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Friday, August 1, 2025 at 3:29 AM

YANKEES, LONG SOX, TAKE 2

YANKEES, LONG SOX, TAKE 2
AARON MATHIOWETZ smacks a hit in the early stages of Sunday’s playoff game against the Lamberton LongSox. Photos / Per Peterson

In a big game that started Sunday and finished Monday, Milroy wins second straight playoff game

The Milroy Yankees’ Region 2C playoff game Sunday against Redwood County rival Lamberton started late and ended even later — the next day, to be exact.

In the end, the Yankees turned a close game into a rout, winning 8-2.

Now 2-0 in the playoffs, Milroy, the No. 2 seed in the Corn Belt, will take on the Tomahawk East’s top seed, Courtland, on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Sleepy Eye, with the winner advancing to state.

“Win to go to state,” said Milroy manger Aaron Mathiowetz. “We’re excited. We play Courtland, a very good team, and we’re excited to give it our best and see what we can do.”

Lamberton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead Sunday, but the Yankees wasted little time in responding, with two runs in the bottom of the second. Mathiowetz led off with a single and moved to third on a base hit by Brock Schultz. A Lamberton error allowed Mathiowetz to cross the plate to tie it, and Schultz scored on a fielder’s choice play for a 2-1 Milroy lead.

Milroy starter Austin Deutz stranded two baserunners in the top of the fourth, but Lamberton was able to tie it at 2 on a sacrifice fly by Neil Eichten.

One-half scorless inning later, the sky opened up, and officials decided to postpone the final four innings until Monday after a lengthy downpour that left the field water logged.

Parker Schmitt started the resumed game Monday by walking the leadoff hitter but was able to get the next Long Sox to hit into a double play before striking out the third and eliminating Lamberton’s threat before it really started.

“It’s a completely different atmosphere,” Mathiowetz said of Monday’s resumed game. “When you come into that, you want to treat it like it’s the first inning, but you have to treat it like you’re at the end of the game. You have to keep the energy up and not come out with a slow start.”

Milroy’s offense was once again ready and they came out swinging to start the sixth.

Schultz doubled to fire up the Yankee crowd, and Andy Schmidt moved him to third after he tagged on a foul pop to short right. Brian Dolan then drove in the go-ahead run with a hit to short left field.

Schmitt stayed dialed in, sending the Long Sox down in order in the seventh. The Yankees threatened in their half after Jackson Hughes led off with an infield single, moved to second on a balk and reached third on a fielder’s choice, but that was as far as he would go.

“The ball Brock hit is probably gone in any other ballpark in this area.” Mathiowetz said. “He really came through for us with that double. Huge hit by Brian to get us that lead. Then we can lean on Parker to get it done for us.”

He did, but the Longsox wouldn’t go quietly. They threatened to tie the game once again in the top of the eighth with a lead-off double to left center. The runner moved to third on a fielder’s choice, but a pop up to short ended the rally.

Milroy’s offense came alive with a big eighth inning. Mathiowetz led off with a single to right center. Schultz followed with a full-count single up the middle, and a bunt single from Schmidt loaded the bases. Eli Weedman had a single to short right field scoring Mathiowetz, and an error on the throw allowed Schultz to plate the second run of the inning. Hughes followed it up with a double to deep right, scoring Schmidt and Weedman.

Braden Flock was hit by a pitch and Alex Schuh lined to left to load the bases once again. Hughes was forced out at home, but an errant throw to second allowed Weedman to score the fifth run of the inning and the Yankees led 8-3 going into the ninth.

AUSTIN DEUTZ got the start for the Yankees on Sunday, allowing two runs in five innings.
MILROY THIRD BASEMAN BROCK SCHULTZ fires a throw across the diamond to retire a Lamberton baserunner.

With a light sprinkle starting and storm clouds beginning to roll in again, Schmitt made quick work of the Long Sox, getting all three batters to ground out to end the game.

“Parker is our guy right now, and we planned on starting him Sunday but with the weather, we decided to roll the dice and go with one of the vets in Austin, and he got us there with five awesome innings,” Mathiowetz said. “He really kept the energy up; we just knew we needed to keep it a close game coming into (Monday). Parker was ready to go all in 100% right from the get-go. After those first few pitches, he really locked in. I think he could have gone another five innings and shut it down for us.”

Schmitt struck out three in his four innings. Schultz finished with three hits and three runs scored, and Mathiowetz, Weedman and Hughes both had two hits, with Hughes driving in two runs.

JULY 26: GAME 1 OF REGION 2C PLAYOFFS — YANKEES 7, STARK 5 

Milroy opened Region 2C action by rallying for a 7-5 win over Stark on Saturday in Springfield. Branden Flock, Alex Schuh and Brian Dolan each had three hits, and Aaron Mathiowetz had two.

Isaac Schmitt did just enough in eight strong innings to earn the win, with Mathiowetz earning the save. Schmitt survived 11 walks by striking out nine, and Mathiowetz had two Ks in the ninth.

Stark grabbed a 4-1 lead after a three-run second inning, but the Yankees crawled their way back with a run in the third, and tied the game at 4 with a pair of runs in the fourth.

The Yankees took their first lead in the sixth when Schuh singled home Brian Dolan, who led off the inning with a walk. Eli Weedman hit a run-scoring double in the seventh for another Milroy run, and Brock Schultz picked up an RBI in the eighth with a single that scored Branden Flock, who crossed the plate three times. Dolan reached base four times and scored twice.

Game 1 Stark 130 000 010 — 5 6 3 Yankees 101 201 11x — 7 13 2

Schmitt (W), Mathiowetz (9, S) and Schuh. 2B: Mathiowetz, Weedman. 3B: Flock. SAC: Hughes, Weedman.

Game 2 Lamberton 100 010 000 — 2 3 4 Yankees 020 001 05x — 8 12 3 Deutz, Schmitt (6, W) and Schuh. 2B: Schultz, Hughes.

HBP: Flock.

MILROY’S ELI WEEDMAN is welcomed home after scoring a run Monday against Springfield. Milroy won 8-2 to cap off a 2-0 weekend in the Regoin 2C playoffs. Photo / Tara Brandl

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