Sports
Bottineau starts legion baseball season
Tyler Ohmann
06/12/2012
The Bottineau Legion baseball team opened their season this past week winning three of their first four games on the season.
Post 42’s ball players, many of whom were on the Bottineau baseball team that finished fifth at state, downed Cando on Tuesday in a double header on the road, and split against a tough Velva squad on Friday night at home.
"We’re a little shorthanded this first week, because some people are gone, but that’s going to happen in the summertime," said Bottineau legion coach Derek Aus. "But it’s a chance for some younger people to get a chance to play baseball, and get some experience."
"There is a lot of talent, they have got a lot of tools, so they should be good," Aus added.
Bottineau began their week with a doubleheader sweep in Cando.
In game one Devin Bercier pitched a gem for Bottineau as he went the distance in a 6-0 shutout win.
Bercier scattered five hits and struck out five in seven innings on the mound. He also added two hits on a 2-for-3 night at the plate.
Bottineau’s offense came off the bat of Mark LaCroix, who had a 3-for-3 night at the plate including a three runs batted in (RBI) triple in the fourth inning to break the game open for Bottineau.
In the second game Bottineau used a six-run third inning to stride past Cando for the second straight game.
Cody Brooks did the honors on the mound, and pitched well, allowing only three runs on six hits in the five-inning complete game win.
Taylor Milbrath scored twice and Bottineau got an RBI from LaCroix, Brooks, Lee Schneider and Hunter Braaten.
Despite the wins, Aus said there were a few hiccups in the games, but said that those can easily be worked out.
"It’s nice when you have so many of the skills—speed, fielding arms, you can really fine tune some stuff," Aus said. "The main thing is that they play good baseball at the end of the season. We can live with some bumps in the road along the way."
Bottineau continued on Friday as they hosted Velva for a doubleheader at the Lumberyard.
Game one went the way of Velva as they struck hard with a five-run second inning and scored 10 runs total on Bottineau’s pitcher Milbrath, who went the distance and took the loss in the 10-2 game.
Schneider led Bottineau at the dish with a 3-for-3 night, all singles. Brooks also added a pair of singles for Bottineau.
Aus said guys like Brooks, LaCroix and Schneider have benefitted from playing in the post season the past couple years, and that will help them this summer.
"Playing all those postseason and extra games just makes a team that much better," Aus said. "They’ll be there, we just have some fine tuning like every baseball team does."
Bottineau would bounce back and win in game two by a score of 7-2 in the five-inning second game.
Schneider again had a fantastic game on at the plate with a pair of singles and an RBI.
"I was just getting the bat on the ball I guess," Schneider said.
He also got the win on the mound for Bottineau too, going all five innings and scattering eight hits. His only blemish being a two-run fourth inning.
"It’s been really fun," Schneider. "I just picked up velocity a little bit, and my curve ball is working better."
Schenider threw two no-hitters during the spring baseball season for Bottineau High School, he hopes to continue that success in legion play this summer.
"It feels great," Schneider said. "I did do well during high school, so Derek should put me in some."
Luke Amsbaugh also had a pair of singles and two RBI. LaCroix had a single, a double and an RBI in Bottineau’s third win of the season.
"Velva is a good team and they’ll be there in the end, and North Star has a ton of athletes too," Aus said of the competition this past week. "I think our region in general is the toughest, which is a good thing because it makes you a better team going against them, so I don’t mind it."
Bottineau will play a makeup game against Rolette on Friday that was suppose to be played last Thursday, but was postponed due to weather.
That game will be in Rolette at 6 p.m.
The rest of Bottineau’s schedule for the season is as follows:
5 p.m., June 19 @ Mohall
5 p.m., June 21 Home vs. Harvey
5 p.m., June 22 @ Surrey
5 p.m., June 25 Home vs. Rolette
5 p.m., June 26 Home vs. Burlington
5 p.m., June 28 Home vs. Cando
6 p.m., June 29 @ New Rockford two games, both count
5 p.m., July 3 Home vs. Surrey
5 p.m., July 5 vs. Burlington @ Surrey
5 p.m., July 10 @ Velva
6 p.m., July 13 @ Harvey
5 p.m., July 19 Home vs. Mohall
July 25-29 Legion Sectional Tournament @ Bottineau
Aug. 1-5 State Legion Tournament @ LaMoure
All games are subject to change and/or postponement. Check the Bottineau Courant stories weekly to get updated dates and times.