CROOKSTON REDS SWEEP WARROAD

The Crookston Reds’ Sean Minder completed his final 14 innings pitched over the weekend in 13-9 and 12-6 wins over the Warroad Muskies in a non-League doubleheader played at Tony Stukel Field in Warroad.

Game 1 –
In the first game on Sunday, the Reds used a six-run sixth inning to help secure a comeback victory in extra innings. Crookston took an early lead in the first inning after a Will Zimmerman triple was converted into one run on an RBI groundout hit by Bailey Schmitz. Warroad responded with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Muskies used back-to-back walks to start the inning followed by a single tying the game at 1-1. A three-run home run hit by Dylan Storey completed the inning giving Warroad a 4-1 lead. In the top of the third inning, Will Zimmerman was hit by a pitch with two outs before Noah Zimmerman doubled to plate the Reds’ second run of the game. Bailey Schmitz doubled later in the inning to plate Noah Zimmerman and bring the visitors within one run of their hosts. Warroad responded with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Two hits followed by a walk loaded the bases before an infield error allowed the Muskies to plate two runs. A two-run double completed the inning with Warroad’s lead growing to 8-3. The Reds regained the lead with a big sixth inning. Taylor Kenfield led off the inning by reaching on an error. A fielder’s choice and strikeout pushed the Reds down to their final out of the inning before Cody Magsam was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second base. Will Zimmerman doubled to plate a run before Noah Zimmerman singled continuing the inning while plating Crookston’s fifth run of the game. A Bailey Schmitz rbi single plated another run before a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases. Taylor Kenfield doubled to plate two more runs and complete the inning while giving the Reds a 9-8 lead. Crookston proved unable to protect their lead in the bottom of the seventh, but a timely double-play continued the game. Warroad’s leadoff hitter in the bottom of the seventh, Ben Bengston doubled to start the inning before scoring the tying run on a double with no outs in the inning. The winning run moved to third base on a wild pitch before a groundout gave the Reds a chance to force extra innings. With one out in the inning, back to back walks put a force out on all four bases allowing Sean Minder to dial up a ground ball to shortstop Will Zimmerman forcing a double play to keep the game tied at 9-9 after seven innings. The Reds bounced back in extra innings to secure the win. In the top of the eighth inning, Bailey Schmitz bunted for a base hit to start a rally. A Rob Silvers walk put runners on first and second base before an error by the pitcher after a bunt by Jackson Seibel plated Schmitz retaking the lead for the Reds. A groundball led to a double play, but with two outs in the inning, another infield error plated Sean Minder to give the Reds an 11-9 lead. Crookston added another insurance run following a Blake Karas double giving the Reds a 12-9 lead. Cody Magsam continued the inning with a two-out base hit plating Blake Karas allowing Crookston to take a 13-9 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. Sean Minder earned the complete-game victory in the bottom of the eighth inning with a back to back strikeouts followed by a flyout securing the 13-9 win in extras.

For Crookston
Bailey Schmitz – 4-5, 2 runs, 3 rbi
Will Zimmerman – 2-5, 3 runs, rbi
Noah Zimmerman – 2-5, 2 runs, 3 rbi
Jackson Seibel – 2-4

Game 2 –
In the final game of the weekend, the Reds utilized a late offensive surge to win comfortably and complete the three-game sweep of their hosts. The Muskies struck first with a rbi single following a double giving Warroad a 1-0 lead. The Muskies added two more runs in the third inning with a rbi single and another run scoring on a passed ball giving the home side a 3-0 lead.  The Reds took the lead with a four-run fifth inning. A fielder’s choice and walk put two runners on base before Will Zimmerman hit a home run into right-center field tying the game at 3-3 before Bailey Schmitz scored to give the Reds a 4-3 lead. Warroad retook the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. A single followed by a hit-by-pitch and a double plated the first run of the inning before an error at shortstop gave the Muskies a 5-4 lead. Warroad added their final run of the inning with a rbi single hit by Brennan Forster completing the inning with Warroad’s lead growing to 6-4. Crookston bounced back with six runs in the sixth inning to re-take the lead. Two straight walks opened the inning before a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Cody Magsam walked to plate Blake Kawlewski before Noah Zimmerman drove in two runs with a single into left-center field. Bailey Schmitz reached on an error to plate one more run before Rob Silvers finished the inning’s scoring with an RBI single giving Crookston a 10-6 lead Crookston added two more runs in the seventh inning to close out the weekend’s scoring. Cody Magsam singled to start the inning before Will Zimmerman tripled to plate Magsam from first base. An error at second base allowed Zimmerman to score giving the Reds a 12-6 lead which was protected by Sean Minder who finished his 21 innings of pitching with 15 strikeouts in the final game to wrap up the 12-6 win. 
The Reds improve 16-13 on the weekend and will return to Red River Amateur Baseball League play on Wednesday when Crookston hosts the Moorhead Miners at Jim Karn Field a game you can hear on KROX with the pregame show beginning at 7:30 p.m. and first pitch at 8 p.m.

For Crookston
Will Zimmerman – 2-5, 2 runs, 4 rbi, home run, triple
Bailey Schmitz – 2-5, 2 runs, rbi
Rob Silvers – 2-5, rbi
Cody Magsam – 2-2, 3 runs, rbi