Victory League play finally got underway with the St. Mathias Devils, Pierz Bulldogs and Buckman Billygoats picking up a pair of wins.

The opening weekend came almost two months behind the normal schedule due to COVID-19.

Buckman 12, Pierz Lakers 1

PIERZ – Noah Boser finished 2-5 with a double, homer, three RBIs and two runs scored for the Buckman Billygoats who improved to 2-0 with a 12-1 seven-inning win over the Pierz Lakers Sunday, June 21.

Lane Girtz contributed a pair of hits with an RBI and winning pitcher Matt Tautges struck out four, walked two, and allowed one run on three hits over five innings.

Preston Rocheleau went 2-3 with a pair of doubles to lead the Lakers.

Buckman 12 7 0

Lakers 1 5 0

WP:Matt Tautges. LP: Jeremy Bingesser. 2B: B-Noah Boser; L-Preston Rocheleau 2. HR: B-Boser.

St. Mathias 2, Fort Ripley 1

ST. MATHIAS – Kamden Happke went 2-4 and winning pitcher Hunter Wicklund collected the other hit for the St. Mathias Devils who edged the Fort Ripley Rebels 2-1 Sunday, June 21.

The Devils turned five double plays to support Wicklund, who allowed just two hits, singles to Bryce Flannagan and Zach Heidmann.

Fort Ripley 1 2 0

St. Mathias 2 3 0

WP: Hunter Wicklund. LP: Brett Kamer.

Pierz Bulldogs 7, Royalton River Dogs 2

PIERZ – Joe Strauch tossed six innings for the win and Cody Meyer worked the final three to earn a save for the Pierz Bulldogs who improved to 2-0 with a 7-2 win over the Royalton Riverdogs Sunday, June 21.

Royalton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Ethan Walcheski singled home a run.

The Bulldogs rallied with three in the bottom of the inning. Chuck Boser singled to right to tie the game. Skip Toops then doubled to center to drive in two more and make it 3-1.

Royalton made it 3-2 in the third on a Ryan Snyder RBI single.

Austin Gohl singled in pinch-runner Derek Schommer in the seventh and the Bulldogs put the game away with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Royalton 2 7 0

Bulldogs 7 13 0

WP: Joseph Strauch. SV: Cody Meyer. LP: Nathan Psyck.

Saturday, June 20

St. Mathias 14, Aitkin 0

ST. MATHIAS – Kolten Happke, Kamden Happke and Jake Zontelli each collected two hits for the St. Mathias Devils who opened their season with a 14-0 seven-inning rout of the Aitkin Steam Saturday, June 20.

Hunter Wicklund went 1-2 with three walks, three stolen bases and scored three runs

for the Devils. Dillon Solid earned the win with two scoreless innings.

Losing pitcher Nathan Ehnstrom accounted for the only Aitkin run with a solo homer.

Aitkin 1

St. Mathias 14

WP: Dillon Solid. LP: Nathan Ehnstrom. HR: A-Ehnstrom.

Buckman 4, Brewers 3

PIERZ – Noah Boser went 2-4 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Buckman

Billygoats to a 4-3 win over the Pierz Brewers in the season opener for both teams

Saturday, June 20.

Jack Suska added three hits, including a double, for the Goats and catcher Noah Cekalla singled twice. Andrew Winscher got the win with 3.1 hitless innings in relief. Travis Kahl pitched two-hit ball for the final four innings to earn a save.

The Brewers collected three scattered singles from Pete Schommer, Eric Boser and

Mike Poser.

Buckman 4 10 0

Pierz 3 3 0

WP: Andrew Winscher. SV: Travis Kahl. LP: Cody Kimman

Friday, June 19

Pierz Bulldogs 6, Pierz Lakers 5

PIERZ – A walk-off RBI single by Austin Gohl in the bottom of the ninth gave the Pierz

Bulldogs a 6-5 season-opening win over Pierz Lakers Friday, June 19.

Brandon Dickmann and Michael Leidenfrost both went 2-4 for the Bulldogs. Austin

Dickmann pitched three scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. He allowed one hit

and struck out five.

Luke Girtz paced the Lakers as he finished 2-4 with a double and three RBIs. Paul

Herman collected two hits and Peter Herman’s single accounted for the other Laker hit.

Lakers 5 5 6

Bulldogs 6 6 3

WP: Austin Dickmann. LP: Reggie Litke. 2B: B-Brandon Dickman; L-Luke Girtz.