Post 9 Legion Team Runs Out of Gas in Groton

The Milbank Post 9 Legion baseball team traveled to Groton on Tuesday night, July 12, to take on the Groton Junior Legion team. Milbank fell 6-7 in the single-game contest. 

In the first inning, Kaden Krause and Cole Swenson drew back-to-back walks. Kellen Hoeke followed with a single to load the bases. Merik Junker drew a walk to bring home Krause and put Milbank ahead at 1-0. Justus Osborn laced a double to right field to score Swenson and Hoeke and give Milbank an early lead at 3-0.

Post 9 added to their lead in the top of the second. Krause led off with another walk and Swenson followed with a single to put runners on first and third with no outs. Junker scored Krause on a sac fly to centerfield to push Milbank’s lead to 4-0.

Things took a turn in the bottom of the sixth when Milbank allowed Groton to score six runs. Undaunted, Post 9 started to rally. Hoeke led off with a single. Isaac Schulte was hit by a pitch and took his spot on first. A wild pitch gave Hoeke the chance he was looking for, and he cruised home to move the score to 5-6.

Krause started a two-out push in the top of the fifth when he drew a walk. He then stole second and third to put himself in scoring position with two outs. Swenson was happy to oblige. He ripped off a single, and Krause made it home to put Post 9 within striking distance at 6-7 with two innings to go. But Milbank could not add any more runs to their total, and they fell at 6-7. 

Swenson and Hoeke led the way for Post 9’s offense with two hits apiece. Justus Osborn and Sage Locke each added one hit to Milbank’s total of six. Kaden Krause drew four walks.