The Prior Lake Jays fought hard short handed at the 8 team 2016 Elko New Market Budweiser Classic Invitational Tournament but were unable to plate needed runs going 0-3 vs quality opponents losing 9-4 to Minneapolis Cobras, 4-1 to co-host New Market Muskies and not defending their 2015 Bud Bonus title dropping to the familiar Shakopee Indian 10-0. Thanks from the PL Jays to New Market & Elko Tourney committee for hosting the Jays and our fans.
GAME 1: Sat 6/4 1230PM VS Mpls Cobras (7 innings) at New Market Hillside Park
As weekend rains pushed back the 10AM start, they’d also impact the game and schedule on Saturday as 2 rain delays put a damper on the Jays quick start in game 1. The visiting Jays plated 2 runs in the 1st inning to kick off Tourney play on a 1 out walk to RF Adam Cress, single by 2B Jim Schroeder that was followed by an RBI single by SS Sam Kortes making the score 2-0 Jays after 1. Jays pitcher Tony Eicher returned from hiatus to the team and worked the 1st 2 innings looking sharp facing 7 allowing 1 hit, a solo HR in the 2nd and striking out 1. The 1st rain delay ended his day & return yielding to Brandt Broderick who faced a MBA #5 ranked Class A Mpls Cobras team that used the delay to rest before posting a 7 run 3rd inning including 2 leadoff walks and a single followed by 4 straight home runs launched from tiny Hillside Park. Pat Galvin put out the fire for the Jays recording 3 straight outs to end the 3rd. Galvin worked 4 innings walking 3, striking out 1 and allowing 1 hit, a solo clout in the 6th to Kahtan Al-Kaissy which was a “no doubter” deep into the swamp beyond centerfield. The Jays were held scoreless following the delay but in the 7th a leadoff double by 3B TJ Larson which was followed by a walk to CF Jonesy Buescher scored on hits by an Adam Cress double and single by Kortes making the score 9-4. For the game the Jays stranded 7 runners and got a big day at the plate from Kortes who went 4-4. TJ Larson and Cress double for the Jays. LOSS: 9-4
GAME 2: Sat 6/4 330PM VS New Market Muskies (7 innings) at New Market Hillside Park
The Jays rain delays continued into the start on briefly during Game 2 in he loser bracket taking on host and #1 MBA Class C ranked New Market Muskies of the DRS League. Following a scoreless Jays 1st the Muskies posted a quick 3-0 lead on a leadoff walk followed by 3 singles, a double and a Jays error off of starting pitcher TJ Larson before 3 straight strikeouts to end the frame. Larson settled throwing scoreless innings 2-5 before a 1 out solo HR in the 6th. The visiting Jays were silenced through the 6th stranding 6 runners and hitting into 5 double plays with lead runners reaching in 5 innings but not able to start rallies. SS Sam Kortes doubled in the 6th with 2 outs following a single by 1B Dan Schroeder. RF Adam Cress was hit to load the bases but the threat was ended on a groundout by LF Bryan Sanchez. Catcher Brandt Broderick provided the only Jays run on a deep drive the left that cleared the fence for a 1 out solo homerun. The Jays stranded 6 on the day with Broderick 2-3 and CF Jonsey Buescher 2-4 leading the Jays 8 hit attack. LOSS: 4-1
GAME 3: Sun 6/5 11AM VS Shakopee Indian (7 innings) at Elko Fredrickson Field BUD BONUS GAME ’16
The 0-2 Jays drew a familiar foe in the Bud Bonus Game for 2016, the MBA Class B #5 ranked Shakopee Indians of Section 3B and the River Valley League also went 0-2 to open the Tourney. Shakopee had dropped 5-4 to Coon Rapids Redbird and 7-6 to MBA Class A #2 St Paul Capitals enroute to the Bud Bonus tilt. The Jays were seeking to defend the Bud Bonus Game title earned in 2015 with a win over St Patrick.
Following a scoreless PL 1st (Jays lost 3 coinflips for home team) the Indian posted 2 in the 1st on Jays starting pitcher Jim Schroeder on 3 hits and a 1 out sacrifice fly. Schroeder tossed a scoreless 2nd inning walking 2 and allowing a hit while stranding 3 on a key 2 out bases loaded grab by shortstop Sam Kortes who, like a puma, sprang to snare an Aaron Olson liner up the middle to end the threat. Shakopee posted a 5 run 3rd on a leadoff Jays error followed by a walk, hit batsman and 2 1 out singles followed by 2 2 out singles. Schroeder gutted out a 3 batter 1 strikeout 4th allowing 1 Shakopee run in the 5th and 2 in the 6th to completed the scoring. Indian Kyle Ryan stoled 2 bases for the tribe. Pitcher Andy Gibart went the distance blanking the Jays allowing 6 Jays hits, striking out 5 with no walks. The Jays stranding 6 runners on base. Schroeder walked 5, hit 2, struck out 1 and scattered 11 hits in 6 innings work. LOSS: 10-0