Eagles score well but come up shy

The end of baseball season is a signal we're coming down the home stretch of summer. The 2011 season ended too early in the eyes of Morris Eagles baseball fans.

The Morris town team had a forgettable Saturday, Aug. 6, as it was dealt two losses and had the curtain come down on its season.
Wheaton was the site for Region 9C play. The 9C affair was unfriendly for the Eagles, first against Rosen and then Montevideo.

Please click on the link below to see a set of Morris Eagles photos (on Flickr) taken by yours truly (B.W.) this past summer. Sorry, I only attended two games but I got enough shots for a decent album.
When the Flickr page comes up, you can either click on the individual thumbnail photos to see a larger version, or try the "slideshow" feature (neat).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morrismn/sets/72157627271544937/with/6026828750/

Let's reflect: The Eagles plunged into 2011 with a new roster and a need to establish just the right chemistry. There were bumps in the road early in the summer. There were bumps at the very end too, but in between there was a stretch of quite special memories.
That desired chemistry came around, to be sure. The Eagles won nine of their last ten regular season games.
If only they could have parlayed that success into 9C play. But it wasn't to be on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the home of the world's largest mallard: Wheaton.
Morris fell to the Rosen Express 11-8.
Cole Riley did his part trying to lift the Eagles' fortunes in a winning direction. Cole came to bat in the sixth with the table set nicely for him by a couple of Rosen errors. Cole hit a majestic home run to left-center, plating three runs.
The blast was good for cutting Morris' scoreboard deficit to two runs (9-7). Unfortunately Morris had a problem with errors in this game, just like Rosen. The line scores show each team with four errors.
Rosen outhit the Eagles 12-8.
Rosen crept forward with an unearned run in the top of the ninth. Cole Riley went back to work for Morris, connecting for another homer. But there were no baserunners on.
Again the scoreboard deficit was two runs. There was promise after that as Morris got the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs.
Up to bat came lefty Craig Knochenmus. Knochenmus had no trouble making good contact but he hit the ball right at someone. He lined out to the shortstop and this game was over.
Had Morris won this game, it would have been remembered as a special showcase for the "young guys" on the Morris roster. The prep seniors and Legion athletes were standouts with power bats.
Eric Riley hit a solo home run to center in the second. Ryan Beyer connected for a solo round-tripper in the fourth.
The Eagles needed more runners on base for their power blasts. They also needed to put the lid on Rosen's offense a little better.
A draftee from Appleton, Kyle Sachs, was the Morris starting pitcher. It was a rough outing for Kyle as he allowed eight runs, seven earned, in four innings.
Nathan Gades pitched the other five innings and he had things more under control. Nathan gave up two runs, one earned, and fanned four batters.
Rosen struck with a huge seven-run fifth inning. The Express used bunts effectively. Seven of their game-total 12 hits came in the fifth.
The Eagles tried to regroup to face Monte in their second game of the day. They failed to regroup as they committed six errors in a disappointing 11-8 loss to the Montevideo Spartans.
Yes, the score was almost identical to the Rosen game.
It was a "sloppy loss," spokesman Matthew Carrington said.
There were hopes early-on as Morris led 3-1 at the end of the first inning. Ryan Beyer, Craig Knochenmus and Eric Riley picked up RBIs in the first, Beyer with a double that landed barely fair.
Monte just couldn't be held down. The Spartans rallied for two runs in the second, five in the fourth and three in the fifth. Ouch.
Monte led 8-3 going into the bottom of the fourth but Morris was determined not to be down for the count.
Specifically it was Ryan Beyer making a statement. Beyer tore into a Monte delivery and achieved a grand slam home run! So the score is now 8-7.
But alas, this just wasn't Morris' day. The Spartans' three runs in the top of the fifth were all unearned. That episode "sealed the Eagles' fate," Carrington bemoaned.
Carrington delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. The tying run was at the plate - the same situation as in the Rosen game - but the final batter struck out.
After all that offense, the Eagles just couldn't scratch out a win on this day.
Eric Riley took the pitching loss. He and Carrington each pitched four innings.
Craig Knochenmus pitched the ninth and he got all three outs via strikeout.
Looking at the boxscore, Beyer certainly delivered the way the No. 3 battter in the order is expected. He had three hits in five at-bats, scored two runs and drove in five.
Ross Haugen and Chris Boettcher were the other Eagles with multiple-hit games.
Morris outhit Monte 11-10. But Monte had just one error compared to that glaring total of six for Morris.
The final Morris won-lost record for 2011 is 12-10.
"See you next year!" Carrington enthusiastically says.
- Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Two big innings buoy Morris Eagles

Ross Haugen bats for the Morris Eagles in this photo taken on July 24. (B.W. photo)

Montevideo got the early lead at 3-0 but it was Morris getting the win in the end, 11-3 on Saturday. Morris enjoyed big innings in the fourth and sixth, surging ahead to stay.
The July 30 win gave Morris the #1 seed for the Canvas Division in 9C.
The indications of late have been encouraging. Fans of the Morris town team can be optimistic looking ahead to this weekend.
The Eagles hope to parlay all their recent success into another "W" come Saturday (8/6). The site will be Wheaton. Game-time is 1:30 p.m.
The opponent will be the Rosen Express, the No. 2 seed out of the Teal Division.
"The Eagles are peaking at the right time," spokesman Matthew Carrington proclaims.
Montevideo had a long day (lots of innings) on the 30th, initially playing Appleton before taking on our Eagles. Monte downed Appleton 3-0 to assure themselves a berth in Regions.
Monte rallied quickly vs. Morris to take that 3-0 lead. But the Eagles owned the rest of this game, excelling under the relentless July sun. (Did we really get tired of winter?)
Morris got on the scoreboard with one run in the third, on a Ross Haugen RBI single.
Momentum picked up in the fourth. Dusty Sauter drove in a run with a single. Craig Knochenmus worked the pitcher for a walk with the bases full.
Ryan Beyer hit a grounder that drove a run in. Montevideo committed an error that spelled another Morris run.
The Eagles led 5-3 at the end of four innings.
If there was any doubt as to this game's outcome, it was erased in the sixth. Doubles resounded off the bats of Sauter, Chris Boettcher and Ross Haugen.
Carrington described these doubles as "booming." Two runs came in in the process.
A walk and a hit-by-pitch set the table nicely for Carrington himself when he came up to bat. Carrington tore into a Monte delivery to produce the rally's fourth double. It got two more runs in.
We all need to root for veterans like Carrington these days, because we want to see the Minnesota Vikings succeed this fall with (fossil) Donovan McNabb.
The success kept flowing as Eric Riley lofted a sacrifice fly and Sauter was hit by pitch with the bases loaded.
In all, six runs scored for Morris in the sixth and the game could for all practical purposes be tucked in the "win" column.
Eric Riley, an up-and-comer at the town team level, was handed the ball for his second start on the mound. He did give up those three Monte runs in the first but he put up zeroes after that.
He gave up only four hits while working six innings. He fanned five batters and walked three.
The greenhorn gave way to the veteran in the seventh and it was Carrington pitching the last three innings to get the save. Carrington allowed just one baserunner and even this minor blemish was negated thanks to a double play in the ninth.
Carrington fanned one batter, walked none and gave up one hit.
The Eagles will visit the home of the world's largest mallard (Wheaton) this weekend owner of a 12-8 record. Remember, the Eagles were a mere 3-7 at one time.
Here are the teams that are "in" for the 9C affair: Chokio (those Coyotes), Dumont, Rosen, Canby, Ada, Bemidji, Montevideo and our Eagles.
Which two teams will advance to state? It will be exciting to watch. There's a double-elimination path along the way.
Carrington predicted "the Eagles will have to stay hot."
Morris put up a line score Saturday of eleven runs, 12 hits and three errors. Monte's numbers were 3-5-2.
It was "another day at the office" for Dusty Sauter offensively, as this Eagle produced up to his standards from the leadoff spot: two-for-four, three runs, two RBIs.
Other Eagles with multiple hits were Ross Haugen, Eric Riley and Tony Schultz.
Sauter, Haugen and Riley had stolen bases. Eagles with two RBIs were Sauter, Haugen and Carrington.
Morris Eagles baseball is plunging into August with a firm focus!
- Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com

Eagles win 6-4 in Sunday home affair

Eric Riley zips 'em in for Morris during the win over Monte. (Photos by B.W.)
Jamie Van Kempen bats for Morris during the 6-4 win.

Eric Riley made his first pitching appearance as an Eagle and ended up with the "W" next to his name in the boxscore.

Eric, coming up from high school ranks, pitched seven innings and Craig Knochenmus for the other two. Knochenmus got the save as the Eagles beat Montevideo 6-4.

This game was played on Sunday, July 24, at Chizek Field. It was an ideal day for enjoying baseball.

There's more to come. The Morris town team, fresh from two weekend triumphs, now plunges into Region 9C play.

The first order of business is to determine seeding. A full menu of baseball is set for our Chizek Field again this Saturday, July 30.

First, Montevideo will play Appleton at 1 p.m. The winner of that game will play the Eagles at 4 p.m. It's a one-game playoff to determine the #1 seed in the Division.

The Eagles are striving to stay on a roll.

Eric Riley was "effectively wild" in his pitching performance of this past Sunday, according to Eagles spokesman Matthew Carrington. He did walk seven batters but he struck out seven.

Maybe the occasional wildness disrupted the focus of the Montevideo batters?

None of the four runs that Riley allowed were earned. He gave up five hits.

Knochenmus got the save with three strikeouts, one walk and one hit allowed in his two innings.

The Eagles had lost twice previously to Montevideo this season. They began Sunday hitting on all cylinders as they assumed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Knochenmus drove in a run with a single and Ryan Beyer doubled in a run.

Riley blanked Monte over the first five innings and then allowed three unearned runs in the sixth. So Monte had the lead at 3-2 but that didn't last long.

Nathan Gades rapped an RBI single. On that hit, the Monte rightfielder committed a miscue and Riley came around to score from first, so Morris now had the lead back at 4-3.

Then the score became 5-3 when Knochenmus connected for an RBI single in the seventh.

Montevideo broke through with another unearned run in the eighth vs. Riley, who seemed to be showing some fatigue signs. The potentially tying run was "90 feet away," Carrington recalled, as Riley exited from the mound and Knochenmus was handed the ball.

"Knochy's" fresh arm was good for setting down two straight batters on strikes. The Eagles then got out of the jam when a double steal attempt went awry.

The Eagles scored their final run in the eighth on an RBI double by the "in the zone" Dusty Sauter. Sauter had seven hits in ten at-bats on the weekend. His sizzling .433 average is tops on the squad.

Monte's faint hopes in the top of the ninth faded when Morris executed a double play, and then Knochenmus bore down to fan Monte's No. 3 hitter in the order.

Morris had a line score of six runs, eleven hits and two errors. Monte's numbers: 4-6-1.

Eagles with multiple hits were Sauter, Chris Boettcher, Knochenmus and Ryan Beyer.

Morris Eagles baseball anticipates continued success and excitement.
The more fans the better!

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

It's on to Region 9C playoffs!

Chris Boettcher bats for the Morris Eagles during the Sunday (7/24) win. (Photos by B.W.)
Ross Haugen gets set for his next at-bat.
Dusty Sauter of the Eagles makes healthy contact.

The humidity backed off a little, or so it felt, this past weekend for the Morris Eagles' playoff games. Yours truly (B.W.) was present for the Sunday game, played on a pleasant and classic midsummer day.

In these times of extreme weather, such a day was welcome and it was made even more pleasant by how the Eagles fared.
The Eagles won on both Saturday and Sunday.

Playing in Appleton Saturday, the Eagles disposed of Benson 11-6. Then in front of their friendly home fans Sunday, the Eagles made it a weekend sweep at the expense of Montevideo. Morris downed Monte 6-4.

These were playoff games. Now it's on to the Region 9C level of play.

They'll plunge into that level on a roll as they have triumphed in eight of their last nine games. This is what's known as "peaking at the right time."

Morris 11, Benson 6

Morris took the field at Appleton in the opening round of the Canvas Division. The Eagles and the rival Benson Chiefs vied.

Early-on things looked grim. Benson shot out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

The Eagles slowly righted their ship, rallying for two runs in the second and then enjoying a big five-run outburst in the fourth.

Now the momentum is in Motown's corner.

The Eagles pulled away in the seventh with two runs and tacked on two more for good measure in the eighth. All in all a satisfying day on the diamond.

Ryan Beyer doubled in the second inning, driving in a run. He then scored on Chris Boettcher's base rap.

The fourth inning story had six straight Eagle batters reaching safely. Benson pitching grew wild. Eagle batters were patient but they also got their bats off their shoulders for two hits.

Craig Knochenmus and Nathan Gades each worked the pitcher for a walk with the bases loaded. Mitch Carbert connected for a two-run single. Brett Anderson lofted a sacrifice fly.

Dusty Sauter drove in a run with a double in the seventh.

Ryan Beyer showed his homer swing in the bottom of the eighth, connecting with a runner on.

Gades pitched for eight innings and Jamie Van Kempen hurled for one. Gades struggled at times but he got the win.

Sauter was a monster at bat with his five hits in six at-bats including a double. He also stole a base.

Anderson was a perfect two-for-two. Beyer's double and round-tripper helped him finish with three RBIs.

Morris played errorless ball while Benson committed two errors.

Morris Eagles baseball rolls forward, anticipating more slick fielding and loud bats.

(I will be posting on the Montevideo game also - B.W.)

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

Legion team wraps up - Eagles, VFW win

Morris Legion baseball: 6-3 defeat

Two losses and you're out in the district tourney. Unfortunately for the usually high-flying Morris Legion Nine, loss No. 2 came Thursday night. So the season is over.

The Thursday foe was Granite Falls, in Montevideo, where the District 7 tourney is reaching a climax.

Granite Falls seemed to want to hand this game to Morris on a platter. Granite Falls looked disoriented in the field at times and committed seven errors. Seven errors!

But alas, Post #29 couldn't exploit this weakness well enough. Morris was defeated by Granite Falls 6-3.

Morris committed two errors in this less-than-a-masterpiece game.

Morris is known for showing power bats. Their fans watched with chagrin Thursday as this game grew into an exception. Morris was quite out of character as all eight of their hits were singles.

So let's give some credit to the Granite Falls pitcher. This was Dylan Lindstrom, who worked six innings before giving way to the closer Aaron Zieske who threw one.

Lindstrom gave up the three Morris runs but two were unearned. He struck out two batters and walked three.

Tyler Hansen was the Morris starting pitcher and was hurt badly by unearned runs. All five of the runs that Hansen allowed were unearned. He gave up four hits, struck out four and walked one in his 2 2/3 innings on the hill.

Sam Mattson pitched the other 3 1/3. Mattson allowed four hits, struck out three batters and walked one while allowing one run which was unearned.

Add 'em up and there were six unearned runs scored by Granite Falls which constituted their whole run total.

Yes, it was a heartbreaking way for the curtain to come down on the Post #29 season.

All the Granite Falls runs were scored in the third inning. Hansen got the hook in that inning. A wild pitch allowed two runs to score. Garrett Cole hit a two-run double. Austin Thorstad and Brandon Grund singled.

Morris fans had their hopes lifted in the top of the seventh when their team got two baserunners on with no outs. At this point, Lindstrom is relieved by Zieske.

Zieske responded to the pressure, first striking out a batter and then inducing a double play.

With a thud the Morris season ended. But on the whole, Morris fans can embrace many special memories from the 2011 summer.

Tyler Hansen had one hit in three at-bats. Ditto Ryan Beyer. Cole Riley's hitting eye was sharp as he connected for three hits in four at-bats.

Brady Valnes and Mitch Kill both went one-for-four. Ethan Bruer had a one-for-two evening and drove in a run.

Thanks for the memories, Post #29 boys! Try to stay cool.

Morris Eagles baseball: 12-2 triumph

The Eagles took command vs. Benson to capture the #1 seed in the Canvas Division. They plated 12 runs in this July 20 game played in Chiefs country of Benson.

You might say the Eagles painted a fine picture of victory on this canvas! It was achieved 12-2 and saw the Morris bats sizzle for 14 hits, compared to five by Benson.

The Canvas Division is part of the Land O' Ducks League.

This game was originally slated for Saturday but the obstacle was - you guessed it - the weather conditions of late.
Johnny Carson might have quipped: "How hot was it?"

Well it was too hot for the game to be played to completion on Saturday. This was a suspension and not a total postponement.

The resumption of the action saw the temperature in a much more tolerable range. Mid-game "it actually cooled off a bit," spokesman Matthew Carrington said.

Morris was already in good shape, leading 4-2, at the time of the resumption.

Morris seemed to put the game out of reach with a four-run fifth inning, achieved on just two hits. There were three bases-loaded walks. Benson's woes were compounded by a passed ball.

The Eagles had fuel left in the tank for a four-run ninth. When the dust cleared, this was clearly Morris' night. Morris committed just one error.

Benson's error with two outs in the ninth opened the door for that late rally. Ross Haugen took advantage by walloping a two-run double. Craig Knochenmus connected for an RBI triple down the right field line. The lefty Knochenmus pulled that ball with authority.

All this offense made the pitching job kind of a pipe (whatever that means) for Matthew Carrington.

The veteran Carrington set down the final 16 batters he faced. He finished the night with five strikeouts, he walked just one and he allowed five hits and two runs (one earned).

Knochenmus went to work on the hill for the ninth and he was untouched. "Knochy" fanned two Chiefs.

Dusty Sauter had a boxscore line of all 2's: at-bats, runs, hits, RBIs. The Nathan Gades line was 3-2-1-1.

Chris Boettcher: 3-2-2-1. Ross Haugen: 4-1-3-3. Craig Knochenmus: 3-0-1-3.

Brett Anderson: 5-0-1-0. Mitch Carbert: 1-1-1-0. Ben James: 4-1-2-0.

Jon Jallo: 1-1-1-0. And Tony Schultz: 3-2-0-0.

What's next? The Eagles will face Benson again at 4 p.m. Saturday (7/23) in Appleton.

Then on Sunday, regardless of the Saturday outcomes, the Eagles will play in the late game (4 p.m.) here at Chizek Field.

The Eagles are now eyeing the Region 9C playoffs. They're on a roll, having won six of their last seven games.

Morris VFW baseball: 15-4 triumph

It's always gratifying to beat the "big town." Morris VFW baseball came up against Willmar on Tuesday (7/19) and showed a superior caliber.

As the visitor, Morris erupted big-time in the second and third innings with rallies that helped bury the host. The final score: 15-4.

Willmar was shaky in the field, handing Morris opportunities by committing seven errors. Morris by contrast committed one.

The 15 Morris runs came on 12 hits while Willmar was held to five hits.

Morris Post #5039 scored five runs in the second inning and seven in the third. The score was 12-2 entering the fifth inning.

Morris plated three runs in the top of the fifth and Willmar answered with two, but a ten-run bulge had opened up that ended the game via "the rule" (ten-run rule).

Jake Torgerson pitched the whole way for Post #5039 and fanned five batters while walking none. He gave up five hits and four runs (earned).

The losing pitcher was Brandon Christenson.

Tyler Henrichs supplied lots of punch with his bat for Motown. Tyler posted three-for-four numbers while scoring three runs and driving in one.

Chandler Erickson had two hits in four at-bats. The following batters went two-for-three: Jordan Staples, Tom Holland and Mac Beyer.

Beyer's bat resonated with a home run and triple, and he drove in two runs and scored two.

Staples drove in two runs. Holland picked up a ribbie.

Buzzy Tollefson led Willmar's hitting at two-for-three including a double.

Legion ball: defeat vs. Madison

The normally potent Morris American Legion team offense was humbled on Tuesday, July 19. The Post #29 crew was embarking on districts. The site: Montevideo.

Morris was fresh from two weekend triumphs in which their offense earned that "potent" description.

But on Tuesday their bats became relatively silent in a 4-1 loss.
Double-elimination would allow Post #29 to see another day. (But they would lose to Granite Falls.)

The Tuesday roadblock was thrust by Madison, the long version of which is "Madison Lac qui Parle Post #158."

Madison needed some time to get going. Through five innings it looked like Morris and its accomplished pitcher Alex Erickson might own the day.

It was Erickson who homered in the first and then his pitching arm took over to throttle Madison through the first five innings. But of course a 1-0 lead can be precarious.

Morris couldn't chip away any further because opposing hurler Joey Schreck was quite in command. Erickson and Schreck would both pitch the distance (seven innings).

It was Schreck who would get the "W" next to his name in the boxscore. That's because after giving up that Erickson homer in the first, he totally shut the door. There was a string of zeroes on the scoreboard after that.

Madison had a string of zeroes through five innings but that changed in the sixth. Madison summoned a decisive three-run rally, then proceeded to add an insurance run in the seventh.

Madison had a line score of four runs, seven hits and no errors, while Post #29 put up 1-6-5 numbers.

The telling stat there would appear to be the "five" for Morris errors. Ouch.

Two of the runs that Erickson allowed were unearned. He struck out eight batters, gave up seven hits and walked one.

The winner Schreck had six strikeouts and walked two, while giving up six hits and one run (earned).

Erickson wielded his bat for a double in addition to his home run. Four of his teammates went one-for-three: Eric Riley, Mitch Kill, Brody Bahr and Brady Valnes.

The Haas boys, Sam and Seth, both had two hits for Madison. Other Madison hits were off the bats of Jacob Redepenning, Eric Paulson and Brandon Weber.

For Morris the loss had a sting because Morris prevailed twice vs. Madison previously this summer.

In the other District 7 "Final 4" game on Tuesday, it was Eden Valley-Watkins downing Granite Falls 6-2. Winning pitcher Kevin Kramer struck out ten batters.

Matt Geislinger socked a two-run homer to stoke EV-W's winning fortunes.

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

Home field just the ticket for our raptors

Brett Arne bats for the Morris Eagles at Chizek Field.

The Morris Eagles have reversed course and taken advantage of a homestand to find winning ways. Such as been the success, the raptors have arrived at .500 and then climbed above it.

To what extent has the home field been the factor? Whatever the cause, our beloved raptors have a chance to finish the homestand at 6-0.

Whatever the cause? How about superior play?

The sixth game in the stretch is presented this Friday, July 15. Montevideo will be the visiting team Friday.

More is at stake than just finishing the homestand unblemished, as the Eagles can clinch the regular season title outright. The Eagles have clinched at least a tie for the top seed in the Canvas Division.

The success on July 8 was with a 9-6 win over the Appleton A's. Chris Boettcher supplied the main offensive fuel.
Boettcher drove in a run with a single in the first inning. He was back to work in the second inning with a double that drove in two runs. He continued a bid for "the cycle" with a triple in the sixth, and he went on to score.
He may not have finished with the full "cycle" but what a day it was for him, as his boxscore line was three-for-four with those extra-base hits.

He drove in three runs.

The Eagles had an eighth inning rally that was essential for the winning outcome. It netted four runs. Jamie Van Kempen brought his lumber to the plate with two outs and drove in two runs with a single.

Mitch Carbert drove in the other two runs in that rally, also with a single, his third hit of the game.

The eighth inning success gave Morris some breathing room, so Appleton's three-run rally in the top of the ninth was insufficient for them.

The Morris line score was nine runs, 13 hits and one error. Appleton's numbers were 6-9-1.

The following Eagles had multiple-hit games: Boettcher, Ross Haugen, Matthew Carrington, Van Kempen and Carbert.

Brett Anderson got the pitching win and Van Kempen got the save. Anderson struck out three batters and walked three in his six innings. He gave up four hits and two runs which were earned.

Van Kempen fanned five batters and walked two in his three-inning stint. He withstood five hits and four runs (earned) to get the save.

The Eagles made it five wins in a row on July 10 with a 15-5 home win over Wheaton. It was a classic hot July afternoon.

You might say the game was part of our Prairie Pioneer Days.

There was little suspense in this game as Morris scored nine runs over the first three innings, while Wheaton put up zeroes.

Boettcher continued with his hot bat, singling to drive in two runs in the second frame. The Walleyes hurt themselves with an error. Ross Haugen drove in a run with a single.

The barrage in the third inning included RBI singles off the bats of Matthew Carrington, Dusty Sauter and Ross Haugen.

Carrington put his seasoned pitching arm to work as the starter and did great over the first five innings. He had a shutout going.

But the Walleyes got untracked vs. him in the sixth. This is the inning in which Wheaton scored all their runs. Carrington gave way to reliever Nathan Gades who wrapped things up.

Carrington ended up with the "W" next to his name.

Any thoughts the Walleyes might have had of being back in this game faded. Morris scored two runs each in the sixth through eighth innings, and the game never made it to the ninth as the ten-run rule was invoked.

An RBI single off the bat of Craig Knochenmus created the ten-run bulge and ended the game.

Morris scored its 15 runs on a whopping 17 hits. Just as pleasing was the final number in the line score: zero errors.

Wheaton struggled in the field with six fielding miscues.

Dusty Sauter made noise with his bat, finishing three-for-six including a double, and he drove in a run while scoring two.

Boettcher scored two runs and drove in three. Haugen scored one run and drove in three. Knochenmus had an RBI total of two with his two hits.

Ryan Beyer had two doubles and scored three runs. Gades picked up a ribbie. Carrington was a perfect three-for-three with three runs scored and one RBI.

Cole Riley had a two-for-five boxscore line and he scored a run. Jamie Van Kempen scored two runs, and Brett Anderson went one-for-one with a run scored and an RBI.

Morris Eagles baseball will host Montevideo at 7:30 p.m. this Friday.

Eagles baseball fever - it's catching!

Cross your fingers for the win streak to grow.

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