NYM to host Parkers Prairie on Thursday in Park Region Conference action

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

New York Mills had to wait a little longer than originally planned to get back on the softball diamond last week. After its entire 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuesday’s home opener against Otter Tail Central was canceled because of a snow storm. 

On Thursday, NY Mills got its season underway with a two-game sweep over Menahga in Park Region Conference action. The Eagles wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard in their first game of the season as Angie Weller reached on a one out error and Megan Reidel reached on an error. Both Eagles would later cross the plate to make the score 2-1.

After Menahga tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning, Kali Olson laced a one out single to bring Anna Meech across the plate to make the score 3-2. The Eagles added their fourth and final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mackenzie Gilster hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Reidel across the plate. 

Aliya Gerber picked up the win on the mound and five Eagles came away with at least one hit in the win.

In the second game of the night, the offense for both NY Mills and Menahga opened up a bit, but the end result was the same as the Eagles defeated the Braves by a score of 9-7. 

All nine of the Eagles’ runs came in just two innings, including five runs in the top of the seventh inning alone. 

Menahga once again struck first as they scored in the bottom of the first inning, before NY Mills took a 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Harley Korkowski and Annika Dunrud led off the inning with back-to-back walks. Gerber followed with an RBI double to bring Korkowski across the plate and Dunrud would later score on a passed ball to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. 

Weller followed Gerber’s RBI double with an RBI single to make the game 3-1 and she would later score to make the game 4-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning.

A four run bottom of the fourth inning gave Menahga a 5-4 lead that stood until a big top of the seventh inning for the Eagles. 

Dunrud led off the seventh inning by reaching on an error, before the next two hitters were retired to leave NY Mills on the wrong side of a 5-4 score with two outs in the seventh inning. 

Grace Christianson reached on an error, before Ariel Arno earned a walk to keep the Eagles chances at a comeback alive. Gilster followed with a 2-run double and Meech was hit by a pitch. Kailey Keskitalo earned a walk and Korkowski was hit by a pitch to keep the comeback attempt going. Dunrud followed by striking out, but an error on the play allowed her to reach base, before the five run inning came to a close on a fielder’s choice.

All five of the Eagles runs in the seventh inning came with two outs as they got just one hit and took advantage of two untimely Braves errors.

Menahga didn’t go down without a fight though as they went on a two out rally of their own that brought the tying run to the plate with two outs, before a strike out ended the game.

Weller and Gilster led the way offensively for the Eagles as they both finished with a pair of hits and 2 RBI’s apiece. 

This week the 2-0 Eagles will travel to Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale for a double header on Tuesday, before hosting Parkers Prairie on Thursday. 

Game one

AB R H BI

Aliya Gerber 3 0 1 0

Angie Weller 3 1 0 0

Grace Christianson 3 0 1 0

Megan Reidel 2 2 1 0

Mackenzie Gilster 2 0 0 1

Anna Meech 2 1 1 0

Kali Olson 3 0 1 1

Chloe Koljonen 2 0 0 0

Ayla Olson 2 0 0 0

Game two

AB R H BI

Aliya Gerber 4 1 1 1

Angie Weller 4 1 2 2

Grace Christianson 4 1 0 0

Ariel Arno 2 1 0 0

Mackenzie Gilster 4 1 2 2

Anna Meech 3 1 1 0

Kailey Keskitalo 3 0 1 0

Haley Korkowski 2 1 0 0

Annika Dunrud 3 1 0 0

HITTING- 2B- Aliya Gerber, Mackenzie Gilster