MINNEOTA - An error in the fourth inning prevented the Minneota Mudhens from finding the third out. The mistake proved dire for the Mudhens Wednesday night, as the error tied the game for the Hadley Buttermakers in what ended as a 6-3 Hadley win.
Hadley added three more runs in the inning off of a Jamie Boelter bases-loaded walk and a Joe Larson two RBI double. The big inning for the Buttermakers was the last scoring for either team, though both teams would threaten again.
Minneota was the first team to nearly score again, loading the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning. Strikeouts from Danny Hennen and Will Kurka ended the inning for the Mudhens and got Hadley starter Jason Reinsma out of a jam.
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Photo by Travis Andries
Minneota Mudhens player/manager Jason Myrhe is tagged out by Hadley pitcher Justin Reinsma during a rundown in Wednesday night’s Gopher League amateur baseball game in Minneota.
Minneota nearly struck again in the sixth inning as Jason MacKinnon attempt to score on a Jason Myrhe hit. MacKinnon was called out at home after a near-perfect throw from Buttermaker left fielder Eric Wieneke.
Hadley's attempt to extend its lead came in the seventh inning. A lead-off walk followed by a single closed the book on Mudhen starter Tony Shaikoski. He was relieved by Danny Hennen, who got the first out of the inning on a ground ball to the second baseman. Hennen loaded the bases with an intentional walk of Max Zwart. Minneota was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and ground ball out to first base.
For Minneota, the game must look like a missed opportunity against a league opponent. Minneota was unable to score after getting three hits in the second inning when Myrhe was caught in a run down between third and home for the second out in the inning. The inning ended two batters later with a fielder's choice and no runs scored.
The Mudhens totaled 10 hits in the game. Four came consecutively in Minneota's three-run third inning. Myrhe, Shaikoski, Tyson Sonnenburg, and Justin Greenwood all had singles in the inning. Myrhe's scored MacKinnon, who had reached previously on a walk. Greenwood drove in Sonnenburg and Myrhe. The inning ended when Al Christensen hit into a 5-3 double play.
Hadley's first two runs came in the opening frame off of a Max Zwart two-out, two-RBI single. Nate Wieneke and Joe Larson both scored on the play.
Shaikoski was able to get out of that jam in the first, but picked up the loss for the Mudhens. He pitched six innings in total, allowing six runs off of seven hits. Danny Hennen pitched three shutout innings for the Mudhens, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Reinsma earned the win for Hadley behind seven innings pitched, allowing three runs on 10 hits and five walks. He also had eight strikeouts. Alex Van't Hof picked up the save for the Buttermakers, striking out five in his two innings.
Larson and Zwart led the charge for the Hadley offense, going 3-for-5 and 2-for-4, respectively. Both men had two RBIs, while Larson added a double.
For the Mudhens, Jason Myrhe and Justin Greenwood led the charge. Myrhe finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Greenwood went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Minneota falls to 10-7 overall and 6-6 in the Gopher League. The Mudhens play again on Sunday when they head to Jackson for a doubleheader against Fox Lake and Jackson. Hadley improves to 5-10 on the season and 5-6 in the Gopher League. The Buttermakers play again on Saturday when they face Dumont in Wheaton.
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Minneota003 000 000-3 10 1
H-Justin Reinsma, Alex Van't Hof (8). M-Tony Shaikoski, Danny Hennen (7). WP-Reinsma. LP-Shaikoski. S-Van't Hof. 2B: H-Joe Larson.