DISTRICT 6B AMATEUR BASEBALL UPDATE
The Menno town team saw their season come to an end in Wynot, Neb. Sunday night, July 27 — its second loss of the District 6B (South Central League) Tournament. The Mad Frogs lost to Crofton, Neb., 13-8 in an action-packed battle.
Menno, the district’s seventh seed, strung together a series of singles to open up a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but the fifth-seed Bluejays scored six of their own in the bottom of the first and built an 11-5 lead after four, eventually winning by five runs. The Mad Frogs committed five errors to Crofton’s one and were outhit 12 to 10.
Connor Merriam, Nick Ratzlaff, Macon Oplinger and Kellen Sattler had multiple hits, with Merriam and Dylan Lehr both doubling and Ratzloff hitting a home run.
Doug Hall took the loss for the Frogs, giving up 11 runs — four earned — on eight hits while walking five over 3 2/3 innings pitched. Brayden Sattler pitched the remainder of the game and surrendered four hits and one earned run.
Menno finishes the year 3-14.
Freeman, meanwhile, will try to stay alive when it returns to action Thursday, July 31 against the winner of Tuesday night’s Irene/Wynot game. A win would put the third-seed Blacksox in the state tournament; a loss would end their season.
Freeman is 7-8.
First round losses
Friday night, July 25, Freeman held a 6-5 lead against Irene after six innings played, but the Cardinals scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take control of the game, and another in the eighth inning to build a 10-6 lead. The Blacksox got two back in the bottom of the eighth, but it wasn’t enough.
Jackson Fiegen pitched six innings for Freeman, giving up eight earned runs on 12 hits while striking out five and walking one. Trey Ortman pitched the final three innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on three hits while striking out one and walking two.
Bailey Sage and Jake Weier both hit home runs for Freeman, with Sage going 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Weier accounting for two RBI. Clint Dangel also had two singles for Freeman.
In Menno’s loss to Wynot Friday night, the Mad Frogs had four errors and managed just five singles: Connor Merriam had two and Dylan Lehr, Nick Ratzloff and Kellen Sattler each had one.
Jared Hegdahl drew the start for Menno and allowed nine hits and four runs — just one earned — while striking out three without walking a batter.
