It was weekend number two of the Minnesota Senior Men's Baseball Association 2014 State Tournament and that only means one thing....Championship weekend. 

It would be a battle of North vs South as the Fort Ripley Silver Rebels would play host to the Southwest Outlaws in a match up that would decide who would advance to the Class A title game.  The two teams would both run out their aces as Tony Whitlock of the Rebels squared off against Jeff Miller of the Outlaws.  Whitlock had thrown against the Shakopee Chiefs in a close 3-0 loss in the Rebels first state game the previous Saturday.  The loss was the first defeat for the Rebels in the 2014 season as they ran the table with a 10-0 regular season record in the North West league.  Jeff Miller was coming off of a opening weekend complete game victory over New Hope and entered the game with only 6 days rest.  

Whitlock would get the first crack at the Outlaws climbing on the hill as the home pitcher.  Tony made quick work of the Southwest crew in the 1st, setting them down in order and all by strikeout.  Miller trotted out to the mound to go to work against the Rebels sporting the Outlaws black and red home #23 jersey.  (Was it tucked in? Nobody really knows?)  Chuck Squires opened the home half with a base hit to left field and one batter later reached third on an error that allowed Todd Robinson to reach.  In "Spanky" fashion, Miller worked out of the jam striking out the Rebel's clean up hitter and coaxing a fly ball to the mitt of Paul Oelrich in center to end the rally and the inning.   

With two outs in the top of the 2nd Robb Larson ended a 5 batter retired streak from Whitlock with a line drive single to left field.  Larson's single looked like it might breathe life into the Outlaw's offense as Whitlock plunked the next batter in Jason Beckett to put runners at first and second.  Whitlock found his focus however and ended the inning with another strikeout, his 5th of the game.  Miller would look to make quick work of the Rebels in the home half of the second as he retired the first two batters in order.  Not so fast though as Mike Shogren and Rob Owen collected back to back singles to start a threat.  Spanky would put a wet blanket on the rally however by locking up the next hitter with a breaking ball to end the inning with a strikeout, his second in as many innings.  

More magic from Whitlock in the third as he once again set the Outlaws down in quick fashion for a 1-2-3 third inning.  Miller was back to work in the home half fighting off a lead off single from Derrick Schmeck, and one out later, a double off the bat of Scott Boser.  With one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd Spanky pitched a fly ball to left field.  Josh Noble got himself in perfect position behind the ball and after making the catch, fired a rope to the cut off man Ryan Carlson.  Schmeck thought better of tagging and stayed put at third base as the second out was collected.  Miller worked out of trouble again pitching a ground ball to third baseman Ryan Carlson who fed the ball across to Ryan Meyer to retire the Rebels in the 3rd. 

The Outlaws attempted to break through with another two out rally in the 4th.  After Whitlock retired the first two batters, Grant Carlson and Robb Larson worked back to back walks to move a runner into scoring position.  Whitlock continued to dominate by ending the threat and inning with yet another strikeout, his 8th of the game.  Jeff Miller worked a quick 4th inning setting the Rebels down in order and building a 5 batter retired streak that started in the 3rd.  

No luck for the Outlaws in the 5th against Tony and the Rebels, as he added his 9th strikeout of the game in his third 1-2-3 inning of the game.  On to the bottom of the 5th, Chuck Squires was at it again as he led the inning off with another single, his second of the game.  A few pitches later Squires would break for second as Miller was in the stretch position and draw a balk from Spanky as he attempted to jump off the pitching rubber and deal to second base.  The dead ball foul put the Rebels in business with a runner in scoring position and nobody out.  Jeffrey would get the next hitter on a come backer to the mound, looking back the runner at second he retired the batter at first for out number one.  Things got really hairy as Miller walked the next two batters, Robinson and Boser, to load the bases.  In Jeff Miller fashion, when the pressure is on...he's at his finest.  Jeffrey got the next two Rebel hitters to pop out to second and first respectively, and the inning was over.  

With the score still locked at 0-0 and Whitlock and Miller also locked in a classic state tournament pitchers dual, the Outlaws went at it again in the top of the 6th.  Paul Oelrich continued his hot hitting by lining a one out single to left field.  Paul moved himself into scoring position a few pitches later stealing second base.  Also not phased by a little pressure, Whitlock retired the next two Outlaw hitters in order to end the rally and keep the Outlaws off the board.  Miller answered back by dicing through the Rebels line up in 1-2-3 fashion in the home half, leaving the zeros on the board for both teams heading to the 7th inning.  

Could this be the inning for the Southwest crew to break through?  Robb Larson seemed to be the only hitter who had Whitlock figured out, as he reached base for the third time in a row with a base on balls. What happened next was rather scary and not what either team wanted to see.  Chris Nelson laid down a bunt on the 1st base side of the mound and Whitlock came off the hill to field the ball.  Tony's knee buckled to the side and he went down with a scream of pain.  Nelson reached safely with a bunt single and Larson advanced to second on the play.  Whitlock remained on the ground for an extended period of time and a hush went through both teams and all those in attendance.  Surrounded by his teammates, Tony was eventually able to get back on his feet and after a few warm up pitches continue.  Continue he did....by retiring the next three Outlaw hitters in order and slamming the door on yet another rally.  He added his 11th punch out of the game along the way.  We were informed later that Whitlock was pitching the game with no ACL or MCL ligaments in his knee.  He planned to have surgery to repair the damage shortly after the state tournament concluded.  Wow....just wow....tip of the hat to that man.

Jeff Miller would also continue to dominate as he extended yet another batter retired streak to 7 hitters before Todd Robinson worked his second walk of the contest with two outs.  Spanky would end the inning with another strikeout, his third of the game.  

Regulation was over with a 0-0 score glowing on the scoreboard, and we were headed to the extra innings in Gaylord.  After striking out the lead off hitter in the 8th, Whitlock would fall victim to the lumber of Paul Oelrich yet again.  Ole smashed a one out double to get the Southwest boys on their feet in the dugout.  Josh Noble and Grant Carson would then battle Whitlock and work back to back walks to load the bases with one out.  Whitlock appeared to be on his way to working out of the jam yet again as he struck out the next hitter for the second out of the inning.  With the bases still loaded, Chris "Nellie" Nelson rapped a sharp grounder out to short stop.  The Rebel's fielder bobbled the ball briefly as Nellie burned down the first baseline.  In a rush to get Nelson at first base and end the inning, the throw was off the mark and bounced away from the first baseman.  Paul Oelrich scored the 1st run of the game from third on the play and Josh Noble didn't slow down rounding third as he sprinted towards home.   The first baseman tracked down the ball and fired to the plate, in a close play Noble slid under the tag to give the Outlaws an emotional 2-0 lead. (Man! Noble can still run like a deer.)  As the Rebel's catcher argued the play with the home plate umpire (the ball still nestled in his mitt), Grant Carlson alertly advanced to third.  Carlson's heads up base running would pay great dividends for the Outlaws as Jeff Appel stepped into the box.  Appel promptly laced Whitlock's first offering to right field for a base hit, driving in Carlson and moving the Outlaw lead to 3-0.  

Finally handed a lead, Jeff Miller took the slow walk out to the mound to attempt to secure the final three outs and pitch the Outlaws into a State Championship game.  Spanky pitched around a one out single and did in fact pitch the Southwest crew into the title game.  Jeff finished the day with the complete game 8 inning extra frame win, striking out 4 Rebel hitters and scattering 8 hits.  The win for Miller was his 6th State tournament win in 6 state starts since 2012.  Three of the 6 games have been shut outs and all have been complete game victories.  Yet another tip of the hat to you Jeffrey....you are a true stud.

Paul "Ole" Oelrich led all Outlaw hitters going 2 for 4 with a single, double, a run scored and a stolen base.  (He can hit!)  Robb Larson was 1 for 2 with a single and reached base 3 of 4 trips to the plate with two walks.  Chris "Nellie" Nelson was 1 for 3 with a single and the big ground ball out to short that led to two runs in the 8th.  Jeff Appel was 1 for 4 with an RBI single that also came in the 3 run 8th inning.  Grant Carson walked twice and scored a run, and Josh Noble walked and scored in the 8th.