By Chad Koenen

Publisher

While there may not have been a fireworks show to end the night there were plenty of fireworks on the field during the annual July 3 New York Mills Millers and Bluffton Braves game on Friday night.

The Millers were able to get the best of the Braves this time around, with a walk-off RBI single by DaShaun Robinson in the bottom of the 10th inning to secure a 9-8 win for NY Mills.

The two teams combined for 17 runs and 21 hits with the Millers pumping out 13 hits in the win.

NY Mills got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning after Bode Roberts hit into a fielder’s choice and Brayden Ehnert hit an RBI single to score the second run of the inning.

The Braves wasted little time in tying up the game as Carson Davis hit a two-run home run over the center field wall to make the score 2-2.

Braxton Ehnert hit a two-run home run of his own in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Millers a 4-2 lead.

Bluffton once again wasted little time in tying up the game when Wyatt Hamann hit a sacrifice fly and another run scored on an error. The Braves to a 6-4 lead just one inning later thanks to a two-run double by Tyson Barthel, before the Millers took a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a Derin Gaudette RBI single and a two-run home run by Logan Small. The home run by Small was the third bomb hit by either team in the game. The Millers made the score 8-6 in the seventh inning when Trigg Roder cored on a wild pitch. 

The Braves stayed within striking distance in the top of the eighth inning when Isaac Kawlewski hit an RBI single to bring Davis around to score and the Braves tied the game up at 8-8 in the top of the ninth inning when Gabe Geiser scored on a fielder’s choice that set up the exciting finish for the two rivals.

Small picked up the win in relief of Austin Maneval for the Millers as he went 4 2/3 innings, giving up two hits, two runs of which one was earned, one walk and struck out four batters. 

Barthel took the loss in relief for the Braves as he went 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits, five runs, three walks and struck out five batters.

Offensively, the Millers were led by Finn Roder with three hits, while Small and Brayden Ehnert each finished with two hits in the win.

The Braves were led by Barthel, Carson Davis and Gabe Geiser who each finished with two hits in the loss.

Bluffton will return to action on Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader against the Detroit Lakes Ligers beginning at 1 p.m.

The Millers will take a brief break from action as they will be off until they travel to Dent on Wednesday, July 15. 

NYM AB R H     BI

Derin Gaudette 4 2 1 1

Logan Small 6 2 2 2

Brandon Kupfer 3 0 1 0

Bergen Roder 1 0 0 0

DaShaun Robin. 1 0 1 1

Bode Roberts 3 0 0 1

Trygg Roder 1 1 0 0

Brayden Ehnert 5 0 2 1

Austin Maneval 5 0 1 0

Sean Dresser 0 0 0 0

Zach Hocking 4 1 1 0

Sam Kopveiler 0 0 0 0

Braxton Ehnert 5 1 1 2

Finn Roder 5 2 3 0

HITTING- 2B- Brayden Ehnert, Finn Roder, Zach Hocking; HR- Braxton Ehnert, Logan Small

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Austin Maneval 5 1/3-6-6-4-1-4, Logan Small 4 2/3-2-2-1-1-4

Bluffton AB R H     BI

Isaac Hamann 5 0 0 1

Peyton Rondest. 5 0 0 0

Connor Davis 4 1 0 0

Justin Dykhoff 3 0 1 0

Isaac Kawlewski 2 1 1 1

Tyson Barthel 5 2 2 2

Carson Davis 4 2 2 2

Wyatt Hamann 2 0 0 1

Gabe Geiser 4 1 2 0

HITTING- 2B- Tyson Barthel; HR- Carson Davis

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Isaac Hamann 5-6-4-4-1-4; Tyson Barthel 4 2/3-7-5-5-3-5