FERGUS FALLS, Minn. - New York Mills didn't need two games on Thursday to show that they're ready for a chance at the state title.
Adam Snelgrove was on the mound to lead the Eagles to a 7-5 victory over Frazee on Thursday to win the Minnesota Class 1A, Section 6 baseball title and earn a spot in the state tournament next week for the second year in a row.
The Eagles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after right fielder Shane Novak scored on an error committed by Frazee's second baseman Hayden Hoskins. Snelgrove knocked a base hit that drove in shortstop Maison Roberts. Center fielder Dan Kraft followed with a two-run double that put the Eagles up 3-0 after the first inning. Novak and Snelgrove each finished with two hits.
"It feels awesome," Snelgrove said. "There was just a whole different intensity to the game. We hit the ball better then we have."
Frazee answered back with an RBI single hit by Hornets starting pitcher Jacob Galbrecht. Cory Wokash who hit into a double play that allowed Hoskins to cross the plate and set the score at 4-2.
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The Hornet's retired the next nine batters for the Eagles with Galbrecht striking out two in the process. He finished with four total strikeouts.
After two innings of scoreless play, the Eagles' Sam Slieter broke the silence with a base hit that scored Kraft.
"I knew the count was 2-0 and I was just looking for something I could handle and hit it the other way." Slieter said.
Slieter then got thrown out trying to steal second base.
Things got shaky for the Eagles in the sixth inning.
Snelgrove hit two batters that set up Hornets' left fielder Eric Moltzan's two-run single to close the gap and senior Dan Janu scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game up 5-5.
After a short conference on the mound, Snelgrove was able to strike out Galbrecht to get out of the inning.
"When they had the bases loaded with one out, I just walked out and said 'We're not going to make a change here,' " head coach Chris Bushinger said. "I just called time to give him a little time to talk about situations, basically just calm him down a little bit"
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"I just wanted to get out of it," Snelgrove said. "I knew we had the top of the order coming up so I wasn't too worried. I just wanted to stop the bleeding."
Snelgrove struck out three of the last four batters he faced. Brandon Kupfer and Novak each hit RBI singles to give the Eagles back the lead and help New York Mills claim the Class 1A, Section 6 title for the second year in a row.
"We always are confident with Snelgrove on the mound," Slieter said. "We just let him know that we are out there for him."
The Eagles beat Frazee twice during the regular season and once during the section tournament to send the Hornets to the loser's bracket.
"We knew with Frazee that it was going to be tough," Bushinger said. "I'm just so happy for our kids. They've had such an unbelievable season going 23-0. It's almost a sense of relief knowing were going back. We did what we needed to do."
Slieter added: "I'm excited. Last year was my first year on varsity and we made it so it's a little more special this year being a senior. I feel confident we can make a good run at state and hopefully have some fun."
NYM 310 001 2- 7 9 0
F 101 003 0- 7 8 3
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Snelgrove and A. Patron. Galbrecht, Ketter (7) and Wokash. W-Snelgrove (9-0). L-Galbrecht.
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Glenn Pursley at (701) 451-5549
