Chiefs top Lino Lakes to stave off elimination

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Press Photo by Royal McGregor Mandan's Trevor Huck lauches a throw over to first base to complete a double play against Lino Lakes (Minn.) as the Chiefs defeat the Cougars 5-2 in Central Plains Regional American Legion baseball touranment on Saturday at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

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Mandan lost by double digits Saturday morning, but managed to outlast a Minnesota Twins draft pick in the afternoon.

The Chiefs scored three runs in the ninth and Brett Bryan tossed a complete game en route to defeating the Lino Lakes (Minn.) 5-2 in the Central Plains Regional American Legion baseball tournament at Southside Municipal Ballpark.

“This is one of my top performances of the season,” Bryan said. “This game couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Mandan knew coming into the game it would have a tough time scoring runs against pitcher Austin Malinowski, a 16th-round choice by the Twins.

The Chiefs worked Malinowski’s pitch count to 134, keeping the strong lefty off the mound in the ninth.

“He wanted the ball even into the ninth inning,” Lino Lakes head coach Rollie Goertzen said. “His pitch count was way too high. He’s got way too much of a future to pitch that last inning.”

Bryan said, “our eyes lit up,” when Mandan saw Malinowski wasn’t on the mound in the ninth.

Chiefs catcher Dwight Mack knocked in a two-run double to right in the inning.

“We knew that he (Malinowski) threw hard and had some good stuff,” Mack said. “It was just definitely clutch hits that we got here at the end of game.”

Bryan threw nine innings and allowed two runs while striking out seven. His curveball was working for him and that looked to be his safety blanket throughout the game.

“I used my curveball late in the count or I used it early in the count just to keep them (Lino Lakes) on their toes,” he said.

Malinowski lasted eight innings, allowed two runs and struck out 10 batters. He only got into trouble once and Mandan was able to score two runs off the starter in the sixth.

“He didn’t get any run support,” Goertzen said. “He pitched his heart out.”

Lino Lakes finished the season among the nation’s top 50 Legion teams. And it was a team not many believed could get out of district play, especially its state tournament.

“To make the run here, we showed we deserved to be here,” Goertzen said. “Our bats just didn’t come alive here. We just got cold at the wrong time.”

Mandan 000 002 003 — 5 8 1

LL 010 100 000 — 2 5 2

Brett Bryan and Dwight Mack. Austin Malinowski, Benny LaMere (9) and Tyler Kallevig.

W–Bryan. L–LaMare. HR–LL, Jacob Kosak.

Highlights: M, Brent Stoltz 1-for-3, RBI, run; Mack 1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI; Brett Bryan 1-for-5, RBI, run; Jay Flaa 1-for-3, run; Tanner Schaf 1-for-2, run; Trevor Huck 1-for-5. LL,

Records: Mandan 35-13 Lino Lakes 30-11

Games Saturday

Eden Prairie 12, Mandan 2 (7 innings)

Carroll County 5, Omaha 4 (10 innings)

Mandan 5, Lino Lakes 2

Omaha 16, Sioux Falls East 10

Eden Prairie 8, Carroll County 2

Games today

Mandan vs. Carroll County, 3 p.m.

Eden Prairie vs. Omaha, 6 p.m.

Games Monday

Championship: Sunday’s winners, 11 a.m. (Second championship at 2 p.m. if necessary)

Tags: central plains regional, legion baseball, sports