2 runs, 5 hits don’t cut it against top-seeded Cubs in 5-2 playoff setback
The Yankees proved Saturday that they could hang with arguably the best Region 2C team. The only thing keeping them from beating Courtland and punching their ticket to the Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament were bats that never woke up.
Milroy, the second seed from the Corn Belt League, collected just five hits — only two after the first inning — and lost 5-2 to the region’s top-ranked Cubs in Sleepy Eye.
“You’ve gotta give props to their pitcher, he’s got four pitches that he can spot for strikes, and that’s something we really haven’t seen throughout the year,” said Milroy manager Aaron Mathiowetz. “But I still thought we had good at-bats. We have another state qualifying game Friday, and we’ll be ready to go.”
The Yankees were very ready to go against the Cubs. Alex Schuh led off the game with a single and scampered to third on a double by David Schmitt. With one out, Brock Schultz walked to load the bases, and Andy Schmidt got Milroy’s third hit of the inning to score Schuh. However, Milroy left the bases loaded against Cortland starter Teddy Giefer.
The Cubs answered right away with a run in the bottom of the inning, but Mathiowetz induced a double play to kill the Cubs’ rally.
But Courtland wasn’t done. The Cubs scored another run in the second and two in the third off reliever Zach Nuy for a 4-1 cushion.
Back came Milroy, however, with another run in the fourth on a run-scoring single off the bat of Brian Dolan that scored Schultz, who had reached second after a sac bunt by Andy Schmidt.
Courtland countered again in the bottom of the fourth with another single run off Parker Schmitt; the inning could’ve been worse had it not been for a Mathiowetz diving catch at first on a line drive with runners on second and third.
ABOVE: MILROY SECOND BASEMAN ELI WEEDMAN catches the ball a second too late to retire a Courtland runner at second in the third inning of Saturday’s loss. RIGHT: Alex Schuh gets high fives from his teammates after scoring Milroy’s first run in the first inning. Photos / Per Peterson
PARKER SCHMITT kept the Yankees close against Courtland with four solid innings of relief work. Schmitt will likely start Milroy’s next playoff game on Friday.
Unfortunately, Milroy had no answer for Giefer’s stuff after the fourth.
The Yankees did put two runners on with one out in the sixth, but Giefer struck out Dolan and then caught Eli Weedman on a questionable called strike three to end the threat.
Milroy put just one runner on base over the final three innings. Milroy’s three pitchers allowed a total of only six hits but combined to walk seven batters, including two in what turned out to be the decisive third inning.
“Too many walks, free baserunners,” Mathiowetz said. “That was the story of the game. Compared to other teams we play — Bird Island, Raymond — we’ve seen this competition before. We’re happy with how we did; if we get a couple hits to fall with guys on base, it’s a completely different ballgame.”
Andy Schmidt had two knocks for Milroy, and Schuh, David Schmidt and Dolan each had one hit.
The Yankees must now defeat Leavenworth — a 1-0 winner over Granite Falls — on Friday to move on to state. The two teams will take the field in Sleepy Eye at 7:30 p.m., with the winner playing at 3 p.m. the following day.
Milroy is the only Corn Belt League team left in the tournament. Courtland will play Hanska at 6 p.m. Saturday for the top seed in the region.
The top four teams in the region advance to state.
Yankees 100 100 000 — 2 5 0 Courtland 112 100 00x — 5 6 0 Mathiowetz, Nuy (3), Schmitt (5) and Schuh. 2B: D. Schmidt. SACB: A. Schmidt. HBP: Schultz, Mathiowetz.
