bloomington would battle back and shorten the Outlaws lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the third.  They opened the inning with back to back walks from Scott Kloiber and and John Bannigan.  One out later Baumgartner would pitch a nice ground ball to short.  The feed to second found the mark, but the relay to first for the attempted double play would not.  By the time Meyer could corral it off the fence, Kloiber was on his horse and scoring the first run for the Eagles.  

Bannigan would continue to baffle Outlaw hitters in the 4th and 5th innings only allowing 2 base runners.  Mike Roth singled in the 4th and Jason Beckett singled in the 5th.  Sammy would also pitch scoreless 4th and 5th frames only allowing 2 base runners.  Jerry Peer was the only runner in the 4th reaching for the second time in as many plate appearances with a walk and Bannigan continued to torment the Outlaws with a base on balls in the 5th.  

Jeff Miller led off the 6th for the Outlaws with his second hit of the day lining a single to left field.  One out later Sam Baumgartner also added his second hit of the day with a base knock. Both runners would be left stranded as Bannigan dug deep and retired the next two hitters on fly balls to center and left.  With one out in the bottom of the 6th, Jeff Schmitz reached base on a dropped third strike.  The Eagles would put runners on 1st and 2nd as Gary Barbo then worked a walk.  Sammy then once again pitched a nice ground ball to second base that appeared to be the double play the Outlaws needed to get out of the inning.  The feed from second secured the 2nd out there, but once again the relay throw to first was off the mark.  The Eagles tied the ball game on the play 2-2.  Ryan Knollmaier would add a single for the Eagles, but Sammy would limit the damage to just the one run.  

Heading to the 7th locked up 2-2, the Outlaws attempted to answer back as Mike Roth opened up the 7th by adding to his perfect-o offensive game with his third single.  One out later Jeff Appel worked a base on balls to put two runners on.  Ryan Carlson added some clutch hitting as he drove in Roth and advanced Appel to second with a base hit.  Jason Beckett immediately followed up Carson's base knock with one of his own plating Appel from second base on the play.  The RBI single was Beckett's second hit of the game.  The two runs were all the Outlaws could muster as they headed to the bottom of the 7th.  

The Eagles weren't quite ready to call it quits either however.  Once again...John Bannigan found his way on base by leading of the inning with a base on balls.  Baumgartner appeared to be cruising the Outlaws to a game two victory by retiring the next two hitters in order.  With two outs Scot Bobbitt put another runner on with by working a walk.  Sammy then had Jeff Schmitz on the ropes and in a two strike count.  With Sammy digging for a dirty curve ball, Schmitz was plunked and the bases were loaded with two outs.  Gary Barbo made things even more interesting by making it a one run game with an RBI single.  With the Outlaws leading 4-3 Sam Baumgartner battled the Eagles second baseman Jerry Peer into a full count.  (As little kids we all imagined these moments of being up to bat with a full count, two outs, down by one run in the bottom of the last inning with the bases juiced.)  Sammy and Jerry would battle each other for several pitches with foul balls as the runners took off each time Sammy delivered.  Finally...Jerry Peer would win the battle by blooping a base hit into right field.  With the runners on the move with the full count pitch, Jeff Schmitz easily scored from second base and the Eagles walked off with the stunning 5-4 victory.    

A heartbreaking end to the Outlaws weekend in Prior Lake, but a fun game to say the least.  The Outlaws have won a few in this fashion in 2014 and now it was their turn to feel the sting of defeat.  It is why we all love baseball so much.  With the 2 losses the Outlaws dropped to 7-4 on the year.  

Sam Baumgartner pitched a heck of a ball game for the Outlaws going the distance and striking out 8 and giving up 4 hits.  

Mike Roth led all Outlaw hitters going 3 for 3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, Jason Beckett was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Sam Baumgartner was 2 for 3, Jeff Miller was a perfect 2 for 2, Josh Noble was 1 for 3, Ryan Meyer was 1 for 3, Ryan Carlson was 1 for 3 with an RBI, Paul Oelrich scored a run, and Jeff Appel walked and scored the final run in the 7th.  

*Double headers are not meant for old guys.

*As the year wears on, so do the pains in the Outlaws pitching staff's arms.  An ongoing issue for all the teams, the Outlaws surely felt it on this day.

*A very fun game against Bloomington even though we came up with the short stick.   

*Big shout out to Sean Mangan who caught all 14 innings of the double header for the Outlaws in the hot sun!  I'm not sure how you did it, but you did.  Your sweaty effort was much appreciated.  God help the next person who has to strap on that catchers gear!!! hahahahah!