Tournament held in Rapid City

Ayden Olson shut down PRBA Red, throwing a complete game shutout and leading OTC 15U to a 10-0 victory on Thursday, July 21. 

OTC opened up scoring in the first inning. OTC  scored one run when Owen Harig tripled.

OTC tallied three runs in the fifth inning thanks to singles by Kaleb Hammes, Garrett Kuhn-Rice and Conner Thompson.

Olson earned the victory on the mound for OTC as he lasted six innings, allowing three hits and zero runs while striking out six and walking zero.

Harig went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead OTC in hits.

In their second game of the tournament, OTC  got things moving in the first inning, when Kale Misegades singled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run.

Eric Fick led the OTC  to victory on the pitcher’s mound as he allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out two.

Conner Thompson, Gavin Pausch, Misegades, Drew Evavold and Owen Harig all had one hit to lead OTC.

On July 22, OTC played some of the best baseball of the year in Evansville to claim the District Championship.  

After 3 days of baseball OTC ended with a 4-1 record to claim the championship.  They started with two wins on Thursday. On Friday evening Parkers Prairie got the best of OTC, knocking them to the loser’s bracket.  

Alexandria defeated Fergus Falls to advance to the final three teams on Saturday.  OTC rebounded from their defeat Friday evening, defeating Alexandria and getting revenge on Parkers Prairie in the championship game.  

OTC fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 9-3 loss to Parkers Prairie on Friday. Parkers Prairie scored on a single by Leighton Gesell, a fielder’s choice by Isaac Grabow, a walk by Shane Hanson, a walk by Mason Boesl, a single by Nolan Steidl, and a double by Joe Johnson in the second inning.

OTC struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Parkers Prairie, giving up nine runs.

Parkers Prairie pulled away for good with eight runs in the second inning. In the second Gesell singled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run, Kale Misegades induced Grabow to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored, Hanson drew a walk, scoring one run, Boesl drew a walk, scoring one run, Steidl singled on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs, and Johnson doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs.

Misegades took the loss for OTC as he lasted one and 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and 0 earned runs while striking out one.

Kaleb Hammes, Ayden Olson, Gavin Pausch, Collin Lukken, Misegades and Owen Harig all had one hit to lead OTC.

On Saturday, July 23, A 10-run sixth inning led OTC  to a 15-2 victory on Saturday. Eric Fick, Bradyn Roisum, Gavin Pausch, Kale Misegades, Drew Evavold and Ayden Olson each had RBIs in the big inning.

OTC got things started in the first inning when an error scored one run for OTC .

OTC tallied ten runs in the sixth inning. The offensive firepower by OTC  was led by Fick, Roisum, Pausch, Misegades, Evavold, and Olson, who all drove in runs.

Garrett Kuhn-Rice took the win for OTC as he allowed three hits and two runs over six innings, striking out two.

OTC  scattered 12 hits in the game. Olson, Kuhn-Rice, and Pausch all collected multiple hits for OTC. Owen Harig led OTC with three stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with 14 stolen bases.

In their final game of the tournament, OTC blew out Parkers Prairie 8-2 on Saturday.

In the first inning, OTC got their offense started when Kale Misegades doubled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run.

OTC  notched three runs in the second inning. OTC scored its runs on an RBI error by Owen Harig.

Drew Evavold got the win for OTC as he allowed five hits and two runs over six innings, striking out four. Harig threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.

OTC totaled eight hits. Gavin Pausch and Evavold each managed multiple hits for OTC. Pausch led OTC with three hits in three at bats. 

“I’m super proud of the way the boys rebounded from a tough loss Friday and play our best ball of the year on Saturday,” said coach Evan Meece. “We played phenomenal defense, hit the ball well, and had great pitching.  A great combination for success.”

With the win, OTC advanced to the Midwest Plains Regional Tournament in Rapid City, S.D. from July 27-31. Alexandria and Parkers Prairie competed in the Minnesota In-Tact State Tournament in Paynesville from July 27-31.

July 27-31

OTC opened up their Regional Tournament in Rapid City, S.D. in big fashion, beating the Rapid City Playmakers 16-3 in 5 innings.  OTC opened up the scoring with a 4-run bottom of the first inning, behind 4 hits.  They added another 8 runs in the second inning to expand the lead.  

Gavin Pausch started on the mound for OTC, getting credited for the win. He pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out four and walking zero. Garrett Kuhn-Rice threw two and a third innings in relief out of the bullpen.

OTC saw the ball well by racking up 11 hits in the game. Olson, Owen Harig, Drew Evavold, and Pausch each collected multiple hits for OTC 15U. Olson led OTC 15U with three hits in four at bats.

“What a great way to start the tournament for us.  We had great pitching from Gavin and Garrett and had great approaches at the plate.  Our lineup was potent up and down the order and our defense was right on key,” said head coach Evan Meece. “I’m extremely proud of the way we played tonight and really proud of the way these boys have represented not only Ottertail Central, but the State of Minnesota too.  We came ready to play and will continue to show our OTC pride over the weekend.”

OTC dropped their record to 1-1 with a tough loss to Fargo 61’s Friday afternoon 10-9. OTC battle back from early 5 run deficit to tie the game in the fourth inning.  Fargo 61’s pulled ahead by 4 runs, before OTC battled to score 3 runs in the top of the seventh before stranding the tying run on second base to end the game. 

“We put together a lot of really good at bats today, but couldn’t string enough together to get the win,” said Evan Meece. “We stranded too many runners on base and also allowed them too many extra bases defensively. We’ll fight back and rebound tomorrow and play the baseball we’re capable of.”

Despite a 5-run deficit in the second inning, OTC  almost came all the way back, eventually falling 10-9 to Fargo 61’s on Friday. OTC 15U put up seven runs in the failed comeback. Kale Misegades, Drew Evavold, Owen Harig, Gavin Pausch, Misegades and Kaleb Hammes came through with RBIs to lead the rally.

OTC collected 17 hits and Fargo 61’s had 12 in the high-scoring affair.

Fargo 61’s got things moving in the first inning, when Misegades induced Owen Thielges to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored.

After OTC scored one run in the top of the fifth, Fargo 61’s answered with one of their own. OTC scored when Pausch drew a walk, scoring one run. Fargo 61’s then answered when Andrew Hanson singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run.

Fargo 61’s pulled away for good with two runs in the fourth inning.

OTC notched four runs in the third inning. OTC’s big bats were led by Misegades and Evavold, all driving in runs in the inning.

Pausch took the loss for OTC as he surrendered five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking zero.

Misegades started the game for OTC as he went 1 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits

OTC tallied 17 hits. Harig, Evavold, Eric Fick, Ayden Olson, and Pausch all managed multiple hits for OTC 15U. Harig led OTC with four hits in five at bats.