Bulldogs fall to Huskies in PRC action

Photo by Chad Koenen
Owen Harig throws out a runner from short stop during a recent game in Henning. The Bulldogs swept a doubleheader with Sebeka last week.

Gavin Pausch shut down Frazee, throwing a complete game shutout and leading Otter Tail Central to a 5-0 victory on Monday.

OTC fired up the offense in the first inning. Gavin Pausch led the game off with a single, Kale Misegades then got hit by a pitch putting him on base, Jayden Harig then also singled to load the bases with nobody out, when Garrett Nelson singled on a 0-1 count, scoring Pausch. Owen Buehler got up to bat with one out when he ripped a line drive single scoring Misegades and Harig. Buehler had a 3RBI night. 

Pausch was the winning pitcher for OTC. He went seven innings, allowing zero runs on four hits, striking out nine and walking zero. 

“Gavin has been pitching really well this year, I am really glad we backed him both offensively and defensively tonight,” said head coach Ryan Hendrickson. “It was great to see us play such a clean game.”

Wiley Bachmann took the loss for Frazee as he surrendered five runs on seven hits over four innings, striking out seven.

OTC  collected ten hits on the day. Owen Buehler, Pausch, and Jayden Harig each managed multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Buehler led OTC with three hits in three at bats and contributed  RBI. 

Photo by Chad Koenen
Hunter Haugen connects with a pitch during a recent game in Henning.

Tuesday

OTC  was on the wrong end of a 6-5 game to Pillager on Tuesday. The game was tied at 5-5 with Pillager batting in the bottom of the ninth inning when Pillager’s Tytan Skeesick singled on an 0-1 count to score 1 run. 

OTC got things moving in the first inning, when an error scored one run for the Bulldogs.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Pillager tied things up at 5-5. Pillager scored one run when Conner Hanson doubled.

Eli Miller took the win in relief for Pillager as he surrendered zero runs on zero hits over four and a third innings, striking out four and walking one.

Kale Misegades took the loss in relief for OTC as he surrendered one run on four hits over two and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking zero.

Owen Buehler started the game for OTC and allowed five hits and four runs over four innings, striking out one 

“Our pitching was pretty darn good again tonight,” said Hendrickson. “Defensively we have a lot of situational awareness to work on, we are giving way too many free bases game after game. We are dealing with 3 injuries and trying to find the right fits.  Hopefully our confidence grows along with our communication and awareness. Offensively we are improving immensely and will keep building on that as we still strike out too often. Thursday is a big day for us as we go to Sebeka for a double header.”

Garrett Nelson led OTC with two hits in four at bats. 

Thursday

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead scoring 4 runs in top of the first inning against Sebeka on Thursday.  

Kale Misegades opened the game with a single and was scored by a Lane Dilly RBI single, then Jayden Harig singled and was scored by a Garrett Nelson double, Nelson scored on a past ball and a wild pitch.  

Sebeka answered with one of their own in the first inning. OTC scored two more runs in the third inning as Gavon Pausch and Dilly both scored after some scrappy base running and a sacrifice fly from Harig.  The Bulldogs scored 1 in the fourth inning and capped off their scoring in the fifth by scoring 2 more runs.  

Offensively, the Bulldogs were tough as they put together 9 runs on 8 hits, 2 doubles, 3 walks and only 4 strikeouts and stole 11 bases.  On top of an offensive surge the Bulldogs only committed 1 error backing Lane Dilly’s stifling performance on the mound.  Dilly threw all 5 innings, giving 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 5.  

The Bulldogs ran with their momentum into the second game of the doubleheader winning the second game 5-3.  

OTC scored on a double by Lane Dilly, a double by Jayden Harig, and a single by Drew Evavold in the first inning.

Kale Misegades was the winning pitcher for OTC as he pitched 4 1/3innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out three and walking one. Dilly threw 1/3 of an inning in relief out of the bullpen. Dilly recorded the last out to earn the save for OTC.

Owen Harig went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead OTC.