Chargers get by Sleepy Eye in two games

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Minnesota Valley Lutheran pitcher Ryan Sander got a little help from his friends as he improved his record to 3-1 on the year as he held Sleepy Eye to only five hits in the first game of a Tomahawk Conference doubleheader Tuesday at Johnson Park.

The Chargers won the first game 8-1 and then topped the Indians 5-2 in the nightcap.

"Ryan has been doing an awesome job for us," MVL coach Jeff Schoenherr said. "The key is, he throws strikes and mixes up speeds. He mixes up speeds real nice -- keeps the batters back on their heels. Tyler [Morgan] does a real nice job with him behind the plate."

In the first game, the Chargers' bats were hot as they pounded the ball all over the field, collecting nine hits.

After the Indians took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, Sam Mielke put the Chargers up 3-1 after he hit a three-run triple that cleared the bases. Schoenherr said he considered sending Mielke home, but decided to play it safe and was later rewarded by his decision.

"It's one of those split-second decisions, but when you look at it, Sam's my leadoff hitter, and we got bats coming up behind him. I just hated to make that last out at home plate, and I thought why not hold him up."

Andy Beilke's two-strike double to right scored Mielke, giving the Chargers a 4-1 lead.

In the third inning, the Chargers upped the lead to 6-1 after Tyler Morgan singled, stole second, and took third on Jason Costello's single.

Sander helped his own cause by singling in Morgan and Greg Holzhueter, spotting MVL a 6-1 lead.

In the sixth inning, Dusty Lendt belted his second home run of the year -- a two-run blast off the scoreboard in left -- making it 8-1 MVL.

"Dusty's bat is kind of off-and-on," Schoenherr said. "He has a couple of games where he gets a couple of hits, then it kinda goes to sleep the next game."

Jason Schueler took the loss, lasting just three innings for the Indians. Morgan was 2-for-3 in the first game. Schueler had a double and a run scored for the Indians.

The hot bats carried over in the second game as the Chargers finished with 12 hits. Holzhueter and Mielke collected three hits each and Morgan went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

"I think Tyler is the one that kinda generated our team," Schoenherr said. "Maybe two weeks ago, he just started hitting the ball hard. He finally got his timing down -- I think that was the key, and it's been contagious."

Tyler Jensen hit a home run for the Indians in the first inning.

MVL (8-6, 10-6) is at McLeod West Thursday and Sleepy Eye hosts Springfield at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Wabasso 8, Cathedral 3

Wabasso 5, Cathedral 2

MILROY -- Wabasso swept New Ulm Cathedral Tuesday in Tomahawk Conference baseball action.

In the first game, Matt Samyn got the win and Adam Neubauer took the loss. Samyn struck out 11.

Neubauer and Andy Boyle had doubles for Cathedral and Andy Plotz had a double for the Rabbits.

In the second game, Anthony Rohlik got the win and Josh Sabatino took the loss. Sabatino had two hits for the Greyhounds. For Wabasso, Paul Schwartz had a double and Josh Gronli went 3-for-4 . Dan Mathiowetz had a double.

Wabasso (13-5, 10-5) plays Renville County West at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart. Cathedral hosts Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Thursday.

The NUC B-squad won 12-7 and 7-0. Nick Domeier had three runs and a homer. NUC (11-7) hosts SESM at Johnson Thursday.

SESM 11, McLeod West 0, 5 inn.

SESM 14, McLeod West 5

SLEEPY EYE -- Sleepy Eye St. Mary's swept McLeod West and moved into first place in the Tomahawk Conference Tuesday.

Matt Mathiowetz struck out nine in the win and allowed two hits. Joey Wahl went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Darrin Rosenau took the loss. He lasted 1/3 of an inning, surrendering four runs, four walks and two hits. Jeremy Wendorff and Jake Maurer each got a hit for the Falcons.

In the second game, Cole Helget got the win, allowing three hits and three walks over seven innings. Lonnie Beltz went 4-for-5 with an RBI and Steve Seidl went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jamie Pietig went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Wendorff took the loss, allowing nine hits over four innings. He went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and Rob Schmidt went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

St. Mary's (14-3, 11-3) is at New Ulm Cathedral Thursday and McLeod West hosts Minnesota Valley Lutheran Thursday.

Springfield 11, BLH 1,

6 innings

Springfield 12, BLH 8

SPRINGFIELD -- With a total of 26 hits and 23 runs, Springfield swept the Tomahawk baseball doubleheader with Buffalo Lake-Hector 11-1 and 12-8 Tuesday.

In the first game, Troy Runck picked up the win for the Tigers, going all six innings and striking out three. Matt Baier went 2-for-2, Matt Tews was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Zach Sturm had an RBI and went 2-for-3. For BLH, Nick Schultz took the loss, and Joe Sparks and Jon DeRock went 1-for-2 and 1-for-3.

In the second game, DeRock had a home run and two RBIs for the Mustangs and took the loss. Brett Witter was 2-for-4 with a double and Jake Duehn was 2-for-4. For Springfield, Andy Moritz went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Derek Krebs was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Baier was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Brandon Wilhelmi went 2-for-5 with a triple. Tews got the win.

Springfield (12-6, 10-5) travels to Sleepy Eye at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.