Jensen throws one-hitter against Chargers

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- Sleepy Eye's Tyler Jensen admitted that he did not feel well prior to Tuesday's Tomahawk Conference baseball game against Minnesota Valley Lutheran.

The fact that he wasn't throwing as hard as he usually does may have been evident in his one strikeout, but he found other ways to get hitters out as he gave up only one hit in a 9-2 win over the Chargers.

"I wasn't throwing that hard," Tyler Jensen said. "I've been sick today, so I was just trying to throw strikes and let the defense help me out."

"He came in and threw really well today," teammate Riley Jensen said, who went 1-for-2 with two runs scored. "He was throwing strikes and was getting ahead of his batters again."

Sleepy Eye won the nightcap 3-1.

In Game 1, the Chargers had the bases loaded in the top of the first, but the runners were stranded when David Peterson took a called third strike to end the threat.

"They gotta go up there with confidence at the plate," MVL coach Jeff Schoenherr said. "Right now we're just going up there and not putting the bat on the ball. We're not going up there and swinging the bat with confidence."

The Indians scored two runs in the bottom half of the first after Derek Nachreiner and Tyler Jensen singled.

Nachreiner scored on a grounder and Tyler Jensen scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.

MVL scored its first run in the second after Ryan Sander singled to left and advanced to third thanks to a wild pitch and a passed ball. He scored on Phil Holz's sacrifice fly.

In the third inning, the Indians went up 3-1 after Dan Krzmarzick scored on a groundball by Tyler Jensen. With two outs, Nachreiner scored after MVL catcher Tyler Morgan tried to pick him off at third base. The ball was misplayed by Sander at third, and the ball rolled into left to make it 4-1.

Jose Saenz extended the Sleepy Eye lead to 6-1 after he singled to center, scoring Nick Windschitl and Riley Jensen.

The Chargers scored another run in the top of the fifth after Tyler Morgan walked. Courtesy runner Karl Struck stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored on a grounder to second by Mark Rolloff.

The Indians scored three more runs in the fifth. Tyler Jensen was hit by a pitch and Windschitl singled to right. Then, with nobody out, Riley Jensen placed a bunt down between first and home. However, MVL did not have anyone covering first on the play, allowing Riley Jensen to reach safely and load the bases.

"Its just a situation with runners on first and second with nobody out," Riley Jensen said. "Since the guys in the bottom half of the order have been hitting the ball well, we just want to try to get them into scoring position. It just happened to work out that the guy forgot to cover the base."

Saenz hit a sac fly to right scoring Tyler Jensen.

Almost the same play happened again, this time with Rob Peterson at the plate. Windschitl, who was at third, took off on the suicide squeeze. This time, the MVL defense was late to get to first on the bunt, and the throw sailed into right field, making it 9-2.

Nachreiner went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Tyler Jensen scored two runs and had an RBI. Windschitl scored two runs for the Indians. Jared Hoscheit took the loss, allowing nine hits and striking out three.

In the second game, Sleepy Eye's Dan Krzmarzick was the winning pitcher as he walked none and struck out seven. He allowed five hits.

David Peterson took the loss, striking out two and allowing four walks. David Sting pitched the other 2/3 inning for the Chargers.

B.J. Sprenger went 2-for-2 with a double and Tyler Jensen went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Windschitl went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

MVL was led by Morgan, who went 2-for-3.

Sleepy Eye (13-4, 12-3) is at Springfield Thursday.

MVL (7-10, 5-9) hosts McLeod West Thursday at Johnson Park.

Nicollet 15, Cleveland 14

CLEVELAND -- Nicollet survived eight errors -- including six in the final two innings -- as the Raiders beat the Clippers in Valley Conference baseball action Tuesday.

Mike Rosin won for Nicollet, striking out five and allowing seven hits.

Tony Hulke went 3-for-5 with two runs and a stolen base. Cody Wilking went 3-for-4 with four runs scored, two RBIs, and three stolen bases.

Rosin went 3-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs. Jake Anderson went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. Justin Fischer went 3-for-5 with a run and three RBIs.

Nicollet (9-8, 5-6) hosts Martin County West Thursday in Courtland.

St. Mary's 14, McLeod West 3

St. Mary's 4, McLeod West 3

BROWNTON -- Sleepy Eye St. Mary's swept a doubleheader from McLeod West in Tomahawk Conference baseball action Tuesday.

In the first game, Brad Hillesheim got the win, striking out seven and allowing seven hits. Andy Cook went 4-for-4 with a home run and a double. Tim Braulick went 4-for-4 with a double and Matt Gangelhoff went 3-for-5 with a triple for the Knights.

Ryan Hansch went 2-for-3 with a double and Darren Rosenau went 1-for-3 with a triple and Darren Baumgardner went 2-for-3 for the Falcons.

In the second game, Cole Helget was the winning pitcher, allowing six hits and one run. McLeod West scored two runs in the seventh, but grounded into a game-ending double play.

For St. Mary's (17-2, 13-2) Kyle Ludewig went 2-for-3 with two doubles and Andy Cook went 2-for-3.

For the Falcons, Jake Mauer went 3-for-4 and Rosenau went 2-for-4. Baumgardner went 2-3. McLeod West (5-12, 4-10 is at MVL Thursday.