Talk about having your back to the wall.

Milaca’s American Legion baseball team, down 1-0 in its best-of-three playoff series with Chisago Lakes, trailed 6-0 after two innings in the second game of the series Wednesday, July 15, at Milaca.

“It didn’t look good but I had a good feeling about our chances,” said Milaca Coach Bart Naumann. “Our pitcher is better than he showed early in the game and I felt he just might get into his groove. And, I felt we were going to start scoring.”

Milaca starter Tyler Norrgard did settle down and Milaca started hitting, chipping away at the 6-0 deficit before going ahead 8-6 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Following Norrgard’s scoreless five innings, Ryan VanSomeren came on to hold Chisago Lakes hitless over the final two frames as Milaca evened the series at 1-1 with an 8-6 victory.

Milaca, behind Zach Bryant’s nine-inning mound effort, won the series Thursday night with a 3-2 win at Milaca. The opener of the series, an 11-1 Chisago Lakes win Tuesday, July 14, was played at Chisago Lakes.

“Even though we lost that first game I liked our chances at home for the next two,” said Naumann.

The opener in the series was scheduled at Milaca but Naumann agreed to a site change because the Chisago Lakes field wasn’t available Wednesday, July 14.

Milaca, 10-6, now advances to the Outstate District 10 Tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday at St. Francis.

Milaca will begin round-robin play Friday in a four-team pool that also includes Buffalo, St. Michael and Mora, the top seed from the North End.

Milaca, in Pool A, faces Buffalo Friday at 9 a.m. and St. Michael Friday at 3 p.m. before meeting Mora Saturday at 3 p.m.

The other four-team pool includes Cambridge, St. Francis, Monticello and Delano, the top seed from the Wright County league.

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., also at St. Francis. The title game is Sunday at 4 o’clock, with the winner moving on to the State Legion Tournament at New Ulm July 30 through Aug. 2.

Mora defeated Princeton 2-1, Cambridge topped Pine City 2-0 and St. Francis moved past North Branch 2-0 in other North End best-of-three series last week.

“It should be a great tournament,” said Naumann, who’s guided Milaca to the district tournament twice in the last four seasons following a 13-year drought for the team.

Naumann has tabbed VanSomeren to start on the pitching mound against Buffalo and Norrgard to open against St. Michael.

“We’ll go after a couple of wins right away,” said Naumann. “You can’t really save your pitchers for down the road because you have to get to the semifinals to play in the semifinals.

“And, we feel we’ve got some depth behind Ryan and Tyler with Zach and T.J. [Johnson].”

Chisago Lakes 11,

Milaca 1

Chisago Lakes built a 4-1 lead before erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Milaca had six errors and managed just one hit - a double by Norrgard that drove in its lone run.

VanSomeren and Bryant shared pitching duties, with Bryant allowing four hits and six walks and VanSomeren allowing five hits and two walks.

Milaca 8,

Chisago Lakes 6

Chisago Lakes scored three runs in the top of the first inning and three more in the second before being blanked by Norrgard and VanSomeren the rest of the way.

Milaca scored solo runs in the third and fourth innings, two in the fifth and two more in the sixth to tie the score.

VanSomeren went 3-for-4 with a triple and two singles, Jordan Ahner was 3-4 with a double and two singles and Bryant was 3-5 with a double and two singles to lead Milaca’s 13-hit attack. Norrgard added a pair of singles.

Norrgard pitched seven innings, allowing 10 hits and four walks while striking out nine. VanSomeren walked one and fanned three over two innings.

“We hit well and we drew some big walks,” said Naumann. “We stole second base all four times we drew and walk and three of those runners ended up scoring.”

Milaca 3,

Chisago Lakes 2

Bryant pitched the distance, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out eight. He allowed a home run to Travis Ongstad in the sixth inning that tied the game at 2-2.

“After the home run I asked Zach how he felt and he said ‘my arm is fine-I’m going nine,’” said Naumann. “He pitched a great game.”

Milaca scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Bryant doubled with one out and, following an intentional walk to Alex Hass, Norrgard hit a ground ball the shortstop was able to flag down and get Hass at second for the second out.

Bryant moved to third on the play and, with Norrgard on first base, Milaca tried a double steal, with Norrgard breaking towards second before the pitch. The CL pitcher paused briefly, then threw the ball to the second baseman who wasn’t able to throw to home plate in time to nab Bryant who scored standing up.

“We had discussed that situation before the game,” said Naumann. “And, sure enough, we got a chance to do it.

“It was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been involved in - both teams played top-notch tournament baseball.”

Alex Hass had a triple and a single and Elliot Hass had a double and a single to lead Milaca’s 14-hit attack. Bryant added a double and Cory Polsfuss and Norrgard each had two singles.



Outstate District 10

Legion Baseball Tournament

Round Robin Play

Pool A: Mora (North 1), Milaca (North 3), Buffalo (Wright County 2) St. Michael (Wright County 4).

Pool B: Cambridge (North 2), St. Francis (North 4), Delano (Wright County 1), Monticello (Wright County 3).

Friday, July 24

at St. Francis

Milaca vs. Buffalo, 9 a.m.

Mora vs. St. Michael, noon

Milaca vs. St. Michael, 3 p.m.

Buffalo vs. Mora, 6 p.m.

at Cambridge

Monticello vs. Cambridge, 9 a.m.

Delano vs. St. Francis, noon

Monticello vs. St. Francis, 3 p.m.

Delano vs. Cambridge, 6 p.m.

Saturday, July 25

at St. Francis

Cambridge vs. St. Francis, 9 a.m.

Monticello vs. Delano, noon

Milaca vs. Mora, 3 p.m.

St. Michael vs. Buffalo, 6 p.m.

Sunday, July 26

at St. Francis

Semifinals

Winner of Pool A vs. Pool B Runnerup, 10 a.m.

Winner of Pool B vs. Pool A Runnerup, 1 p.m.

Championship, 4 p.m. - winner advances to the state tournament

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