Junior Teeners Travel to Dakota Style Field

The 14U Junior Teeners traveled to Dakota Style Field in Clark on June 20 for doubleheader action. Milbank lost the first game 17-7 and dropped the second game 4-3.

Jaxson Wiese came out of the gates swinging. He singled to left field. Tyler Heinje blasted a double to the left center gap to score Wiese and put Milbank ahead at 1-0. Mack Koplin kept the bats hot. He stung a single to right field to move Milbank’s lead to 2-0 as Heinje crossed the dish. Koplin came around to score on a passed ball to give Milbank an early 3-0 lead.

Clark scored five runs in the bottom of the first, but Milbank was quick to recapture the lead. In the top of the second, Will Muellenbach led with a single and was followed by a bunt single from Abe Fischer to put runners on first and third. Muellenbach scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-4.

Scoular and Heinje joined Fischer when they  were hit hit by back-to-back pitches to load the bases. Koplin kept the carousel circling when he also was hit by a pitch. He helped knot things up at five all. Aiden Kelly reached on an error to bring Scoular home. Milbank led 6-5.In the top of the fourth and finding themselves behind at 12-6, Milbank attempted a rally. Heinje drew a one-out walk and then stole second and third base. He crossed home plate when a ball got by Clark’s catcher. Milbank pulled closer at 12-7, but it would prove to be their final tick of the game.Clark tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the fourth and Milbank was forced to surrender. Clark took the win 17-7. Koplin led Milbank’s offense with one hit and two RBIs.

In game two, Milbank lagged behind at 3-0 going into the top of the third. Keaton Johnson started the two-out surge by drawing a walk. Heinje moved him to second with a single to center. Gage Newstrand cut the deficit to 3-1 with a single to left that scored Johnson. Heinje scored on a wild pitch to get Milbank back into the game. They trailed 3-2.It was do or die time in the top of the fifth. Milbank was down 4-2 in the last frame. Johnson drew a one-out walk. Heinje drove him in with a triple to center to make it 4-3 with one out. A close play at the plate sealed Milbank’s fate. They fell to Clark in a 4-3 thriller.

Heinje led Milbank’s offense with two hits. Johnson’s strong performance on the rubber included five strikeouts.