Mudhens sink Chokio in 9C opener
Austin Buysse swatted a two-run double to highlight a four-run third inning and Danny Hennen hurled a complete game as the Minneota Mudhens opened the Region 9C playoffs with a 6-2 victory over the Chokio Coyotes Sunday in Dawson.
The Mudhens advance in the double-elimination tournament and will take on Madison at 10:30 next Sunday, July 31 in Dawson.
The Mudhens improved to 15-2 overall and are enjoying one of their best seasons ever in their 14-year history. They also clinched their first Land O' Ducks League title this year.
"We don't try to play major league baseball," said right fielder Brock Buysse. "We play simple baseball where we take outs where we can, we are patient at the plate, we play good defense, and our pitchers throw strikes and don't try to overpower anyone."
The Mudhens have a nice blend of veterans and younger players that have meshed well all season.
The Mudhens took a 4-0 lead in the third inning on three hits, a walk, and two Chokio errors. With one out, Brock Buysse singled and Austin DeVlaeminck reached on an error. Austin Buysse then doubled with two outs, bringing both DeVlaeminck and Brock Buysse home. Tyson Sonnenburg then hit a tapper in front of the mound and the throw from pitcher Todd Woelfel sailed down the right-field foul line, allowing Buysse to score and Sonnenburg to scamper around to third base. Hennen followed by drawing a walk before AJ Myhre's single scored Sonnenburg.
Chokio got a run-scoring single from Chandler Erickson in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 4-1.
Minneota added two more runs in the sixth when Peyton Gillund rapped a one-out double and went to third on a single by Brock Buysse. DeVlaeminck's single plated Gillund and an errant relay throw allowed Buysse to motor around the bases and score the sixth run.
AJ Myhre and Brock Buysse had two hits apiece among the eight hits for the Mudhens.
"It's always someone different that sparks us each game," said Brock Buysse. "That's why we've been having such a good year. We don't always have to rely on just one or two players."
Chokio's scored an unearned run in the eighth inning on a single by Alex Daugherty scored Tom Holland, who reached on an error.
Hennen scattered nine hits, all singles, while allowing just one earned run for the win. He walked one and struck out two.
"I felt good and was able to hit my spots today," said Hennen, who is 7-1 on the season.
Sonnenburg made two diving catches in center field among his six putouts for the Mudhens.
REGION 9C RESULTS
(First round Saturday)
Chokio 4, Dawson 3
Madison 10, Appleton 0
Morris 3, Rosen 0
Cottonwood 8, Benson 3
(Second round Sunday)
Minneota 6, Chokio 2
Madison 13, Ortonville 2
Clinton 9, Morris 0
Dumont 7, Cottonwood 0
(Elimination bracket
Saturday, July 30 at Dawson)
Rosen vs. Ortonville, 11 a.m.
Benson vs. Chokio, 2 p.m.
Dawson vs. Cottonwood, 5 p.m.
Appleton vs. Morris, 8 p.m.
(Winners bracket
Sunday, July 31 at Dawson)
Minneota vs. Madison, 10:30 a.m.
Clinton vs. Dumont, 1:30 p.m.
Minneota 6, Chokio 2
Chokio..........................000 010 010 - 2 9 3
Minneota......................004 002 00x - 6 8 1
Chokio hitting: Chandler Erickson 1-for-4, bb, rbi; Justin Daly 1-for-5; Alex Erickson 1-for-5; Jeremy Westerman 1-for-4; Tom Holland 2-for-4, run; Chandler Vogel 1-for-3, sac, run; Mitch Daly 0-for-4; Alex Daugherty 2-for-4, run, rbi; Parker Dierks 0-for-1, sac, hbp; Ethan Bruer 0-for-1
Minneota hitting: Austin DeVlaeminck 1-for-4, run, rbi; Alex Pohlen 0-for-4; Austin Buysse 1-for-4, 2b, run, 2 rbi; Tyson Sonnenburg 0-for-4, run; Danny Hennen 1-for-3, bb; AJ Myhre 2-for-4, rbi; Peyton Gillund 1-for-4, 2b, run; Cooper VanOverbeke 0-for-4; Brock Buysse 2-for-4, 2 runs
Chokio pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Todd Woelfel (L) 7-7-6-2-1-3, Chandler Vogel 1-1-0-0-0-1
Minneota pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Danny Hennen (W) 9-9-2-1-1-2