109th Article at the Independent

AMATEUR BASEBALL: Milroy Irish cruise past Jackson, 12-4

CHRIS DRUMMOND

cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

MILROY — Even though the Milroy Irish amateur baseball team came away with a win, attached with it was a key loss.

The Irish scored in every inning of their 12-4 victory against the Jackson Bulls on Sunday, but they will go into next couple of games without first baseman Brady Lanoue after he was thrown out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The play occurred in the top of the fourth inning where Lanoue caught a ball converting a double play on defense and he proceeded to drop the ball on the opposing player’s back. After the inning was over, words were being expressed by both teams which led into a confrontation with both managers and the umpires. Ultimately, Lanoue was thrown out of the game and because Lanoue was thrown out, he is ineligible to play in the next two games. He then proceeded to grab his things, walked by the opposing bench and exited the field. Prior to his ejection, Lanoue cracked a ball to deep left-center field for a two-run home run, tying the ballgame up at two for the Irish at the end of the first inning.

That situation would have no effect on the game as the Irish continued to pour it on. Outfielder Josh Baker also hit a solo home run over the left field wall increasing the lead to 9-3 before the Irish cruised to a 12-4 victory over the Bulls.

Irish manager Anthony Dolan spoke about his team’s performance in the game and also chimed in on the Lanoue ejection.

The bats don’t get much hotter than that, putting up 17 hits in six innings, everyone is hitting the ball real hard,” Dolan added. “Based on the Minnesota state rules, if you get thrown out of a game, you have to miss two additional games. I was frustrated because the umpires didn’t come talk to me about it before making the decision.”

Dolan would also advocate that the umpires were going to change the call and keep Lanoue in, but the opposing coach challenged that and wouldn’t allow an overturn of calls. Dolan also spoke on the message he would tell Lanoue moving forward.

“The message is we love that energy, fire, and passion he plays with but he has to dial it down a bit so he can stay on the field for us,” he said.

Third baseman for the Irish Ben Heichel reached base in all of his at-bats going 4-4 while Baker had three hits including the home run and Kenny Morris who started for the Irish in the game, threw a complete game in the victory.

The Irish later defeated Lakefield 12-1 in five innings in their second game of the day. The Irish will face Wabasso on the road on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.