O’NEILL – The Pinnacle Bank Irish Juniors were on the road this past weekend at the Wayne/Wakefield Wooden Bat Tournament.
Max Henn struck out 12 batters as the starter led the Irish Juniors past Wisner-Pilger/Howells-Dodge Juniors 8-0 on Friday, June 6th! Henn gave up zero hits and zero runs over five innings while walking two.
The Irish were the first to get on the board in the second when Daniel Kluver singled, scoring one run.
O’Neill added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning after James Eby grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Xavier Parks singled down the left field line, each scoring one run.
Andre Martin took the loss for Wisner-Pilger/Howells-Dodge Juniors. The pitcher went four and one-third innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on five hits, striking out two and walking six. Nate Brown tossed one inning of no-run ball for Irish in relief. Brown, the reliever surrendered zero hits, striking out one and walking none.
Kluver led the Irish with two runs batted in from the number seven spot in the lineup. The third baseman went 2-for-4 on the day. Brown paced O’Neill with two walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, amassing seven walks for the game. Brown stole two bases.
With the win over Wisner-Pilger/Howells-Dodge the Irish advanced in the winner’s bracket to take on Lennox South Dakota on Saturday, June 7th.
On Saturday, James Eby collected four hits in five at bats, as the Irish defeated Lennox, SD Juniors 14-6 in Wayne. Eby singled in the second inning, doubled in the first inning, singled in the fourth inning, and doubled in the sixth inning.
The Pinnacle Bank Irish won in large part due to their eight runs in the sixth inning. Brown hit an inside the park home run, scoring two runs, Henn singled, scoring one run, Parks drew a walk, scoring one run, Daniel Kluver doubled, scoring three runs, and Lane Boelter singled, scoring one run.
Irish Juniors 16U were the first to get on the board in the first when an error scored one run.
A single by Eby extended the Irish lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning.
The Lennox Juniors tied the game in the bottom of the third thanks to a single by Logan VonHaden, and an error by the Irish.
In the top of the fourth, O’Neill broke the tie when Eby singled, scoring one run. Then a double by Max Berg followed to extend the lead to 6-3.
Eby earned the win for the Irish as the hurler allowed one hit and two runs over two and one-third innings, striking out three and walking two. Justin Butler took the loss for Lennox as the starting pitcher went four innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits, striking out five and walking three. Brown, Berg, and Kluver each appeared in relief for the Irish Juniors.
O’Neill piled up 15 hits in the game. Brown and Boelter each collected multiple hits for the Irish. The Irish also turned one double play in the game.
VonHaden went 2-for-3 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in. Sam Bambas led Lennox, with two walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, accumulating six walks for the game.
Another win earned a Semi-Final berth for the Irish Junior’s as they took on Wayne Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Juniors for their next game on Sunday.
Both teams were strong on the hill on Sunday morning, but the Irish defeated Wayne Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Juniors 2-0. The Irish went with Drake Berg as he started the game and recorded four outs.
The Pinnacle Bank Irish Juniors opened the scoring in the top of the first thanks to two singles. O’Neill first got on the board when Berg singled, scoring one run.
Berg earned the win for Irish Juniors as the pitcher surrendered one hit and zero runs over one and one-third innings, striking out one and walking two. Xavier Parks pitched three and two-thirds innings in relief for the Irish Juniors. The reliever allowed three hits and zero runs while, striking out four and walking none. Reece Ames took the loss for Wayne Rolling Hills Supply Post 43 Juniors. Ames went six innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking one.
Berg and James Eby each collected two hits for the Irish Juniors. Parks and Berg each drove in one run for O’Neill. The Irish Juniors were sure handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Nate Brown had the most chances in the field with five defensive plays.
Chase Sturm went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Wayne in hits.
The win against Wayne earned the Irish an opportunity to play Malcolm in the Wayne/Wakefield Wooden Bat Tournament on Sunday at 5 pm in Wakefield. The Irish and Malcolm met earlier in the year in Pender and lost to Malcolm in a tough game 4-2.
In the Championship game, the Irish Juniors struggled to keep up with the Post 354 Malcolm Juniors and fell 8-0 on Sunday.
Malcolm opened the scoring in the first after Mason Zegar singled, scoring one run.
Malcolm then added to their early lead in the bottom of the second inning when Isaiah Baeza grounded out, scoring one run, and Gavin Little doubled, scoring two runs.
Little earned the win for Malcolm as the righty allowed only four hits and zero runs over four and one-third innings, striking out eight and walking one. Lane Boelter took the loss for the Irish. The righty went five innings, allowing six runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking one.
Max Berg went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Post 93 Irish Juniors in hits.
Malcolm collected 10 hits in the game. Little led Malcolm with three runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 3-for-4 on the day. Zegar and Tregan Frank each collected multiple hits for Malcolm. Zegar stole two bases.
The Irish finished their Wayne/Wakefield Wooden Bat Tournament as the Runner-up and are now 5-4 on the season.
The Irish will be back in action Monday night (June, 9th) in O’Neill at Fred Appleby Field against Albion. The Junior and Senior games will be broadcast live on KBRX with the Juniors game starting at 5:45 pm.
