Mahnomen/Waubun at Win-E-Mac

Recap

The bats took no time to get going in this Section 8A matchup. Mahnomen/Waubun scored 2 runs in the top of the first, but Win-E-Mac answered right back with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. The Patriots kept the offense flowing in the second after an 2 out RBI single from Owen Strom to make the lead 4-2.

Both teams went scoreless for the next two innings. Then in the top of the 5th, Mahnomen/Waubun had the bases loaded with just one out, Kale Smeby got a strikeout, but then on a throw down to 3rd, the ball got away and the Thunderbirds scored to trim the deficit to one. Smeby struck out the batter for his 9th strikeout of the game.

The Thunderbirds again found themselves with another good opportunity to score some runs after back to back singles from Tristin Bevins and Zach Zima with no outs. Tucker Zima laced a single out to left field, but Kale Smeby who just moved out to left threw a dime to home and the throw beat the runner by 3 steps for the first out. Cade Walz stepped up and got an RBI single in the next at bat to tie things up at 4, but that was all that the Thunderbirds could manage to get across.

Then in the bottom of the 6th, the Patriots got started with a bunt single from Jayden Haugen, who then stole second. Nick Schow roped one over the right fielder for an RBI ground rule double to retake the lead. The Patriots weren’t done there though. Owen Strom delivered another RBI single, then after Smeby got hit by a pitch for the 3rd time, Nathaniel Spry delivered an RBI single to make it 7-4. After that it was 3 straight outs to send us to the 7th where Owen Strom was able to close things out for the Patriots, including finishing the game with 2 straight strikeouts.

Win-E-Mac now improves to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in Section 8A. The Patriots will be in action next on Thursday at home against Lake of the Woods.

Mahnomen/Waubun falls to 3-2 and 1-1 in the section. Their next game is also on Thursday at home against NCE/U-H.