Junior Legion Grinds out a Win Against Groton

The Post 9 Junior Legion baseball team faced Groton Post 39 at home on Father’s Day, June 18. Milbank edged out Groton 13-11 in nine innings.Groton was ahead at 2-1 in the bottom of the third when Post 9 kick-started their offense. Mason Meister blasted a triple to deep left field to lead off. Joe Schulte drove a line drive up the middle to score Meister and put Milbank on the board. Schulte stole second, and Jayce Jonason drove him in with a single to center to tie things up at two all.

Post 9 took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Reese Rabe reached on an error by Groton’s third baseman.  Meister was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. Schulte connected for his second single of the day to drive Rabe and Meister home and give Post 9 the lead at 4-2.

The visitors notched one in the top of the fifth, but Milbank got it back in the bottom half. Jonason shot a single to right field to lead off the inning.  Owen Tesch got hit by a pitch. Nollen Scheely grounded to the shortstop, but it was deep enough to score Jonason from third. Milbank led 5-3 after five innings.Post 9’s offense exploded in the bottom of the seventh. Scheely reached first on an error by the short stop and Aiden Kelly followed with a walk. Tyler Heinje singled to left to load the bags. Meister drew a bases-loaded walk. Schulte kept the carousel going by drawing a walk. Josh Pederson then banged out a triple to clear the bases. Milbank took a commanding lead at 10-5. Daniel Shelstad dropped a fly ball over the Groton third baseman’s head to score Pederson. Post 9 added another click to make the score 11-5.Groton roared back in the top of the eighth to score four runs and cut their deficit to 11-9.  Post 9 answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Heinje was hit by a pitch, and Meister followed with a walk. Owen Tesch sent a single to left to drive home Heinje. Post 9 led 12-9.

When Groton’s catcher let one get away, Meister scored for Milbank and increased their lead to13-9.Post 39 again put up a fight in the top of the ninth. They rallied to add two to their total, but it was too little too late to take down Post 9. Milbank claimed the victory at 13-11. 
Pederson and Jonason led Post 9 with three hits each. Schulte, Tesch, Shelstad, Scheely, Heinje, and Meister each added hits to Milbank’s total of 13.  Pederson earned the win on the mound. He pitched 5  2/3 innings and and struck out four Groton batters.