The Otter Tail Central Bulldogs exploded for 23 runs on 22 hits Monday afternoon en route to a 23-2 victory over NCE/UH at Frazee High School. The offensive onslaught was led by senior Garrett Kuhn-Rice, who tallied five RBIs, including a three-run home run deep to left field with two strikes—the first homer of his varsity career.

“Congratulations to Garrett on his first career home run,” said head coach Ryan Hendrickson. “He’s worked hard and deserved that moment. It came in a big spot and really set the tone early.”

The Bulldogs wasted no time jumping ahead, scoring 12 runs in the first inning. The rally featured run-scoring hits from Quenton Beske, Kuhn-Rice, Ryan Despard and Kale Misegades, as well as a 2-RBI single by Beske in his second at-bat of the inning. The bats stayed hot, producing 11 more runs across the second and third innings.

Misegades and Beske each had four hits on the day, while Eric Fick, Despard, Owen Harig and Olin Link all collected multiple hits. The Bulldogs also ran wild on the basepaths with five stolen bases and drew six walks to complement their hitting barrage.

On the mound, Kuhn-Rice started and picked up the win, going 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and allowing just one run. Rowan Finseth was dominant in relief, striking out three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Beyond the box score, the game marked an exciting moment for several up-and-coming players:

Landen Harig, Grady Shebeck, Max Grove and Austin Sem each made their varsity debuts, seeing time both defensively and at the plate.

Harig blasted a double to right-center for a hit in his first varsity at-bat.

Shebeck reached base and scored his first varsity run, contributing to the high-energy team effort.

“It was great to see our young guys get in there and make an impact,” said Hendrickson. “These are meaningful reps for their growth, and it’s exciting to see the next wave of Bulldogs take the field.”

Tuesday

OTC leaned on dominant pitching and standout defense Tuesday night to defeat Wadena-Deer Creek 2–0, completing the season sweep of their conference rivals.

Junior starter Kale Misegades was in control from the start, tossing five innings of two-hit, scoreless baseball, striking out four and walking none. Senior Eric Fick followed with two perfect innings of relief, striking out three to lock down the save and preserve the shutout.

“This was exactly the kind of win we’ve been looking to put together,” said Head Coach Ryan Hendrickson. “Kale was sharp, Eric closed it and our defense absolutely set the tone.”

That tone was set immediately. In the bottom of the first inning, the Bulldogs recorded three consecutive diving catches in the outfield—two from right fielder Quenten Beske and another from left fielder Eric Fick, preventing potential extra-base hits and energizing the team early. Later in the game, the defense continued to flash leather, as Garrett Kuhn-Rice (3B) and Owen Harig (2B) each made diving plays to take away base hits and record key outs.

“The defense was incredible tonight,” said Misegades. “When the guys are making plays behind you like that, it makes pitching a lot easier. I just had to trust the zone and let them work.”

OTC (now 7–5) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Harig reached base and scored on a clutch, full-count RBI single by Beske. The Bulldogs added a key insurance run in the sixth inning thanks to aggressive base running and a passed ball.

Despite being held to just three hits, OTC made every opportunity count. Beske (1-2, RBI), Harig (1-2, 2 R), and Fick (1-3) accounted for the offense, while Harig also added a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base.

Defensively, the Bulldogs were nearly flawless, committing just one error and stranding five Wadena-Deer Creek runners. Misegades and Fick combined to face only 26 batters, using just 75 pitches total.

WDC’s Ben Krekalu was impressive in a complete-game loss, striking out nine while allowing just three hits and two earned runs over seven innings.

“This was a complete effort — pitching, defense, situational hitting — and those diving plays were game-changers,” Hendrickson added. “We played with confidence, and that’s what it takes in close games.”

Friday

OTC made senior night one to remember, rolling to a 10–0 shutout victory over Verndale in five innings on Friday night at Tony Kawlewski Baseball Field. Powered by two home runs from Ryan Despard and a dominant pitching performance by senior Eric Fick, OTC’s seniors were celebrated with both emotion and execution.

“This is what senior night is all about,” said Head Coach Ryan Hendrickson. “Fick was in total control, Despard had one of the best hitting performances of the year and our seniors set the tone all night long.”

Junior Ryan Despard had a night to remember, going 3-3 with two home runs, and a single driving in two runs and scoring three times. His first homer was a solo shot to left in the second inning. He later launched a no-doubt blast to center field in the fifth, his second of the game, to close out the 10-run rule win.

Senior Eric Fick matched Despard’s fireworks with a gem on the mound. He threw five shutout innings, striking out 11 for the second time this year, allowing just two hits and walking three. The right-hander commanded all of his pitches, retiring 15 of the 22 batters he faced with ease.

Garrett Kuhn-Rice continued his clutch production, going 2-for-3 with a 2-run double in the first and finishing with 4 RBIs.

Kale Misegades added two hits, including an RBI double and an RBI single in consecutive innings.

Owen Harig, one of six honored seniors, delivered a memorable night of his own with a run-scoring double, which walked the game off in the bottom of the 5th scoring Collin Lukken, a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and clean defense at Short Stop.

Collin Lukken was a spark as well, reaching base in all three plate appearances with two singles, a walk, three runs scored, adding a stolen base 

Quenten Beske singled, walked, stole two bases, and scored twice.

The Bulldogs tallied 12 hits as a team, stole four bases, and played error-free defense, backing up Fick’s efficient 77-pitch shutout.

Verndale mustered just two hits — singles by Shawn Schmitz and Jalen Hinzmann — while Bulldog defenders made clean plays behind Fick all night. From infielders handling tough hops to crisp outfield communication, OTC made sure nothing got away.

With the win, OTC improves to 8–5 on the season and captures their fifth shutout of the year.