In a battle between two well-coached baseball programs, the Otter Tail Central Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the New York Mills Eagles on Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the top of the first inning thanks to a two run double off the bat of junior Garrett Kuhn-Rice. That early momentum set the tone for the rest of the game.

Senior right-hander Eric Fick earned the win on the mound for OTC, pitching four solid innings before moving to left field in the fifth. Fick allowed just two hits and one run while striking out six and walking two. Kale Misegades came on in relief to finish the job and earned the save with a strong performance in the final innings.

Kuhn-Rice led the Bulldogs offensively, going 2-3 with two runs batted in. Senior Collin Lukken also contributed with a double, while senior Ryan Despard reached base multiple times with a single and by getting hit by a pitch. OTC’s offense showed patience at the plate, drawing several walks throughout the contest. The Bulldogs’ defense was outstanding, playing error-free baseball. 

For New York Mills, Blake Unger went 2-3 at the plate to lead the Eagles. Grady Roberts added two stolen bases and was hit by pitch twice, showing his ability to disrupt the game on the basepaths. The Eagles also played error-free defensively, with Braxton Ehnert recording six plays in the field before shifting from catcher to the mound in the fifth inning to close out the game.

Following the win, OTC head coach Ryan Hendrickson praised his team’s effort and poise. 

“We knew coming in that New York Mills would challenge us in all areas of the game. Our guys stayed focused, made plays when it mattered, and showed the kind of grit we expect in tough matchups. I’m proud of how they competed from the first pitch to the last,” he said.

Senior captain Owen Harig echoed that pride in his teammates. 

“We’ve worked hard in the offseason to be ready for games like this. It felt great to come out and compete at a high level right away. This win gives us confidence, but we know it’s just the beginning,” said Harig.

Friday

OTC suffered their first loss of the season Friday afternoon, falling 6-4 to the Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders in a tightly contested matchup that saw a decisive sixth-inning rally from the home team.

Despite out-hitting the Raiders 7-6, the Bulldogs (1-1) struggled to capitalize on offensive opportunities, stranding 12 runners on base throughout the game.

Senior Garrett Kuhn-Rice got the start for OTC and delivered a strong outing over three innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out four. Junior Ayden Olson came on in relief,
but had trouble with command, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks over two innings. Senior Devan Wiederich finished the game, surrendering one run in the final frame.

BHV took an early 2-0 lead behind Jake Schmitz’s RBI fielder’s choice and a bases-loaded walk in the third inning. The Bulldogs clawed back to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth, taking advantage of a Raider error. But BHV responded with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the inning. Zain Waldahl’s RBI single, Joe Elfstrum’s bases-loaded walk, and Braylin Deleon’s two-run double gave the Raiders a 6-2 lead.

OTC rallied for two runs in the seventh, but the comeback fell short.

Senior Eric Fick led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. Junior Quenten Beske also had a strong outing, going 2-for-2. Kale Misegades added a double, while Wiederich and Owen Harig each drove in a run. Olson was active on the basepaths, stealing three bases, and Fick added another to bring the team’s total to four steals.

BHV’s Deleon paced the offense with a 2-for-3 performance and a team-high two RBIs. Despite committing six errors, the Raiders made the most of their scoring chances. Shawn Schmitz kept OTC quiet early, striking out seven over four innings, and Jalen Hinzmann earned the win in relief, allowing four runs (two earned) across the final three frames.

Assistant Coach Dakota Aeling acknowledged the missed chances but was encouraged by the fight from his team.

“We had our chances throughout the game, but we just couldn’t capitalize with runners on base,” said Aeling. “The boys showed great resilience battling back in the late innings. We need to clean up some things and be ready to capitalize on scoring opportunities, but there’s a lot of baseball left to play this season.”