The Legion Post 9 baseball team already has their first win under their belt. They defeated region rival Webster in their season-opener on Tuesday,... Legion Post 9 Wins Right Off the Bat

The Legion Post 9 baseball team already has their first win under their belt. They defeated region rival Webster in their season-opener on Tuesday, May 30. Post 9 took down Post 40 at 10-1 in seven innings at Pribyl Park in Milbank.

Post 9 gave up their lone run in the top of the first, but immediately retaliated. In the bottom of the first, Josh Pederson lined a single to centerfield to lead off for Milbank. He stole second to get into scoring position and put their first point on the board when Merik Junker reached on an error by Webster’s shortstop. The score was knotted at 1-1.

Post 9 took over the lead in the bottom of the third. Pederson and Joe Schulte teamed up with back-to-back walks. Junker again scored Pederson –this time on an error by Webster’s centerfielder. Milbank pulled ahead 2-1. Junker stole second, advanced to third, and scored on two passed balls when Webster’s catcher suffered a hole in his glove. 

Milbank moved into a comfortable 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, but they stayed hungry. Tanner Hallquist sparked the offense with a one-out triple to left-center field. Reese Rabe drew first base after he was hit by a pitch, and Pederson walked to jam the bases. Schulte dropped a single into shallow right field to score Hallquist and extend Milbank’s lead to 4-1. Justus Osborn drew a walk to push Milbank’s lead to 5-1. Junker drove home Pederson for the third time on a fielder’s choice.

Post 9 led 6-1, but added some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Schulte drew a walk. Osborn stung a double into left field to score Schulte and give Milbank a 7-1 lead. Junker was hit by a pitch to reach base for the fourth time and Jayce Jonason joined him when he  drew a walk to load the bases. Owen Tesch blasted a triple to left field  to clear the bases and put Milbank up 10-1 going into the top of the seventh.

Junker earned the victory on the mound for Post 9. He pitched three innings and allowed no hits and one unearned run. He struck out seven batters. Osborn toed the rubber for four innings in relief. He allowed one hit and struck out 11 batters. Pederson crossed the plate three times and put up a hit to lead the offense.

Catch the Post 9 team in action all this weekend when the Birch-Miller American Legion Post 9 hosts the annual Arnold Larsen Tournament June 2-4 in pool play at Pribyl Park in Milbank.
Friday:
4 p.m. – Redfield vs. Hamlin 
6 p.m. Milbank vs. Claremont  
Saturday:
Noon – Volga vs. Hamlin
2 p.m. Groton vs. Claremont
4 p.m. Redfield vs. Volga 
6 p.m. Milbank vs. Groton
Sunday:
On Sunday, the placing games pit the third-place finishers from each pool against each other at 11 a.m. Second-place finishers meet at 1 p.m. The championship game begins at 3 p.m.

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