The Otter Tail Central Bulldogs couldn’t keep pace with a strong offensive push from the Parkers Prairie Panthers, falling 9–3 on Monday evening at Tony Kawlewski Baseball Field.

Parkers Prairie jumped on the board early, with Joe Johnson launching a solo home run to right field in the top of the first to set the tone. The Panthers extended their lead in the third after Nolan Steidl roped an RBI double to right following a tough six-pitch at-bat.

OTC responded in the bottom of the third, tying the game 2–2 thanks to an RBI single from Kale Misegades and a run scored on a passed ball. However, Parkers Prairie quickly regained control in the fourth inning, pushing across four runs highlighted by a Chavous Wendt RBI single and a 2-RBI groundout by Mason Boesl, making it 6–2.

Kale Misegades started on the mound for OTC and took the loss, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits, walking two, and striking out two. The Bulldogs struggled to regain momentum after the fourth.

AJ Woodworth earned the win for Parkers Prairie, tossing 6 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 runs (two earned) while striking out seven and walking four. Trevor Rounds pitched the seventh inning in relief, helping shut the door on any comeback effort.

At the plate, Misegades and Eric Fick each tallied an RBI for the Bulldogs. OTC also turned a double play defensively.

Tuesday

OTC picked up a critical conference and section victory on Tuesday, defeating Menahga 10–0 in a five-inning mercy rule shutout behind a perfect pitching performance by Garrett Kuhn-Rice and a three-hit day from Quenton Beske.

Kuhn-Rice was lights-out on the mound, tossing a five-inning no-hitter, allowing no walks, no runs, and striking out three on just 54 pitches (38 strikes). He faced just 16 batters and didn’t allow a single Menahga hitter to reach base.

“Kuhn-Rice was efficient and in complete control,” said Head Coach Ryan Hendrickson. “He trusted his defense and threw strikes. That’s exactly the kind of outing we needed in a big game like this.”

Offensive highlights included: 

The Bulldogs’ offense backed up their ace early, scoring three runs in the first, including:

An RBI single by Beske

A 2-run double from Kuhn-Rice

OTC kept the pressure on with:

Two more runs in the second (Beske RBI fielder’s choice, Kuhn-Rice SAC bunt)

Two in the third (Beske’s second RBI single)

One in the fourth (sac fly by Ryan Despard)

Two in the fifth (driven in by Rowan Finseth and aggressive baserunning)

Beske finished 3-4 with 3 RBIs, collecting hits in three different innings and serving as the offensive spark.

Other contributors included:

Kale Misegades: 2-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB, and a sacrifice

Ayden Olson: 2-for-3 with two runs scored

Rowan Finseth: RBI single in the fifth

Owen Harig: 3 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, hit-by-pitch

Collin Lukken: run scored and a stolen base in a pinch-running role

Despard: RBI on a sac fly

The Bulldogs stole four bases, were hit by pitch three times, and left just one runner on base the entire game — a sign of offensive execution.

“We played a clean game all around — aggressive offense, smart baserunning, solid defense, and one of our most efficient pitching performances of the year. These are the kinds of wins that build confidence heading into the stretch run,” said head coach Ryan Hendrickson. 

Wednesday

Despite outhitting Parkers Prairie 4–1, the OTC fell 4–0 on Wednesday afternoon in a tightly contested conference rematch. OTC’s offense couldn’t convert on early baserunners, while Parkers Prairie capitalized on walks and timely execution to take control late.

The loss came just one day after a dominant win over Menahga, and dropped the Bulldogs to 10–7 on the season.

Senior Eric Fick got the start and was sharp, allowing only one hit over 4.2 innings, while striking out seven. However, a string of walks and miscues allowed Parkers Prairie to plate two unearned runs in the fifth. Fick threw 107 pitches, including 59 strikes, and faced 26 batters.

“Fick, threw well enough to win — he gave us a chance,” said Head Coach Ryan Hendrickson. 

The Panthers broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. After Benelli Myers walked and Nolan Steidl was hit by a pitch, Parkers used a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice to push across two runs. Relievers Quenten Beske and Owen Harig followed Fick but couldn’t slow the momentum, as Parkers added two more in the sixth despite not recording another hit.

The Bulldogs scattered four hits, including:

Garrett Kuhn-Rice: 2-3 with a double and single

Ayden Olson: 1-2 and was hit by a pitch

Kale Misegades: 1-3 with a single

However, OTC left six runners on base, grounded into a double play, and was shut out despite hard contact.

Defensively, the Bulldogs turned a double play and committed two errors, while Parkers Prairie played error-free baseball and turned two double plays of their own.

“We hit some balls hard and made good plays on defense, but when you give a disciplined lineup extra chances, they’ll find a way. We’ll regroup and be better,” said head coach Ryan Hendrickson.