By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Otter Tail Central Bulldogs opened their season with a win and a pair of losses last week.

After falling to Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale on Tuesday night to open their season, the Bulldogs defeated perennial power New York Mills by a score of 4-2 on Thursday night. In their final action of the week the Bulldogs fell to Parkers Prairie by a score of 13-3 on Friday night.

This week the Bulldogs will host Parkers Prairie on Thursday night, before traveling to Minnewaska Area on Saturday for a tournament. 

Tuesday

Five Otter Tail Central errors and 12 hits by Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale proved to be too much for the Bulldogs to overcome in their regular season opener on Tuesday night.

The Raiders scored four runs in the first inning, five in the second inning, four in the third inning and added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning to end the game by the 10-run rule by a score of 14-2.

OTC’s lone runs of the game came in the top of the second inning when the Bulldogs added a pair of runs, thanks in part, to an RBI single by Ezrah Baker. 

“The Bulldogs struggled the first outing of the season. (We) had too many mental mistakes, which the Raiders took full advantage of,” said head coach Heather Akerman. “Offensively, we had a few nice hits, unfortunately, they were right at a Raider.  We will need to work hard tonight in practice to prepare for New York Mills and Parkers Prairie to finish the opening week.”

Kenady Cameron took the loss for the Bulldogs as she pitched two innings and gave up nine runs, six hits and walked six batters. 

OTC was led offensively by Baker and Cameron who both collected a single in the loss.

AB R H     BI

B. Christianson 3 1 0 0

L. Lukken 2 0 0 0

S. Akerman 1 0 0 0

E. Baker 2 0 1 1

K. Cameron 3 0 1 0

E. Larsen 1 0 0 0

K. Trosdahl 2 0 0 0

L. Conner 2 0 0 0

B. Bunkowski 1 1 0 0

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- K. Cameron 2.0-6-9-5-6-1, S. Akerman 2.0-6-5-2-1-1

Thursday

OTC defeated perennial Park Region Conference power New York Mills by a score of 4-2 on Thursday night. The Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and hung on for their first win of the season. 

“This was a great team win against a good conference team,” said head coach Heather Akerman. 

Sophie Akerman got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double that brought Brooklyn Christianson across the plate, while Kenady Cameron added an RBI single and Lilly Conner also collected an RBI in the big first inning.

New York Mills cut into OTC’s lead a bit in the top of the third inning as the Eagles scored a pair of runs, but they would get no closer as Sophie Akerman picked up the win on the mound by going all seven innings and giving up just two runs. She also struck out six hitters and gave up just three hits. 

OTC collected just three hits in the game thanks to Christianson, Cameron and a double by Akerman. They also picked up nine walks in the game. 

AB R H     BI

B. Christianson 4 1 1 0

S. Akerman 2 1 1 1

L. Lukken 3 1 0 0

K. Cameron 4 0 1 1

E. Dirkman 1 0 0 0

E. Larsen 2 1 0 0

D. Grabe 1 0 0 0

L. Conner 1 0 0 1

K. Robinson 1 0 0 0

K. Trosdahl 1 0 0 0

HITTING- 2B- S. Akerman

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- S. Akerman 7.0-3-2-2-2-6

Friday

In their third game of the week, OTC came out on the short end of a 13-3 loss to Parkers Prairie on Friday night.

“Tough loss for the Bulldogs tonight.  Too many mental errors, but it’s early in the season so we’ll work hard to clean those things up,” said head coach Heather Akerman. 

OTC took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and lead by a score of 2-1 heading into the bottom of the third, before Parkers Prairie struck for four runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to eventually end the game by the 10-run rule. The Bulldogs were stung by eight errors in the game that led to six unearned runs.

Brooklyn Christianson led the way for the Bulldogs with two hits and three scored runs, while Kenady Cameron picked up a pair of hits, including a triple and an RBI. 

Kenady Cameron took the loss in relief of Sophie Akerman as she gave up eight runs and three hits over 1 1/3 innings. Akerman gave up five runs and three hits over three innings of action. 

AB R H     BI

B. Christianson 2 3 2 0

S. Akerman 3 0 0 0

L. Lukken 3 0 0 0

K. Cameron 3 0 2 1

E. Dirkman 2 0 0 0

E. Larsen 2 0 1 0

K. Trosdahl 2 0 0 0

L. Conner 2 0 0 0

D. Grabe 2 0 0 0

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- S. Akerman 3.0-3-5-3-3-1, K. Cameron 1.1-3-8-4-3-1