State Baseball: W-DC’s bats quiet in state quarterfinals

ST. CLOUD — Fourth-seeded Wadena-Deer Creek had trouble solving Plainview-Elgin-Millville left-hander Conner Schumacher Tuesday, June 15.

The Wolverines managed just four hits and one run off PEM’s starter in their 3-1 loss to the Bulldogs in the Class 2A state quarterfinals at Putz Field in St. Cloud.

Schumacher pitched a complete game and struck out 13 to keep the Wolverine bats quiet.

“Facing a tough lefty like Schumacher, I knew it was going to come down to having quality at-bats and putting balls in play,” W-DC head coach Kyle Dykhoff said. “Unfortunately, we struck out a lot today and that was the difference in the game. If we could’ve put some more balls in play, I would’ve liked our chances.”

What made the matchup against Schumacher more challenging for the Wolverines was the fact they haven't seen many left-handed pitchers during the season.

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“We’ve seen lefties for seven innings all season in 28 games,” Kyle Dykhoff said. “That’s very little and we haven’t seen a lefty of that caliber.”

Josh Dykhoff started for the Wolverines and lasted five innings. He allowed just three runs and struck out nine. He also tallied two hits, including the only RBI for the Wolverines in the second.

“Josh is a fierce competitor,” Kyle Dykhoff, Josh’s uncle, said. “Whether it’s on the baseball field or in bean bags. He’s a fiery competitor especially when it comes to playoffs and do or die. He gave it his best effort on the mound and the guys behind him played well. You just have to score to win a baseball game and we didn’t have enough hits to get on top.”

PEM got on the board when Matthew Keller led off the top of the fourth with a double into the ivy. Keller scored on a one-out, RBI-double by Jameson Brinkman.

A single by Baden Fenton put runners on the corners for PEM with one out. After Fenton stole second, a wild pitch scored Brinkman to make it 2-0 PEM.

Luke Stevens ripped an RBI-single for the Bulldogs in the top of the fifth to make it a 3-0.

Josh Dykhoff ripped an RBI-single to put W-DC on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Carson Kern led off the sixth inning with a walk for the Wolverines and reached second on a groundout before scoring on Josh Dykhoff’s hit.

Josh Dykhoff ripped a one-out double in the first inning, but was stranded there after Payton Rondestvedt and Connor Davis each struck out to end the inning.

PEM put two runners on in the second, but Josh Dykhoff pitched around the threat. PEM’s Josh Feils ripped a two-out double in the third inning, but Josh Dykhoff struck out the next batter to keep the game scoreless.

Rondestvedt came on in relief of Josh Dykhoff in the top of the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

“Overall, I’m proud of my kids,” Kyle Dykhoff said. “They accomplished a lot this season and set many school and team records. Proud of these kids for getting to state.”

PEM 3 6 2

WDC 1 4 0

WP: Carter Schumacher. LP: Josh Dykhoff. 2B: WDC-Josh Dykhoff, PEM-Josh Feils, Jameson Brinkman, Matthew Keller.

Plainview-Elgin-Millville 3, Wadena-Deer Creek 1

Key: PEM lefty Conner Schumacher strikes out 13 Wolverines.

Overall: WDC 25-4.

CONRAD ENGSTROM may be reached at 218-855-5861 or conrad.engstrom@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/the_rad34.