Morris Legion boys knock cover off ball

Morris 15, Wheaton 6
The Morris Legion baseball team showed it could be explosive again when it disposed of Wheaton Monday on the road. The Post #29 boys crossed home plate often beginning right in the first inning (a three-run rally). Morris duplicated that rally with three more runs in inning No. 2.
The momentum continued with two runs in the third, one in the fifth, four in the sixth and two in the seventh. When the dust cleared after this offensive showcase, it was Post #29 in the winning position in the 15-6 final. It was the eighth triumph this summer for the Morris boys, many of whom were key players in the Morris Area High prep spring campaign.
There was a memorable home run barrage in the Wheaton game. Dusty Sauter knocked the cover off the ball with round-trippers in the first and second innings. Each of these blasts was good for two runs. Eric Riley found a pitch to his liking in the first inning and turned it into a gopher ball. Riley's round-tripper was a solo job.
Tyler Hansen touched 'em all in the fifth inning with a solo blast. Brady Valnes followed that up with a solo home run in the sixth, and Morris had truly demonstrated that it's a team to be feared in the power department.
Hansen and Sauter were the main cogs in Post #29's offense, each with four hits, and they drove in nine runs between them.
Eric Riley was a resilient pitcher as he had to deal with some control issues in his seven innings of work. He walked seven batters but he also set down 12 on strikes. One of Wheaton's runs was unearned, and Riley gave up seven hits.
Tanner Kirkeide was the losing pitcher, and Will Budtke also pitched for Wheaton.
The line scores showed Morris with 15 runs on 16 hits and two errors, while Wheaton put up 6-7-1 numbers.
On to the boxscore numbers, where Alex Erickson had a one-for-four day with his hit a double. Alex crossed home plate twice and he drove in two runs. Tyler Hansen attacked Wheaton pitching for four-for-six numbers, plus this Post #29 star scored three runs and drove in three, lifted by his power bat. Dusty Sauter was nothing short of a terror as he doubled and had the two over-the-fence jobs, all part of his four-for-five day with two runs scored and six ribbies.
Eric Riley's solo home run was his day's highlight. Brady Valnes enjoyed his solo round-tripper as part of his two-for-four showing. Nate Gades doubled and scored two runs. Ethan Bruer had a hit in his only at-bat.
Cole Riley socked a double. Travis Rinkenberger had a hit in his two at-bats. Riley Wilson was Wheaton's top offensive producer.
Morris Legion baseball is savoring more opportunities to send the ball rocketing, to left, center, right, whichever direction, just a long ways!
-Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com