SUNBURG — After a Friday night game they’d rather forget, the Norway Lake-Sunburg Lakers enjoyed a well-played victory Sunday at Willie Reigstad Field.
NLS beat the Paynesville Pirates 5-3 in a County Line League amateur baseball game. It came off an 11-0 loss to Starbuck on Friday in which little went right for the Lakers.
“It was real ugly,” admitted NLS’ Jared Cortez. “It was good to get back at it today, especially against these guys (the Pirates). They’ve got a lot of good, young players.”
Michael Lyne / West Central Tribune
Cortez helped lead the way. The right-hander pitched seven solid innings, striking out 10 and walking three, to get the victory. He also was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI.
“That was not the best,” said NLS co-manager Aaron Zimmer of the Starbuck loss. “(Austin) VerSteeg (the Stars’ ace) is always a tough force.”
So is Cortez.
Michael Lyne / West Central Tribune
The 2024 Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg graduate just wrapped up a strong freshman season at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall and also a stint with the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League.
With that resume, Cortez said Sunday getting ready for a townball game is no problem.
Michael Lyne / West Central Tribune
“It’s still baseball,” he said. “You still get the juices flowing. I’m a guy who shows up at the park everyday trying to do the best.”
Paynesville made a run. Down 5-0, the Pirates rallied for a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth. It could have been worse. Paynesville didn’t score a run in the sixth despite getting four base hits. Cortez picked Luke Johnson off first and left the bases loaded when Luke Ruter made a diving catch on a pop-up to center field for the third out.
“It was huge for us to get for us,” Cortez said. “We found a way to get out of it.”
Michael Lyne / West Central Tribune
After the first two Pirates reached in the eighth, Cortez gave way to Ruter. Jaiden Henjum finished up for the save with a scoreless ninth.
Cortez, who is interning this summer with Coldspring Granite Company, is a business major at SMSU and hoping he can help lead the Lakers into a state tournament berth. NLS last made state in 2005.
The County Line playoffs begin July 12-13. Until then, the Lakers have a busy schedule. They play at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Green Lake Diamonds in Spicer against the New London-Spicer Twins. Then, they have a makeup game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Atwater before closing out league play with Starbuck at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Willie Reigstad Park.
Michael Lyne / West Central Tribune
Zimmer is a realist about the Lakers’ playoff chances.
“I think we can use another pitcher,” he said. “We always joke that we have three No. 3 pitchers.
“Jared pitched good today. Jaiden was tough in the ninth. Luke can help us. Weston (Gjerde) pitched Friday. Today was good for us. We’ve got a big week coming up.”
Gjerde went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs. Luke Jeseritz, NLS’ No. 9 hitter who just completed his freshman year at Ridgewater College, went 2-for-4 with two runs.
Grayson Fuchs went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, Johnson was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Grady Fuchs was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run. Grayson Fuchs was a redshirt freshman on the St. Cloud State roster this spring. Grady Fuchs, Grayson’s brother, wrapped up his career at SCSU in 2024.
The Pirates are host to the Regal Eagles at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
NL-Sunburg 5, Paynesville 3
Paynesville 000 000 120-3 11 1
Hitting – Paynesville: Grayson Fuchs 2-5 r rbi, Drew Tangen 1-5, Luke Johnson 3-4 rbi, Spencer Eisenbraun 1-4, Grady Fuchs 2-4 r bb, Rick Hendrickson 1-2 bb, Emerson Stern 1-2 r … NLS: Jared Cortez 3-4 r rbi 2b-2, Justin Johnson 1-4 r, Weston Gjerde 3-4 rbi-2 bb, Luke Ruter 1-5 rbi, Travis Engelke 1-5, Luke Jeseritz 2-4 r-2 hbp
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Paynesville: Bennett Evans (L) 4-8-5-4-1-1, Eisenbraun 4-3-0-0-1-1 … NLS: Cortez (W) 7-9-3-3-3-10, Ruter 1-2-0-0-0-1, Jaiden Henjum (Sv) 1-0-0-0-1-0
Josh Soine went 4-for-5 with three doubles, two runs and three RBIs in the New London-Spicer Twins’ victory over the Starbuck Stars at Marthaler Park in Glenwood.
Jett Salonek was 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI and Jake Rambow was 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs for the Twins.
Darion Alexander went 3-for-3 with two walks and an RBI and Mitch Gruber went 3-for-4 with three doubles, a walk and a run for the Stars. Cam Simon, Matt Gruber and Aaron VerSteeg all had two hits for Starbuck.
Starbuck 002 000 040-6 14 2
Hitting – NLS: Jordan Ellingson 1-6 rbi sb, Derek Dolezal 1-5 r, Jake Rambow 2-4 r-3 bb, Scott Rambow 1-3 r bb-2, Josh Soine 4-5 r-2 rbi-3 2b-3, Jett Salonek 3-5 r rbi, Aidan Paulson 1-4 rbi-2 hbp, Zak Madsen 1-3 bb-2 … Starbuck: Cam Simon 2-5 r-2 rbi-2 hbp, Darion Alexander 3-3 rbi bb-2, Matt Gruber 2-4 rbi-2 bb, Aaron VerSteeg 2-4 rbi, Marc Gruber 1-1 r, Mitch Gruber 3-4 r 2b-3 bb, Jack Majerus 1-2 r-2 bb-2 hbp sb
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – NLS: Ben Kulsat 7.1-10-4-4-3-4, Madsen (W) 1.1-4-2-2-3-3, Ellingson (Sv) 0.1-0-0-0-0-1 … Starbuck: Alexander 6-7-3-3-4-7, Mit. Gruber 1-4-2-2-0-0, Drew Olsonoski 1-0-0-0-0-1, Mat. Gruber (L) 1-3-3-0-1-1
Granite Falls 8, Willmar Rails 4
Bennett Knapper went 2-for-6 with a home run, two runs and three RBI for the Granite Falls Kilowatts in their victory over the Willmar Rails at Elsie Klemmetson Field in Willmar.
Nikson Knapper was 3-for-6 with two runs and Ty Schulte went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a hit-by-pitch, a run and an RBI for Granite Falls. Knapper also pitched the final three innings, allowing one hit and no runs, to earn the save.
Cullen Gregory was 2-for-4 and Riley Lessman was 2-for-4 with a run for the Rails.
Granite Falls 010 030 220-8 15 1
Willmar 000 040 000-4 10 0
Hitting – Granite Falls: Nikson Knapper 3-6 r-2, Bennett Knapper 2-6 r-2 rbi-3 hr, Bryce Sneller 1-4 r 2b, Ty Schulte 3-4 r rbi 2b-2 hbp, Hunter Wilke 2-4 rbi 2b, Gage Wilke 1-4 r, Drew Almich 1-2 rbi-2, Jake Odegard 1-2, Cody Dahlager 1-4 r rbi 2b … Willmar: Zach Reierson 1-4 r 2b, Mason Thole 1-4, Gunnar Banks 0-3 rbi, Ashton Gregory 1-4 rbi, Cullen Gregory 2-4, Sergio Fernandez 1-4 2b, Riley Lessman 2-4 r, Gavin Banks 1-4 r 2b, Jayden Dierenfeld 1-3 r rbi-2,
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Granite Falls: Sneller (W) 6-9-4-4-0-1, N. Knapper (Sv) 3-1-0-0-0-0 … Willmar: Jordan Steffer 5-7-4-4-3-4, A.Gregory (L) 4-8-4-4-1-4
Trent Athmann went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two RBIs, Zeke Walton was 2-for-5 with two runs and Elliott Serbus went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Bird Island at Raymond.
Dylan Gass went the distance for the victory. He struck out seven and walked three, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs.
Brady Kienitz went 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBIs for Raymond. Eli Nelson was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run and Isaac Call was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI for the Rockets.
Bird Island 030 010 100-5 11 1
Raymond 300 000 100-4 10 1
Hitting – Bird Island: Braeden Tersteeg 1-5 r rbi, Trent Athmann 2-4 rbi-2 bb sb, James Woelfel 1-5 r, Dylan Gass 1-4, Shawn Dollerschell 1-5 rbi, Zeke Walton 2-5 r-2, Daylen Weber 1-4 r bb, Elliott Serbus 2-4 rbi 2b … Raymond: Eli Nelson 2-4 r 2b bb sb, Isaac Call 2-5 rbi 2b, Tyler Steen 0-4 r bb, Brady Kienitz 3-3 r rbi-3 hr bb, Mike Jeseritz 1-4, John Sawatzky 1-3 hbp, Brent Swanson 0-3 r, Noah Kloss 1-1
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Bird Island: Gass (W) 9-10-4-4-3-7 … Raymond: Dreyer Homan (L) 5-8-4-4-4-7, Nelson 4-3-1-0-1-1
Ethan Mueller went eight scoreless innings on the mound, striking out six with no walks, to help the Elrosa Saints to the victory at Greenwald.
Peyton Winter was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Ashton Dingmann slugged a home run for the Saints. Derek Wiener and Hayden Sobiech each added two hits for Elrosa.
Elrosa 000 300 200-5 12 0
Greenwald 000 000 000-0 5 2
Hitting – Elrosa: Luke Illies 1-5 rbi, Ethan Mueller 1-5 sb, Jackson Peter 1-4 r 2b, Ashton Dingmann 1-4 r rbi-2 hr, Derek Wiener 2-4 r, Casey Lenarz 0-2 r hbp-2, Hayden Sobiech 2-3 r bb, Peyton Winter 3-4 rbi 2b, Blaine Fischer 1-3 … Greenwald: Grant Moscho 1-4, Gabe Schwieters 1-4, Aiden Hopfer 1-3, Conner Anderson 1-2 hbp, Max Wehlage 1-2
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Elrosa: Mueller (W) 8-5-0-0-0-6, Illies 1-0-0-0-0-1 … Greenwald: Wehlage (L) 5-7-3-3-1-3, Ethan Ettel 4-5-2-2-0-4
Tanner Arceneau went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs and Carter Thielen was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for St. Martin in its victory over Roscoe at St. Martin.
Max Athmann was 2-for-4 with a walk and Josiah Utsch was 2-for-4 with a double for Roscoe.
St. Martin 010 310 00x-5 8 0
Hitting – Roscoe: Max Athmann 2-4 bb, Matthew Hemingson 1-4 rbi hbp, Josiah Utsch 2-4 2b, Jordan Schleper 1-2 r bb, Chuck Stang 1-1, Austin Pauls 1-2, Brandon Schleper 1-1 … St. Martin: Kyle Lieser 1-2 r bb, Tanner Arceneau 2-4 r rbi-2 hr, Kurt Schlangen 1-2 r-2 2b bb, Jaylyn Arceneau 1-1, Michael Schlangen 0-1 r, Tate Winter 1-1, Carter Thielen 2-3 rbi-3 2b sb
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Roscoe: Utsch (L) 4-4-4-4-3-4, Josh Mackedanz 2-2-1-1-0-1, Brayden VanderBeek 2-2-0-0-1-0 … St. Martin: Scott Lieser 1.2-1-0-0-0-0, K. Lieser (W) 2-3-1-1-3-2, Brady Goebel 1.1-1-0-0-0-0, K. Schlangen 3-2-0-0-0-5, T. Arceneau 1-2-0-0-0-1
Cottonwood picked up a walk-off win over Benson at Cottonwood.
The Cardinals’ Jordan Fischer hit an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth for the game-winner.
Jaxon Nickels went 3-for-5 and Daniel Lenarz homered and knocked in two runs for the Plowboys.
Cottonwood 000 200 001-3 10 3
Hitting – Benson: Jaxon Nickels 3-5, Sam Lenarz 1-5 r, Alex Claussen 1-3 bb, Daniel Lenarz 1-4 r rbi-2 hr, Garrett Lenz 1-4, Max Nygaard 1-4 sb … Cottonwood: Noah Jensen 0-2 bb hbp sb, Aaron Lienemaan 1-4, Seth Boerboom 1-3 r, Cain Herigon 2-5 rbi 2b, Jacob Rausch 2-3, Caden Steffen 1-4 r-2 sb, Taiven Isaackson 2-3 sb, Jordan Fischer 1-4 rbi
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Benson: Claussen 8-8-2-2-1-12, D. Lenarz (L) 0.1-2-1-1-0-0 … Cottonwood: Boerboom (W) 9-8-2-2-2-4
Castlewood (S.D.) 3, Madison 1
Castlewood struck for three runs in the fifth inning to rally to beat Madison at Bellingham for the Busch Light Invitational.
Chris Lather went 2-for-3 with a run for the Ravens.
Dylan Lillejord was 2-for-3 for Madison.
Castlewood 000 030 0-3 4 0
Hitting – Castlewood: Gus Steiger 1-3 r rbi-2 2b bb sb-4, Beau Schooley 0-3 bb sb, Kellan Benck 1-2 2b hbp, Nate Phinney 0-2 bb, Adam Ching 0-2 bb, Lucas Ching 0-3 r, Chris Lather 2-3 r … Madison: Carter Amland 1-3, Dylan Lillejord 2-3, Kadyn Fernholz 1-2 r 2b bb
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Castlewood: Phinney (W) 4-2-0-0-0-3, Schooley (Sv) 3-2-1-0-1-4 … Madison: Matt Enger (L) 5-4-3-0-2-6, Blake Wollschalger 1-0-0-0-1-2, Brandon Hill 1-0-0-0-1-2
Montrose-Waverly 15, Sacred Heart 1
Montrose-Waverly hammered Sacred Heart in the championship game in Bellingham at the Bush Light Invitational.
Andrew Moynagh and Kirby Moynagh both went 4-for-5 for Montrose-Waverly.
Kevin Strommer and Brandan Hoberg each smacked doubles for Sacred Heart.
Montrose-Waverly 320 00(10)-15 19 2
Sacred Heart 000 001-1 4 4
Hitting – Montrose-Waverly: Andrew Moynagh 4-5 r-3 rbi sb, Brady Boeddecker 0-4 r-3 bb, Kirby Moynagh 4-5 r-2 rbi-7 hr, Alex Smothers 2-3 r-2 bb-2, Brady Skoog 1-5 r rbi-2 sb, Robb Moynagh 3-4 r rbi, Michael Conrad 1-4 rbi, Bill Aamodt 1-4 r rbi, Cole Hansen 3-4 r-2 rbi 2b … Sacred Heart: Kevin Strommer 1-1 r 2b, Brandan Hoberg 1-3 rbi 2b, Grayson Ahrenholz 0-2 bb, Brady Snell 1-2, Aaden Strommer 1-1
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Montrose-Waverly: Collin Smith (W) 6-4-1-1-1-8 … Sacred Heart: Ayden Gustafson (L) 5-14-11-5-3-2, Griffin Howard 1-5-4-3-0-1
Rosen secured the victory with a walk-off win at Bellingham for the final game in the Bush Light Invitational.
Preston Kraft drew a bases-loaded walk two outs in the bottom of the seventh for the game-winner.
Shane Radermacher and Nathan Meyer each homered for the Eagles.
Hitting – Regal: Luke Knudsen 1-4, Bennett Schultz 1-3 r rbi, Shane Radermacher 1-4 r rbi-2 hr, Nathan Meyer 2-4 r-2 rbi-2 hr-2, Aedan Andresen 1-4, Jordan Wosmek 1-4 2b sb, Grant Paffrath 0-1 bb-2, Tyler Kemen 1-2 r 2b bb … Rosen: Devin Boots 1-4 rbi 2b, Conner Ohm 1-2, Kaden Mortenson 0-2 r rbi-2, Jacob Maatz 1-2 r, Preston Kraft 1-3 r rbi-2 bb, Christian Kanten 1-3 r rbi-3 hr, Landon Weber 1-3, Evan Engesmoe 0-3 r, Peyton Radermacher 1-3 r 2b
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Regal: Brandon Carlson (L) 6.2-7-6-5-4-9 … Rosen: Mike Schake 2-1-0-0-1-4, Boots 2-4-4-4-2-1, Kanten (W) 2-1-0-0-0-0, Engesmoe 1-2-1-1-0-1
Willmar Indians 11, Becker 11
The Willmar Indians and Becker Bandits played a 12-inning draw when the game was called because of rain at Becker.
Nemias Caballero went 5-for-7 with three runs for Willmar. Jelking Herrera was 2-for-6 with a two-run home run. Jaciel Cardenas batted 2-for-5 with three RBIs for the Indians.
Sacred Heart scored three times in the top of the sixth and twice in the top of the seventh to rally to beat Regal at Bellingham for the Bush Light Invitational.
Brandan Hoberg went all seven innings for the pitching win. He struck out 13 and walked three, allowing five and four runs, two earned.
Jack Howard doubled and drove in two runs and Grayson Ahrenholz, Brenden Peterson and Ayden Gustafson were all 1-for-3 for the Saints.
Aedan Andresen went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Eagles.
Sacred Heart 000 003 2-5 6 3
Hitting – Sacred Heart: Brandan Hoberg 1-4 r sb-2, Isaac Strommer 1-4 r, Grayson Ahrenholz 1-3 r rbi bb sb, Landon Tanner 0-2 rbi bb hbp, Jack Howard 1-4 rbi-2 2b, Brenden Peterson 1-3 r, Ayden Gustafson 1-3 r … Regal: Luke Knudsen 1-2 r-2 bb-2 2b sb, Chi Schneider 0-2 r-2 rbi bb, Aedan Andresen 2-4 rbi-2 2b, Grant Paffrath 1-4 rbi, Jordan Wosmek 1-3 sb
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Sacred Heart: Hoberg (W) 7-5-4-2-3-13 … Regal: Wosmek 3-0-0-0-0-3, Brandon Wedel 3-4-3-2-0-6, Nathan Meyer (L) 1-2-2-2-2-3
Sacred Heart 1, Castlewood (S.D.) 0
Jack Howard tossed a four-hit, seven-inning shutout to beat Castlewood, South Dakota at Bellingham for the Bush Light Invitational.
Howard struck out eight and walked one. He also went 1-for-3 with a double and a run. Brenden Peterson was 1-for-2 with an RBI, Ayden Gustafson went 1-for-1 with a walk and Grayson Ahrenholz was 1-for-3 with a double for the Saints.
Sacred Heart 000 010 0-1 4 4
Castlewood 000 000 0-0 4 0
Hitting – Sacred Heart: Grayson Ahrenholz 1-3 2b, Jack Howard 1-3 r 2b, Brenden Peterson 1-2 rbi, Ayden Gustafson 1-1 bb … Castlewood: Gus Steiger 0-3 bb, Nate Phinney 2-3 2b, Lucas Ching 1-3, #14 1-3
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Sacred Heart: Howard (W) 7-4-0-0-1-8 … Castlewood: Kellan Benck (L) 7-4-1-1-1-10
Montrose-Waverly 3, Madison 0
The Montrose-Waverly Stingers blanked the Madison Mallards at Bellingham for the Busch Light Invitational.