Ancients earn 4^th Place in Class B at State Tournament

The Ancients drew the Slayton Barnstormer’s in semi-finals action of the Class B State Minnesota Senior Men’s Amateur Baseball Association (a league for players 35 and over) tournament in Jordan, MN, losing 4-7 on Saturday.  They then dropped the 3^rd Place game against the New Hope Bandits 1-6 on Sunday in Belle Plaine, MN, ending their season with a record of 7-10. 

In Saturday’s game, the Ancients jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  Greg Anderson started off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dan Smith, and scored on a Monte Fredrickson single.  After Will Uhlich singled Monte to second, Mike Mertes plated him with the fourth hit of the inning.  Fergus Falls starting pitcher Brian Jacobson gave up a run in the first and three more in the second, but Fredrickson led off the top of the third getting hit by a pitch and advanced to third base on a Mike Mertes base hit down the 1^st base line.  Fredrickson then scored on a fielder’s choice pick off play, pulling the Ancients within 3-4.  Slayton plated two more runs in the bottom of the inning.  Greg Anderson led off the fifth inning with a line drive home run down the left field line just clearing the fence at 310 feet, for the Ancients second home run of the tournament.  Slayton scored one more in the bottom of the sixth for a final score of 4-7, moving them into the B championship game, which they won on Sunday 3-2 over Bloomington.

The Ancients moved on to Sunday afternoon’s contest in Belle Plaine against the New Hope Bandits for the 3^rd place game.  The Ancients fell behind 3-0 before Monte Fredrickson recorded the first Fergus Falls hit in the fourth inning.  The Ancients only run came in the 7^th inning after a lead off walk to Brian Jacobson, a wild pitch advanced him to second, Greg Anderson singled to left center (his second hit of the game) advancing Jacobson to third, and Dan Smith singled to right field to plate the run.  Will Uhlich pitched a complete game, losing 1-6.  Cary Knudson contributed the only other hit for the Ancients.

If there are any players over 35 who are interested in continuing their baseball careers next summer, please contact Cary Knudson at 218-343-9630 or Monte Fredrickson at 218-205-0314.  Next season’s first game will be the weekend after Memorial Day, June 5^th or 6^th.

The Ancients snuck by the Urbank Goldtimers in Minnesota Senior Men’s Amateur Baseball Association Northwestern League Action (for players aged 35 and over).  The Ancients won 14-12 in seven innings to improve their league record to (5-3) and break even overall at (6-6).  This keeps the Ancients hopes for a second place finish alive.  League standings can be reviewed at www.msmaba.com.  Next up for Fergus Falls is the Menahga Relics on Sunday @ 6:00pm at American Legion Field in Delagoon Park.

In a game where the batters took control, Urbank pitcher Jim Norby was knocked out in the second inning after facing seven batters.  The Ancients batted around in both the first and second innings putting 13 runs on the board.  Kurt Nygaard (3-5, 3 runs, 3 RBI’s), Cary Knudson (2-3, 2 runs, RBI), and Ward Olson (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI’s) led the way offensively.  Monte Fredrickson, Mike Mertes, Troy Wittenberg, and Travis Martinson each contributed a base hit in the game. 

Will Uhlich, the Ancients starting pitcher, slammed the door the first two innings before Urbank decided enough was enough and quickly put nine of their own runs on the board, sending thirteen batters to the plate in the third inning.  They tacked on another run in the fourth and two in the fifth against relief pitcher Kurt Nygaard, pulling within one run at 12-13.  In the bottom of the fifth, Nygaard singled, advanced to second on a pass ball, and eventually scored on a Ward Olson single, giving the Ancients a little breathing room at 14-12.

Greg Anderson took over on the mound to start the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings, striking out five, to pick up his third save in as many tries.  Kurt Nygaard picked up the win and is now 1-0 on the season in three relief appearances.

Ancients Manager Monte Fredrickson commented, “Nice to see the bats come alive with 11 hits. We need to put it all together hitting, defense and pitching to defeat the Relic’s on Sunday.”

Ancients Upset Classic Clippers

The Ancients drew the Alexandria Classic Clippers for the team’s first home contest for league competition in Minnesota Senior Men’s Amateur Baseball Association action.  The Ancients won 2-1 in seven innings to improve their league record to (4-3) and overall record to (5-6).  This was the first league loss of the season for the Classic Clippers who hold a first place tie with Perham with 4-1 records, one game ahead of Fergus Falls. With this loss, Alexandria’s 20 game league winning streak was snapped. The last league lost for the Classic Clippers was June 21^st, 2007 against the Menagha-Sebeka Relic’s.

In a game with good defense and pitching, each team committing one error, there were no earned runs.  Alexandria struck first in the top of the third inning on two walks, catcher’s interference, and a sacrifice fly.  Further damage was averted when the last two batters popped up to infielders.

The Ancient nine came back in the bottom of the fifth with two unearned runs.  Dan Smith began the scoring rally on a hard ground ball to third base that was thrown in the dirt at first for the Alexandria error.  After Smith was advanced to second on an infield out, Cary Knudson walked to put runners on first and second with two outs.  Kurt Nygaard then dropped a single into right center field, scoring Dan Smith, with Knudson and Nygaard advancing to third and second on the throw to the plate. Knudson scored the deciding run on a wild pitch to the next batter to complete the scoring for the evening. 

Gary Serum pitched six innings for Alexandria, picking up the tough luck loss, while Brian Jacobson improved his record to (4-2) while going the distance. “Smoke” Jacobson allowed one unearned run on 7 hits. Jacobson struck out 3 and walked 1 Classic Clipper batter.

Ancients Coach Cary Knudson commented, “Great pitching, great defense, and a timely hit were a recipe for a great win.”

Ancients Hurlers Whitewash Goldtimers

The Ancients traveled to Urbank on Friday for league competition in Minnesota Senior Men’s Amateur Baseball Association Action.

The Fergus Falls nine brought their leather and weren’t afraid to flash it, making several outstanding defensive plays, turning two double plays, while only committing a single error in seven regular innings and two extra frames.  Fergus Falls starter, Brian “Smoke” Jacobson (3-2) went eight innings, scattering six hits while issuing two base on balls.  Urbank Goldtimers mounted a threat in the fourth inning when Joe Dorn singled on a flare to center field.  Dorn then advanced to third on a Fergus Falls throwing error, putting runners on first and third with nobody out.  Goldtimers lefty Kerby Lund hit a hard grounder to first baseman Will Uhlich, who stepped on the bag for one out while holding the runner at third.  The next batter, Jim Norby, hit a hard grounder to shortstop Dan Smith who started the double play by throwing to pivot man Roy Anderson.  Anderson throw to first got the third out on a close play, killing the rally.

Greg Anderson started the winning rally with two outs in the top of the ninth with a line drive up the middle.  Dan Smith then smoked the next pitch to left field putting runners on first and second.  Monte Fredrickson drove in the winning run with a line drive on a 3-2 count, giving Fergus Falls the lead.  Greg Anderson “shut the door” in the bottom of the ninth inning, striking out two, to pick up his second save on the season in as many opportunities.

Ancients Coach Cary Knudson commented, “This was a really well played fun game – we made all the defensive plays we needed to and played a solid team game.  Hopefully this game will be a turning point in the season, a game we can look back to and say we started playing good ball on July 17^th.”

The Ancients improved to (4-4) overall, and (3-3) in league play.  The team begins a home stand against Alexandria on July 26 at American Legion Field in Delagoon Park @ 8:00pm, followed with games against Urbank, Menagha, and Perham on July 30 (7:00pm), August 2(2:00pm), and August 9(7:00pm) – all at American Legion Field in Delagoon Park.

Menahga Relics 7     Fergus Falls 1 

Fergus Falls Ancients 9   Brainerd (Nisswa) Bobcats 2 

Fergus Falls Ancient`s take 2 from the Nisswa Bobcats. The first game was 7-1 and night cap was 9-2. Both teams are members of the Minnesota Senior Men`s Amateur Baseball Association. This league is made up of player`s over the age of 35. This is the 6th year for the Ancients.
 
In the first game Will Uhlich, Wahpeton righthander, allowed only 3 hits and no runs in 5 innings pitched to earn the victory for the Ancient`s. Uhlich stuck out 9 and walked 2. 65 year old, Dick Walvatne replaced Uhlich in 6th. Walvatne walked 3 Bobcat hitter`s, allowed one earned run and was replaced by fireballer Greg Anderson. Anderson struck out 4 Bobcat hitters, allowed 0 runs and yielded only one free pass in his 2 innings of relief pitching.
 
Ancient hitters banged out 7 hits. Wayne Bradley lead the way with 2 hits. Mike Mertes, Dan McCoss, Roy Anderson, Monte Fredrickson and Greg Anderson each had 1 hit.
 
In game two Brian Jacobson pitched a marvelous game allowing only 2 hits in 7 innings pitched. Jacobson struck out 9, walked 2 and allowed 2 unearned runs to get his first victory of the year.
 
Offensively, the Ancients legged out 12 hits. Greg Anderson and Monte Fredrickson(2rbi) lead all hitters with 3 hits. Newcomer Kurt Nygaard (rbi) and Dan Smith (rbi) each had 2 hits. Uhlich (2 rbi) and battery mate Cary Knudson each had a hit.
 
Next game will be June 7th, when the Ancients travel to Saint Mathias, MN to participate in a tournament.