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Bluejays roll by Grizzlies in 2C playoff win

By Travis Rosenau 5 min read

NEW ULM -- The top of the order was strong and consistent for the Essig Bluejays on Sunday, leading the team's 19-hit performance on the way to a 12-2 win over the Searles Grizzlies in a Region 2C Amateur Baseball Tournament elimination game at Mueller Park.

Winsten Nienhaus went 5 for 6 with two doubles, an RBI and four runs scored to lead the Bluejays, while Alex Portner went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored as the No. 2 hitter.

Nienhaus, who also had a bunt single in the game, led off the game with a double to left and collected his RBI in the second on a grounder into center.

"Just kind of slowing down the game," Nienhaus said about his approach. "Taking your breath as you step in the box, and just trying not to overthink everything. Dewanz came in and was throwing a little slower than the last two pitchers [Saturday], so you've got to wait for it and sit back and then you get some quicker pitchers and they're coming a little faster and then you go and drive it."

Erich Prokosch was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI from the No. 3 spot in the order for Essig, while Jack Helget was 2 for 4 with a triple, two walks and two RBIs as the cleanup hitter.

Right behind Helget was Josh Forstner, who was 3 for 6 with four RBIs, while Caleb Forstner was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored as the No. 9 hitter.

Zach Riederer got the win for the Bluejays in six innings of work, allowing four hits and three walks for one run while striking out six. Henry Forst pitched three innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits, four walks and two hit batsmen while striking out three.

Nick Dewanz took the loss for Searles in a four-inning start, allowing nine hits and three walks for six runs, five earned, while striking out one. Kolton Achman pitched an inning in relief, allowing three hits and two walks for three runs, while Mark Schommer pitched the final four innings, allowing seven hits and two walks for three runs while striking out three.

Tony Geiger led the Grizzlies at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double and a walk, while Schommer was 1 for 3 with a walk, Nathan Vance was 1 for 4 with an RBI and Landon Barstad was 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored.

Both teams dropped to the elimination bracket after losing in the first round. Essig lost to Granite Falls 14-5 in Sleepy Eye on Saturday, while Searles lost 8-3 to Lamberton on Saturday night in Sleepy Eye.

"It's definitely a big comeback from [Saturday] night," Nienhaus said. "We kind of just came out really early, came out firing and then our bats kind of settled last night. It's a big comeback for us. Now we're seeing the ball a lot better. We're going out and driving our pitches, we're not popping a lot of stuff up, we're coming through the ball and driving it out."

Essig kept its season going with Sunday's win and will play Milroy in Sleepy Eye at 4 p.m. this coming Saturday. The winner of that Saturday game will play again at 1 p.m. this coming Sunday in Sleepy Eye, with the winner of that game moving on to play in a state-qualifying game, which will take place on Aug. 14 in New Ulm at Mueller Park.

After Nienhaus led off the game with a double, Portner singled to center to bring him home for a quick 1-0 lead. Portner was out trying to stretch a single into a double, but the damage was done and the Bluejays did some more that inning after Prokosch doubled. Prokosch was advanced to third on a groundout before Josh Forstner singled to right to make it 2-0.

Nienhaus made it 3-0 in the second with an RBI single before Searles got a run back in the third on a groundout by Vance to score Barstad, who led off with a single. A one-out double by Nienhaus was followed with an RBI single by Portner in the top of the fourth to get Essig that run back and make it a 4-1 game.

Essig kept it coming in the fourt after a groundout when Josh Forstner singled in two for a 6-1 lead.

The Bluejays got three more runs in the fifth, with the first run scoring on an RBI double from Caleb Forstner. Another Nienhaus single was followed with a line-drive single to right from Portner for an 8-1 Essig lead. A sac fly from Prokosch made it 9-1.

Helget's two-run triple to right in the seventh gave the Bluejays an 11-1 lead, making the Grizzlies in danger of being 10-runned and put away early. However, Forst struggled to find the zone to start his first inning in relief and hit the first two batters he faced, Dan Reinke and Isaiah Rieser. Forst got a strikeout and a fielder's choice, but the fielder's choice out at second was followed by a throwing error to first to score Barstad, who re-entered to run for Reinke.

Essig got the run back in the top of the ninth on a bases-loaded RBI single by Josh Forstner to score Portner, who led off the inning with a base hit.

Nienhaus said the team will rest up a little before preparing for their next win-or-go-home game.

"A little more recovery," he said. "We'll probably go hit this week, see some more pitches, try not to break as many bats today. I broke one and Alex broke one."

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