The Milroy Yankees won two games last week to improve to 20-9 going into the playoffs.

On July 14, Milroy beat Essig 10-0. Erik Kathman pitched six innings, giving up no runs on only three hits while striking out 10. Justin Schlemmer pitched a scoreless seventh. Milroy banged out 15 hits with Brian Dolan going three for four with a double. Joe Kemp was three for three, Cory Schmidt two for three and Scott LaVoy was two for three and reached base five consecutive times.

On July 16, Milroy pounded Raymond 11-2

Ryan Rohlik earned the win by pitching five scoreless innings. Eric Dolan pitched final three innings and gave up two earned runs. Adam Schmidt pitched a scoreless ninth.

Milroy collected 10 hits. Justin Schlemmer had three hits including a home run. Eric Dolan, Scott LaVoy and Andy Schmidt each had two hits.

Milroy enters the playoffs with a best two of three series with Fairfax. Games are scheduled for Friday, July 23 at Fairfax, Sunday, July 25 at Milroy and Wednesday, July 26 at Fairfax (if needed).

If Milroy wins the series, they will play at Granite Falls at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 30, Sunday, Aug. 1 and (if necessary) Wednesday, Aug. 3.

Both young & hold go extra mile for fitness

Participants in Shetek Therapy Services' five kilometer run/walk ranged in age from six to 84 Saturday.Sixty people turned out for the "fun run" held on the End-O-Line bike trail.Nate Ellens, Slayton, was the over all winner. He toured the 3.1 mile course in 18:36. Jillian Tholen, a junior at Tracy Area High School, was second with a time of 18:45 was second overall.

Some people ran the course. But others walked the trail, enjoying a pleasant, if somewhat humid July morning, and the scenery along the Lake Shetek outlet and the Des Moines River.

A first-place prize was awarded to the top finisher in eight categories. The event was held in conjunction with a health and fitness fair at End-O-Line Park sponsored by the Shetek Hospitals. Times were:

Age 13-18 Female

Jillian Tholen, Tracy, 18:45; Dani Jones, Tracy, 23:24; Stef Hebig, Tracy, 29:29; Christine Bursing, Slayton, 30:25; Lacey Hoffman, Walnut Grove 35:25.

Age 19-35 Female

Theresa Boeck, Marshall, 20:36; Kelly Laleman, Garvin, 21:52; Krista Keller, Slayton, 22:26; Rita Warner, Marshall, 23:07; Janet Ankrum, Colendale, 24:04; Anne Doubler, Walnut Grove, 24:04; Marna Wahl, Westbrook; 28:09; Brady Averill, Tracy, 29:29; Jenna Wendorff, Fulda, 31:40; Amy Sandhurst, Avoca, 31:40; Jenna Wendorff, Comfrey, 41:48; Chrise Pryszynski, Balaton, 41:41; Angela Dumos, Currie, 47:17.

Age 36-49 Female

Elaine Tholen, Tracy, 25:12; Grace Devries, Storden, 27:53; Cindy Hanson, Hadley, 28:37; Kelly Hoffman, Walnut Grove, 31:28; Karen Neperman, Lamberton, 34:22; Rita Welso, Souix Falls, 43:48; Bev Norcutt, Garvin, 47:17; Sheryl Kopperud, Westbrook, 47:32; Diane Ellens, Slayton, 50:01; Jane Firstbrook, Jeffers, 53:41.

Age 50+ Female

Lois Warner, Walnut Grove, 27:53; Sue Stern, Slayton, 27:53; Maydelle Kronback, Westbrook, 37:32; Pat Erickson, Slayton, 38:32; Toni Galvin, Slayton,43:00; Marianne Ankrum, Tracy,43:00; Roxanne Dumos, Currie, 43:00; Cindy Arfsten, Storden, 43:48; Colette Schmidt, Currie, 43:50; Luanne Parker, Slayton 47:10; Maxine Keller, Slayton, 47:10; Linda Bakke, Dovray, 50:53; Luella Krichner, Avoca, 50:53; Kathleen Silvernale, Currie, 51:06; Jackie Lovald, Tracy, 54:44.

Age 12 & Under Male

Christopher Ellens, Slayton, 48:10

Age 13-18 Male

Nate Ellens, Ironwood, 18:36; Derik Johnson, Slayton, 22:20; Jeremiah Martin, Tracy, 26:50; Ryan Ortman, Marshall, 30:37; Matt Ellens, Phoenix, 34:01; Daren Pedersen, Tracy, 35:01.

Age 19-35 Male

Brandon Boeck, Marshall, 19:52; Brian Tschetter, Leota, 20:09; Ben Gervais, Currie, 20:32; Leon Sabuschagne, Westbrook, 20:32; Jeremy Oliver, Marshall, 26:22.

Age 36-49 Male

Michael Martin, Tracy, 25:30; Steve Le Boutillier, Westbrook, 27:14; Tom Neperman, Lamberton, 27:43; Bob Gorman, 30:34; Gordon Kopperud, Westbrook, 47:33; Paul Skoglund, Tracy, 48:28; Mark Ellens, Slayton, 50:01.

Age 50+ Male

Doug Bakken, Worthington, 18:48; Seth Schmidt, Tracy, 24:39; John Stern, Slayton, 27:09; Gary Schimbeno, Storden, 43:53; Rev. Clinton Firstbrock, Jeffers, 45:59; Kayo Silvernale, Currie, 53:02.

VFW baseball ranked third among seven

The Tracy VFW baseball team is the third seed in the North Third District VFW Tournament.

Marshall Blue is the No. 1 seed, with Olivia ranked second. They are followed by Tracy, Sacred Heart, Redwood Falls, Westbrook, and Granite Falls.

Tracy, which opened tournament play with a victory over Westbrook Monday, plays either Olivia or Granite Falls Thursday. If they play Olivia, the game is at Olivia. A home game would occur only if Granite Falls is the opponent.

Final tournament games will be played Saturday and Sunday at Sacred Heart.

VFW staves off Westbrook rally to win playoff opener

The Tracy VFW baseball team won its opening round playoff game with Westbrook Monday night at Tracy by a score of 6-5. They will next meet the winner of the Granite Falls vs. Olivia game that was also played Monday. If Granite Falls won, the game will be at Tracy on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and if Olivia won, the game will be played at Olivia on Thursday.

After grabbing a 6-0 lead after five innings, Tracy withstood a five-run Westbrook rally in the bottom of the sixth.

"Matt (Bauer) and Derek (Daniels) did a fine job on the mound for us," said Tracy Coach Bill Tauer. "Defensively we need to eliminate the mistakes if we want to have a chance to advance in the playoffs. I was pleased with the way we hit the ball. Especially off a quality pitcher like Wahl."

Matt Bauer started on the mound for Tracy and pitched 5-1/3 innings giving up all five runs on four hits while walking five and striking out three. Derek Daniels pitched the last 1-2/3 innings and gave up no runs on no hits while walking one and striking out two.