Legion boys' offense like July 4 fireworks

Whew! The Morris American Legion baseball team entered the July 4 holiday weekend deserving of a break.

They were coming off a stretch of eight games in as many days. And they didn't lose a single time!

The Post #29 crew sits at 9-1 on the summer.

Morris 21, Elbow Lake 2

Victory No. 9 came Thursday evening in a game pushed later than the announced starting time. The Legion athletes took the field once the Babe Ruth League had taken care of its business.

Morris defeated Elbow Lake in a romp, 21-2, with bats making as much noise as the upcoming July 4 fireworks.

Morris posted its football-like run total buoyed by 20 hits.

The barrage included another home run by Ryan Beyer. It was Beyer's fourth round-tripper in a three-day span.

Each team committed three errors.

Morris batted in just four innings, making the offensive onslaught that much more impressive. Obviously the ten-run rule came into play.
Elbow Lake scored its two runs in the top of the third.

Alex Erickson's bat was sizzling with three-for-three numbers, and he crossed home plate three times. He also picked up an RBI.

Tyler Hansen scored four times while posting two-for-four numbers. One of his hits was a double. He stole two bases and drove in three runs.

Ryan Beyer's homer highlighted his perfect two-for-two line. He had three RBIs total.

Mac Beyer had two hits in as many at-bats. He doubled and drove in a run.

Eric Riley doubled as part of his two-for-two evening. Cole Riley went two-for-five with an RBI. Mitch Kill fueled the attack at two-for-five with two runs scored and a ribbie.

Brody Bahr doubled, scored three runs and drove in two. Aaron Vold socked a double as part of finishing two-for-two. He scored three runs and drove in three.

Ethan Bruer had impact going two-for-three including a double, plus he scored two runs and drove in three.

All that offensive support made pitching kind of a breeze. Mitch Kill pitched four innings and was the winner. He struck out five batters and walked two. He gave up two runs neither of which were earned.

Mac Beyer pitched one inning, struck out two batters and walked none. Eric Blehr took the pitching loss.

Morris 5, Willmar 4

Willmar shot out to a fast start but it was our Post #29 winning as the visitor on Wednesday, June 29.

Willmar assumed a 3-1 lead in the first inning but Morris came on strong in the later innings. Morris rallied for two runs each in the fourth and sixth and prevailed 5-4.

This was despite getting outhit by Willmar 8-4. It was also in spite of getting out-fielded, as Morris committed three errors to none by Willmar.

Four different Morris players accounted for the four hits. Ryan Beyer slugged a solo home run in his only official at-bat. He worked the Willmar pitching for two walks, plus he scored three runs and drove in one.

Beyer's round-tripper came in the first inning and was his fourth of the season. Two of his blasts came Tuesday when Morris prevailed 8-7 over Detroit Lakes.

Eric Riley's bat went "pow" for a two-run home run. Eric netted two RBIs on the day, plus he was the winning pitcher.

Eric's pitching arm was called on when starter Tyler Hansen had a little trouble finding the strike zone. Riley struck out five batters and walked one in his 6 2/3 innings on the hill. He allowed seven hits and one run which was earned.

Willmar hurler Nathaniel Swoyer, a curveball master who worked the distance, was tagged with the loss despite striking out 13 batters.

Hansen's bat came through with one-for-three numbers.

Tanner Picht connected for a double and drove in two runs. His double made it to the right field fence in the fourth inning and got the score tied at three-all.

Jake Rambow spurred the Willmar hitting with three-for-four numbers including a double and an RBI.

Willmar was hurt by eleven stranded baserunners. They left the bases loaded in the first and third frames. Morris by contrast stranded just one.

Eric Riley has been a most busy athlete this summer. He plied his football skills most impressively on Saturday (6/25) when his North All-Stars vied at TCF Bank Stadium on the U of M-Twin Cities campus. Riley was named Defensive MVP for the North.

In the Wednesday baseball challenge, the multi-sport standout whacked a Swoyer delivery over the left field fence in the sixth inning. It was a timely blow, breaking the 3-3 tie and delivering what turned out to be the decisive burst of momentum.

Swoyer, who also played in the all-star gridiron showcase, for the South, fanned seven straight Morris batters before the Eric Riley home run.

It was Riley's first round-tripper of the summer.

News flash: The following MACA Tigers have been named all-conference in the WCC-South: Ryan Beyer, Eric Riley, Tyler Hansen, Cole Riley and Alex Erickson.

Alex is the conference MVP.
Congrats all.

Morris 5, Osakis 2

A first inning rally propelled the Post #29 squad to a 5-2 victory over Osakis on Monday, June 27, here. That rally netted three runs.

The Morris line score was five runs, seven hits and two errors, while the visitor posted 2-5-2 numbers.

Three of the seven Morris hits were off the bat of Ryan Beyer. Beyer finished three-for-four with one of his hits a double, plus he drove in a run.

Tyler Hansen came through with a triple. Alex Erickson slugged a double and drove in a run. Ethan Bruer had a hit and an RBI, and Eric Riley had a one-for-four line.

The pitching arms of Ethan Bruer and Eric Riley did the job. It was Bruer getting the win with his stint of five innings, in which he fanned four batters and walked one. He gave up five hits and two runs (earned).

Eric Riley pitched for the save, fanning three batters in the process and walking two. He gave up no hits and no runs in his two innings.

Ky Zimmel was the losing pitcher. With the bat, Ky connected for a triple. Drew Fearing doubled for Osakis.

- Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com