Morris Legion boys in a winning pattern

What could be better than a midsummer weekend of enjoying American Legion baseball victories?

The weekend brought generous highlights for fans of the Post #29 boys of Morris. The two victories both had Brandon-Evansville as the foe.

We're in the post-season phase now which means the two wins spell advancement. Post #29 came out of the weekend savoring the top spot in District 7/Region 1. The action was in Morris.

The success reflected how this whole summer has gone for the Morris squad. Morris outscored B-E 16-2 in the two games combined. Morris ascended to 16 wins as their season total entering this week.

And what's in store now? Motown will take the field to play Madison at 5:15 p.m. today (Tuesday, July 23) in Montevideo.

  

Morris 7, B-E 0

Morris got going vs. Brandon-Evansville with a 7-0 triumph on Saturday. Mac Beyer turned in the pitching gem with his two-hitter. Beyer and Jake Torgerson were the starting pitchers on this weekend, and both hurled complete games.

Beyer made his presence felt most effectively at the plate too. He backed his own pitching performance with a home run and two RBIs. He had a two-for-four boxscore line. Lincoln Berget's bat was sizzling. Berget had three hits in as many at-bats, one of them a double, and he drove in two runs and scored one.

Chandler Erickson had a two-for-four line, stole a base and crossed home plate twice. Andrew Rentz came through with a hit.

The Motown line score was seven runs, eight hits and one error. B-E hurt itself with three fielding miscues. The two B-E hits were by Brandon Christenson and Craig Campbell.

Winning pitcher Beyer struck out six batters, walked just one and allowed two hits. The losing pitcher was Tom Bosek. Morris scored three runs each in the second and fifth innings, and one in the sixth.

Motown takes a 16-2 season record into tonight's contest.

The Sunday story: more of same

On Sunday of this past weekend, the Post #29 success was with a 9-2 score. Jacob Torgerson looked in command on the mound. His control was pinpoint: zero walks. He set down eight Brandon-Evansville batters on strikes. One of the two runs he allowed was unearned, and he gave up five hits in his seven innings. The losing pitcher was Blake Ohren.

The outcome seemed sealed early. Morris erupted for three runs in the first inning and six in the second. Their final line score was nine runs, ten hits and one error. Each team committed one error. B-E's runs came in the third and fifth.

Morris bats made noise again. The Morris fans applauded as Beyer went three-for-four, driving in a run and scoring two. Tyler Henrichs looked comfortable at the plate, getting two hits in three at-bats and scoring two runs. Bryce Jergenson wielded a productive stick as he went two-for-three including a double, and drove in two runs.

Tanner Picht doubled, drove in two runs and scored one. Chandler Erickson went one-for-three with an RBI and two runs scored. Andrew Rentz had a hit and a run.

Zach Carlson gave some spark for B-E by going two-for-three with a stolen base. The losing pitcher was Blake Ohren who got roughed up in a brief stint.

The district playoffs will create a backdrop of excitement for continued play this evening (Tuesday). It's "destination Montevideo!" Good luck to the Morris Legion nine.

  

Morris 6, Wheaton 1

Thursday, July 18, American Legion baseball had Post #29 squaring off vs. Wheaton and winning 6-1.

The fourth inning really told the story in this Division II, Region 1 contest. Morris rallied for five runs, sending ten batters to the plate. That rally pushed the Morris lead to 6-0, and the final score was 6-1. Morris outhit Wheaton 8-7 and survived two errors in the field. Wheaton played errorless ball.

Bryce Jergenson was handed the ball for pitching duties. He responded with a workmanlike performance in which he struck out five batters, walked none and gave up just the one Wheaton run which came in the seventh. He scattered seven hits. Brad Staples was the losing pitcher.

The Motown hitting attack included Jake Torgerson and Chandler Erickson both going two-for-three. Each drove in a run. Jergenson contributed a hit and an RBI. Lincoln Berget went one-for-two with a ribbie.

Tanner Picht went one-for-three and Tyler Henrichs one-for-two. Justin Coffman had a two-for-three boxscore line for the loser.

  

Wheaton 6, Hancock 4

The Hancock Legion boys led 2-0 after three innings but couldn't make this advantage stand up. The score was 2-1 after four. The fifth was when Wheaton began seizing the momentum with a three-run rally.

Hancock did answer with two runs in the fifth, after which fans saw a scoreless sixth frame. The score is 4-4 and the suspense builds. Wheaton pushed across two runs in the seventh to prevail 6-4.

The teams were deadlocked in hits: eight each. The fielding was clean with Hancock having one error and Wheaton zero. Brad Staples went two-for-four for Wheaton, drove in two runs and scored one. Cameron Maudal had a two-for-three line.

The winning pitcher was Brad Dahlen who came on in relief. Maudal pitched as did Tanner Kirkeide.

Andrew Lindor took the loss in a route-going performance for Hancock. Andrew struck out five batters, walked one and gave up eight hits. Three of the six runs he allowed were unearned.

Collin Cunningham and Taylor Holleman each had two hits for Hancock. Each scored a run. Justin Miller went one-for-three with an RBI and run scored. Bryan Shaw hit safely once and scored a run.

Lindor drove in two runs while going one-for-four. Danny Lonneman added a hit to the mix.

Hats off to the American Legion for sponsoring these programs!

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