A long time coming: Chargers earn first trip to State tournament

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

LE SUEUR -- Next week, seven junior members of the Minnesota Valley Lutheran baseball team were scheduled to go to Washington and New York on a historical tour.

But instead of seeing history, they will be making history.

Phil Holz was ruled safe on an interference call on Hayfield catcher Dan Bennett with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning earning the Chargers their first-ever trip to the Minnesota State High School Baseball Tournament with a 5-4 win over the Vikings in the Section 2A title game.

MVL, now 18-7, will play in St. Cloud at 12:30 p.m. Thursday against the Section 8 champion.

Sam Mielke was the winning pitcher for MVL, going eight innings and striking out six. He allowed eight hits.

Weston Hanson took the loss for Hayfield, as the Vikings season ends 14-12.

Ryan Sander provided all of the offense for MVL, going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

"My assistant coaches always tell me that baseball is a game of inches," Charger coach Jeff Schoenherr said. "And it was that type of close play that ended the game."

Hayfield and MVL entered the eighth inning knotted at 4-4 before the Chargers began their march to state. Greg Holzhueter led off the inning with a single to center but was forced out at second on a Holz groundout. Sander followed with his fourth hit of the game before a wild pitch by Hanson moved runners to second and third with one out.

Hayfield coach Craig Selk then elected to intentionally walk David Gullixson to load the bases to put a forceout at any base.

Sam Mielke then stepped to the plate and on the second pitch from Hanson, Schoenherr called for the suicide squeeze bunt. Mielke missed the sign and Holz got into a rundown between third and home and when Holz attempted to get past Viking catcher Dan Bennett after he threw the ball, Holz was called safe on interference with the winning run.

"We called the (suicide) squeeze but Sam did not hear the call so I went and just hoped for something to go wrong for them," Holz said. He scored two MVL runs and was scheduled to take a trip to the Boundary Waters next week which he has now cancelled. "They called interference on the catcher -- this win is insane. This is like no other feeling that I have ever had."

"We have won some games prettier in the season but we found out tonight that we can win some ugly games to," Schoenherr said. "Either way -- it is a win."

Hayfield had taken a 2-0 lead off of the Chargers and Mielke in the top of the first inning on a walk, an error and a two-run single by Lee Gunderson.

"I am usually a slow starter," Mielke said. He worked out of jams in the fifth and sixth innings thanks to two double plays turned by his infield defense. "Just about every game that I have had this year has gone the same way early."

But MVL cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second when Jason Costello and Holzhueter drew back-to-back walks. They moved up on a wild pitch by Hanson before Costello scored on a Sander base hit.

The Vikings plated a run in the top of the third that was countered by MVL in the bottom of the inning. Mielke walked and took second on a wild pitch. Andy Beilke's groundout moved Mielke to third and a three-base error by Hanson on a Dusty Lendt bunt tied the game.

Both teams scored in the fourth with the Chargers score coming courtesy of a Hayfield error. Holzhueter walked and was awarded second on a balk. Sander's base hit to right moved Holzhueter to third. Sander stole second and Holzhueter trotted home when Dan Bennett's throw got into center field.

The Chargers then tie the game in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. Jeremy Birr, pinch-hitting for Holz, walked. Holz then swiped second and took third on a wild pitch. He scored the tying run on Sander's double to right. It was only MVL's third hit of the game.

"He (Hanson) was unbelievable," Schoenherr said. "He told me that he was having some arm troubles. I would hate to see him when that arm is healthy."

Schoenherr was also happy with Mielke's performance. "I was a little nervous -- he had not pitched for a while. But he went out and did a fine job."

Mielke was especially happy.

"Now I have bragging rights over my uncle and my brothers who played for MVL," he said. "They never got to go real deep in the playoffs, but here we are."

HAYFIELD 201 100 00 -- 4 8 2

MVL 011 101 01 -- 5 5 3

WP: Mielke. LP: Hanson. 2B: Giahn (H), Sander (MVL)

One out when winning run scored.