Yankees survive in extras over A’s, Shaikoski inducted to HOF | News, Sports, Jobs

Photos by Samantha Davis. Milroy Yankees’ Parker Schmitt (front) hi-fives his teammates after a 2-1 win over the Marshall A’s on Sunday at Legion Field. Schmitt tossed seven strikeouts while allowing no hits in his four innings pitched.
Below: Greg Shaikoski (center) waves to the crowd after being inducted into the Marshall Hall of Fame Sunday night at Legion Field.

MARSHALL — In a pitcher’s duel with 32 combined strikeouts that didn’t see a run until the sixth inning, Milroy’s Branden Flock hit the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 10th inning to lift the Yankees over the Marshall A’s 2-1 on Sunday night in a Corn Belt League matchup. The A’s also inducted Greg Shaikoski into the Hall of Fame prior to first pitch, becoming the organization’s 19th member.

“I think we just had to grind through the pitching,” Flock said. “Both sides, excellent pitching. It’s always a battle. Just gotta stick to your game, stick to your approach, and go from there. I’m glad we got the win this time.”

In the top of the 10th, Brian Dolan hit a line drive to short left-center field to get on base, and Tyson Louwagie stepped in to courtesy run.

Shep Jensen laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Louwagie to second, and with two outs, Flock stepped up and hit an RBI single off a fly ball to center field to score Louwagie for the go-ahead run.

“I just think I had to simplify my approach. He [Marshall pitcher Mitchell Bouwman] pitches well. This is my second time facing him,” Flock said. “I thought for sure it would be caught, so I was kind of frustrated and tossed my bat, but when I saw the ball drop, I was like, ‘Alright, let’s go, that’s the go-ahead run.’ It was awesome.”

Looking for a walk-off or another inning, Marshall was held answerless in the bottom of the 10th after another pair of Parker strikeouts and a foul ball caught outside the first base line by Milroy’s Aaron Mathiowetz to seal the win for the Yankees.

Bouwman tossed all 10 innings for 13 strikeouts with no walks, while allowing just four hits and one earned run.

“Mitch has been throwing lights out all year,” Marshall manager Ryan Schwagel said. “Anybody can beat anybody, and they’re [Milroy] a good team … We just didn’t make enough plays to win this one.”

Isaac and Parker Schmitt pitched six and four innings respectively for Milroy. Isaac threw 12 strikeouts with two walks, two hits and one earned run. Parker, credited for the win in the save, tossed seven strikeouts while allowing no hits with two walks.

“Isaac and Parker, those are our bulldogs,” Mathiowetz said. “Those are the guys that we want on the mound in our biggest games, and those two just showed up today … It was awesome to see.”

Shaikoski, his family and A’s members gathered at home plate just before the game’s start to honor the latest Hall of Fame inductee.

Shaikoski, popularly known as ‘Shaker,’ has carried on numerous roles for the Marshall baseball community since 1997, when he first volunteered to coach his son Tony’s 10U team.

Serving as a coach for a few years, Shaikoski transitioned to helping with statistics, but has also upheld positions like Marshall Area Youth Baseball Association [MAYBA] President, concessions manager, and as a member on the association board.

“Right now, it’s hitting,” Shaikoski said after the ceremony. “I’ve spent a lot of years out here, and through MAYBA baseball. It’s very exciting.”

Although his grandson currently plays baseball in Mankato, Shaikoski has created numerous relationships over the years and noted that he still enjoys keeping up with the Marshall teams as a fan.

Shaikoski also was heavily involved in managing the 1999 Minnesota State Amateur Tournament, the 2005 VFW State Tournament and Central Planes Legion Regional Tournament in 2007.

“[I’ve enjoyed] everything,” Shaikoski said. “I did the concessions, I did the fields, my kid was on the team, just everything. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it.”

Shaikoski was presented with a plaque at home plate by current President of the Marshall Baseball Association [MBA] Kelly Loft, along with other MBA board members and his family’s support.

“It was good to see everybody out here and honor him [Shaikoski],” Schwagel said. “It’s something we try to do every year. It’s a good way to honor the people, and give back to the people who have given so much to us.”

After five scoreless innings to start, Connor Neubeck hit a home run over right field in the bottom of the sixth for the night’s first run. Yet, a Brock Schultz RBI in the top of the seventh quickly tied the score up, ultimately forcing the game to extra innings.

“We just have to get him [Neubeck] in spots with runners on. He’s been red-hot all season, we just keep trying to feed off of that,” Schwagel said.

The Yankees and A’s held one another off defensively for a low-hitting and minimal error game. Marshall had two errors while Milroy finished with one.

After Neubeck’s homer in the sixth, Milroy’s Mathiowetz got on base with a line-drive double up the third base line to left field to get on base in the seventh.

Schultz came to bat directly after, and hit the game-tying RBI single to right field to score Mathiowetz and tie the game up 1-1.

Marshall had an opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth, but left runners on the corners as Parker tossed another strikeout to end the inning.

Schwagel was originally walked, with Braxton Koster in courtesy run who stole second and third base, while the Yankees intentionally walked Neubeck with two outs to prevent him from seeing another pitch after his homer.

“It was a great baseball game … We just came out on bottom,” Schwagel said. “[32] strikeouts combined, so have to tip the hat to the pitchers.”

“It’s always a great matchup with Marshall … It always seems like a playoff game when we’re playing them,” Mathiowetz added. “I’m sure we’ll see them again once Regions happen.”

Neubeck and Josh Kraft accounted for Marshall’s two hits, with one each, while Mathiowetz, Schultz, Dolan and Jackson Hughes each had a hit for Milroy.

There’s a sentimental factor when the Yankees and A’s play one another at Legion Field each season, as several Milroy players are also Marshall High School alumni returning to their once-before home diamond.

There are 20 players alone on this year’s Milroy roster that come from Marshall.

“A lot of us are Marshall kids, so it just means a lot to us,” Mathiowetz said, a 2013 Marshall High School graduate. “I love playing at Legion. It’s changed a little bit since I played here, but I just grew up watching the A’s … We all get excited to come here, to see them and play them. It’s always a competitive game, no matter what.”

Marshall (10-5) will look to get back in the win column when it hosts Hanska in a non-league game at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Yankees (6-11) returns to the field today to host Brookings, S.D., also a non-league game, with a 7:30 p.m. first pitch.

“I think over the last three or four games as a team, we had a combined like 40-some hits. We’re hitting the ball, and I think we just took that momentum into this game. I know we only had four hits, but still just that confidence at the plate with everybody,” Flock said. “It’s contagious, and just got to keep it rolling. This is a big win for us, and hopefully [we] continue it.”