Everything came up roses for the Morris American Legion team in Region 1 play of post-season.
It was a busy weekend for the Morris crew. They played in the land of the world's largest mallard - Wheaton - and turned back Brandon-Evansville (in a rout) and Wheaton. Prior to these games was a win over Hancock, reviewed further down in this post.
The three games showed Morris excelling in a manner expected of a No. 1 seed. They'll take all these credentials into further post-season play which resumes on Thursday, July 26.
Now the Post #29 crew is in the District 7 "Final Four." Their foe on Thursday will be BOLD in a game set to start at 5:15 p.m. at Montevideo.
Morris thumped Brandon-Evansville 14-2 Saturday in Wheaton. Morris exploded out of the starting gate, scoring five runs in the first inning followed by three in the second and six in the third. The two B-E runs were scored in the third.
The Morris line score was a glittering 14 runs, 12 hits and no errors. The B-E bats were held to two hits.
Morris squared off against Wheaton in the championship game. The Sunday affair had Chandler Erickson performing most smoothly on the mound for the eventual victor. Erickson gave up no hits through the first five innings. Wheaton got untracked for three hits and a run in the sixth but could score no further in this game.
Post #29 could savor the 5-1 win and start looking ahead to further exploits. Their line score in the Wheaton game was five runs, eight hits and one error. The Wheaton numbers were 1-3-1.
Morris had a sheen of superiority through its three games in Region 1. Post #29 outhit its foes 27-12 and outscored them 27-7.
Morris 8, Hancock 4
Morris was designated the No. 1 seed for Region 1 play and performed up to that status Thursday (7/19). Morris notched its 16th win of the season on the strength of an 8-4 score.
The success came in spite of five errors, compared to zero by the opponent who was Hancock.
Morris seized its opportunities like when Jordan Staples found a pitch to his liking in the sixth inning. This was probably the big blow of the game: a double that cleared the bases. It created some cushion that seemed to put Post #29 on its way to advancement.
Not only did Hancock earn a higher grade in fielding, they were even with Morris in hit production. Each team had seven hits. So it was a case of Morris maximizing its opportunities.
Those Hancock pluses looked for a time like they might bring victory. Hancock led 2-0 after three innings. Morris finally pounced with its bats in the fourth to the tune of a four-run rally. Hancock inched forward with one run in the sixth that made the score 4-3, but Staples fueled the decisive Morris "mo" in the Morris half of that frame.
Seasoned hurler Sam Mattson pitched the whole way for Motown. He struck out seven batters, one for each of his seven innings, walked just one and gave up seven hits and four runs (three earned).
Taylor Holleman was unable to hold the lead for Hancock. He pitched five innings and gave up six hits and five runs, all earned, before giving way to Austin Steege.
Holleman struck out two batters and walked three. Steege got roughed up in his one inning, allowing three earned runs and one hit. He did strike out three batters but also walked three.
Let's take a look at the offense. Steege had a two-for-four showing for Hancock. Pat Schaefer had a two-for-three boxscore line with an RBI and run scored.
Collin Cunningham had a hit and a run scored. Luke Schwarz went one-for-four and Brandon Shaw one-for-three with a run.
Staples had that key hit but Jacob Torgerson appeared to be just as important in the Morris offense. Torgerson had a hit in each of his at-bats. He stole a base, drove in three runs and scored two.
Mac Beyer went two-for-three with a run scored. Tyler Henrichs crossed home plate twice and had a hit. Bryce Jergenson added a double to the mix and drove in a run.
And then there's Staples, who had those three key RBIs while going one-for-three, his hit a two-bagger.
MACA football schedule announced
We can frown over the placement of home games on the 2012 Morris Area Chokio Alberta Tiger football schedule. For example: one home game in the first four. And, of the four regular season home games, one is on a holiday weekend - Labor Day - and the other in MEA week (Wednesday).
I invite you to read more about this and other football-related stuff in my current post on my "Morris of Course" site. Please click on the permalink below. Thanks for reading - B.W.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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