In August 2022 I was appointed the publisher of a group of three community newspapers, collectively known in Forum Communications Co. as the "Lakes Group." I hadn't been a full-time publisher in a number of years, but I saw an opportunity to return to working in the community newspaper space. And while the gig only lasted 10 months before an eventual company restructuring, it was one of the most rewarding professional stints I've ever had. Hats off the the staffs at the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena Pioneer Journal for welcoming this old newspaper hack for a great run!
April 25, 2023
By Devlyn Brooks
MOORHEAD – Oh for the lost opportunities.
With a timely hit here or there, the young Perham Yellowjackets baseball team may have altered what turned out to be an 8-0 offensive onslaught by the host Moorhead Spuds on Monday.
Thanks to some early pitching jitters by Spuds starter Aaron Reierson, including walks and wild pitches, the Yellowjackets found themselves with runners on second and third in both the first and second innings on Moorhead’s Matson Field. But, unfortunately, both innings ended without a payoff, and Perham wouldn’t successfully challenge the Spuds until a late rally in the top of the seventh.
“Just one timely hit here or there …,” Coach James Mulcahy said, “makes all the difference.”
At first it seemed that the Jackets’ early squandered opportunities might not come back to haunt them as Perham pitchers combined to quiet the Spuds’ bats through the first two innings as well.
But then, in the bottom of the third, the Spuds scored first when Brady Saari smacked a line drive into short left field to bring in Tyden Bergeson who had reached first on a long single to deep right field. He was moved to second on a Carter Heinsel sacrifice bunt and to third when Reierson hit a sacrifice fly to dead center.
That one run would have been enough for Moorhead to notch the win, but they added another run in the fourth, and exploded for three more runs each in the fifth and sixth innings. In total, the Spuds racked up 10 hits versus seven Perham pitchers who took the mound.
Cullen Wilson put an exclamation point on the Spuds’ win by driving a pitch deep over the leftfield fence for a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
The Yellowjackets fought hard until the end, loading the bases in the top of the seventh inning before surrendering the game on a double play.
Ashton Detloff delivered the Jacket’s lone offensive highlight with a single in the second inning. He also was Perham’s starting pitcher, delivering one inning, allowing no runs on one hit, and recording one strike out and one walk.
Austin Schmelz took the loss for Perham, pitching one inning, allowing two hits and one run.
Reierson tallied the win for Moorhead, giving up one hit and no runs over four innings. He struck out eight. Elijah Mack threw three innings in relief out of the bullpen, and recorded the last nine outs to earn the save for Moorhead.
Cullen Wilson, Colby Asheim and Carter Heinsch each managed multiple hits for Moorhead. Heinsch led Moorhead with two stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with nine stolen bases.
The quickly arranged game was pulled together Sunday night when Coach Mulcahy was texting with Spuds coach Greg Salvevold about JV and 7/8th grade games scheduled for later in the week.. Mulcahy mentioned they’d lost a game in their schedule April 21 when Delano canceled, and coach Salvevold mentioned they coincidentally had the Monday opening thanks to a cancellation.
“The game came together in about 20 minutes,” Mulcahy said.
PERHAM - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0
MOORHEAD - 0 0 1 1 3 3 X - 8
PERHAM PITCHING- Ashton Detloff 1IP, 1H, BB, K; Evan Kovash 1IP, 1H, K; Austin Schmelz 1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER; Gamble Bye 1IP, 1H, 1R, BB, 2K; Blaiz Schmidt 1IP, 3H, 3R, 2ER, BB, K; Mason Dolen 0.2IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, K, HR; Cullen Poole 0.1IP
PERHAM HITTING- Gage Aanenson 0-3, BB, K; Gamble Bye 0-1, 2BB; Ben Shumansky 0-3, 2K; Evan Kovash 0-2, BB, 2K; Austin Schmelz 0-2, K; Omar Briseno 0-1, K; Blaiz Schmidt 0-3; Ashton Detloff 1-2, K; Cullen Poole 0-1; Brock Melgard 0-1, BB, K; Seth Urbach 0-1; Conner Colliton 0-2, K; Dane Helleckson 0-0
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