OTC pitchers combine for one-hit shutout

 Kale Misegades rifles a strike to the plate during Monday’s Park Region Conference game against Sebeka.

Junior Kale Misegades delivered a lights-out performance on Tuesday afternoon, tossing six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts and just one hit allowed as the Otter Tail Central Bulldogs blanked the New York Mills Eagles 3-0 at Tony Kawlewski Baseball Field.

Senior Eric Fick closed the game in dominant fashion, striking out the side in the seventh to complete a combined one-hit shutout. The Bulldogs’ pitching duo combined for 14 strikeouts and issued no walks.

Owen Harig gets a high five after sliding safely into home during Monday’s game in Henning.

Offensively, OTC (2-1) jumped on the board early with a run in the first, added another in the third on Misegades’ RBI double, and capped their scoring in the fifth inning. Misegades finished 2-3 with a team-high two RBIs and three total bases. Senior Owen Harig had a strong day at the plate and on the basepaths, going 2-3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.

Other offensive contributors included Quenten Beske and Owen Link, who each doubled. Fick also swiped a bag, and the Bulldogs totaled four extra-base hits on the day.

New York Mills’ lone hit came from leadoff hitter Finn Roder. The Eagles managed just three base runners in the game—two by hit and one by hit-by-pitch—and left two runners on base.

Photo by Chad Koenen
Aidan Olson tries to throw out a base runner stealing second base during Monday’s game in Henning.

“We talked before the game about being aggressive on the mound and pounding the zone, and Kale absolutely did that,” said Head Coach Ryan Hendrickson. “He set the tone early, and our guys fed off that energy. It was a great team win.”

“It felt good to get back on the mound and compete like that,” said Misegades. “I trusted my defense, stayed in rhythm, and just focused on executing every pitch. We came out and took care of business.”

Thursday

Senior shortstop Owen Harig delivered a perfect 3-3 performance with two RBIs and two stolen bases, leading OTC to a 9-4 victory over the Sebeka Trojans on Thursday evening.

Harig doubled in the second inning to drive in two runs, then added singles in the fourth and sixth as the Bulldogs (3-1) rolled up 13 total hits. The Bulldogs set the tone with a six-run outburst in the second inning that included RBI contributions from Devin Wiederich, Collin Lukken, Harig and Ayden Olson, who drove in two with a single of his own.

Eric Fick picked up the win on the mound, going 4 2/3 innings and allowing four hits and two unearned runs while striking out five. He was relieved by Wiederich, Owen Link and Garrett Kuhn-Rice, who combined to close out the game.

Olson, hitting behind Harig in the lineup, also collected three hits and an RBI. Wiederich and Link each went 2-4 with an RBI apiece. Link added a double, as did Harig, and Kuhn-Rice reached base twice and scored twice. Kale Misegades chipped in a hit and handled second base, while Conner Thompson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and reached twice.

Defensively, OTC turned a key double play and kept the Trojans in check despite allowing eight hits. Harig and Lukken combined for three stolen bases, while Rowan Finseth came in as a courtesy runner.

Sebeka was led by Max Lake (2-4, triple, RBI) and Kaison Campbell (2-4, RBI). Despite a strong defensive showing with zero errors, the Trojans couldn’t recover from the second-inning surge by OTC.

Eric Fick, who also added a single at the plate, credited the full-team effort.

“Our guys came ready to hit and made my job easy with early run support. It was a great team win — everyone stepped up and played their role,” he said.

Coach Ryan Hendrickson added, “It’s fun to watch this group swing the bats with confidence. We’ve got guys contributing up and down the lineup, and when we put pressure on teams early, we’re tough to beat.”