Comeback effort falls just short against NYM

Kale Misegades tries to catch the ball at second base and tag out a would-be base stealer against New York Mills on Thursday night. The throw was just late and the runner was called safe.

Otter Tail Central claimed a 13-7 victory on Monday, with a big start as they scored 9 runs in the first 4 innings. Pelican Rapids did show signs of fight in the fifth inning by putting up 5 runs. 

Noah Link throws a strike during Thursday’s Park Region Conference game against New York Mills on Thursday night. He took the loss on the mound in a back-and-forth game in Henning.

Pelican Rapids got things moving in the first inning as the Vikings scored one run when Holt doubled.

OTC scored 4 runs in the sixth inning when Noah Link led off the inning with a bunt single and followed up by a Kale Misegades single to center field. Owen Harig then bunted the runners over to second and third base. OTC was able to capitalize on several stolen bases, wild pitches, and a couple Pelican Rapids errors to score 4 runs in the inning. 

Tyson Misegades led the Bulldogs to victory on the mound as he pitched 4 innings, allowing 3 hits and 3 runs while striking out 4. Kale Misegades and Drew Evavold entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. Kale Misegades recorded the last seven outs to earn the save for Bulldogs.  

Tyson was named player of the day by his fellow senior captain Jayden Harig. 

“Ty was big for us today.  He not only gave us a great start on the hill but he was always on base too and causing chaos offensively,” said Harig. 

Misegades went 2-4 with a double and 4 walks, 5 runs, 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases and pitched 4 innings pitched 3 hits, 2 walks and 4 strike outs. 

Garrett Nelson, Misegades, Noah Link, Dilly, and Misegades each collected one hit to lead Bulldogs. Bulldogs stole seven bases during the game as three players stole more than one. Tyson Misegades led the way with 2.

In the second game of the day, the Bulldogs wasted little time to get on the scoreboard as they scored 9 runs in the first inning to blow past Sebeka by a score of 14-1. 

The offensive firepower by Bulldogs was led by Jayden Harig, Hunter Haugen, Gavin Pausch and Lane Dilly, who all drove in runs.

Pausch earned the win for Bulldogs. Pausch went 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 5 and walking 0. 

Assistant coach Dakota Aeling, applauded his pitcher and defense on the day. 

“Gavin did a great job keeping his defense focused by pounding the strike zone,” he said. “When pitchers and defense work together like they did today and then add this kind of offense, we are tough to beat.” 

Hunter Haugen hit a home run in the first inning that cleared the left field fence scoring himself along with Garrett Nelson (on by walk) and Jayden Harig (on by a double). 

Freshmen Ayden Olson and Drew Evavold were asked about their team

“This has been a really fun start,” said Olson “Everyone on the team has a role and we are just trying our best to complete goals.”

Evavold added, “We are a tough team, with everyone working together it is great to have some success early.” 

With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Park Region Conference. 

Tuesday

OTC started off hot at Wadena-Deer Creek on Tuesday night putting up the first 6 runs in the first 2 innings. Although WDC made a third inning purge of 5 runs, OTC still held off WDC for a 10-8 victory. 

The Wolverines put up 8 runs in the failed comeback. Kobe Snyder, Connor Davis, Evan Lunde, Peyton Church, Snyder and Grant Seelhammer picked up RBIs to lead the rally.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the 3 times in the first inning as Tyson Misegades led off with a screaming double and moved to third base on a wild pitch. Gavin Pausch scored Misegades with a single, then stole second base. 

Pausch was moved over to third base off of a Lane Dilly sacrifice bunt. From third base Pausch was able to score off of a WDC rrror. Dilly was safe on the play and was later scored by a Hunter Haugen single. Then again in the second inning, the Bulldogs were able to put up three more runs to lead 6-0.  

In the third inning WDC made things interesting by scoring 5 runs on 4 hits and 1 error. OTC 

“Things got dicey, but overall it was good to see how we would react to that controversy,” said head coach Ryan Hendrickson. “I was really pleased to see the guys step up to the challenge and bare down. It’s not like we made many mistakes, Wadena just hit line drives to the gaps and we understood that we can not always control that and just had to make the plays that we are able to. Dilly did a great job working through the tough inning and was still able to go 6 2/3 innings.  He would have loved to finish the game, but couldn’t as he hit his pitch count maximum of 105. Dilly and all of our guys really showed some grit tonight, I am really pleased with their efforts.” 

OTC scored 3 more runs in the sixth inning to lead 9-5. Pausch, Lane Dilly and Jayden Harig each drove in runs during the inning.

Dilly pitched Bulldogs to victory as he surrendered 8 runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking one. Noah Link threw 1/3 of an inning in relief out of the bullpen. Link recorded the last out to earn the save for Bulldogs. 

“Noah really stepped up for us.  This was Noah’s first outing of the year and it was in a big spot,” said Dilly. The spot was referring to the Bulldogs being up 2 runs with 2 on and 2 outs. 

Tyson Barthel took the loss for Wadena-Deer Creek. Barthel allowed 8 hits and 9 runs over 6 innings, striking out 4 and walking 1.

OTC tallied 11 hits in the game. Tyson Misegades, Pausch, and Hunter Haugen all managed multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Pausch and Misegades all had three hits to lead Bulldogs. 

“It was really good, we really strung some good at bats together tonigh,t” said shortstop Owen Harig. 

WDC had 11 hits in the game. Church, Barthel, and Snyder each racked up multiple hits.

Thursday

Despite a 5-run deficit in the second inning, OTC almost came all the way back, eventually falling 6-4 to New York Mills on Thursday. OTC scored 4 runs in the failed comeback on a sacrifice fly by Lane Dilly in the third that scored Tyson Misegades, a single by Jayden Harig in the third scored Pausch, a double by Owen Harig in the fourth scored Link, and a sacrifice fly by Tyson Misegades in the fourth scored his brother Kale Misegades. 

“I love the fight in the guys, we are always putting ourselves in spots to compete and win games,” said Noah Link.

New York Mills scored on a home run by Brayden Ehnert in the first inning, a single by Ehnert in the second inning and a double by Bode Roberts in the second inning.

Johah Ruther earned the victory on the pitcher’s mound for New York Mills as he surrendered 4 runs on 6 hits over 6 innings, striking out 4. Ehnert threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Ehnert recorded the last three outs to earn the save for the Eagles.

Noah Link took the loss for OTC as he allowed 7 hits and 6 runs over 6 innings, striking out 4 Kale Misegades closed the game for the Bulldogs with 1 inning and 1 strike out. 

New York Mills smacked two home runs on the day. Ruther went yard in the sixth inning. Ehnert hit a home run in the first inning.

Tyson Misegades led OTC offensviely with two hits in three at bats.