The Otters knew that they had to win their first game against Casselton in order to have a chance to advance to the championship pool on Sunday. Casselton sent their ace to face the Otters in the opening game and kept the Otters in check for 3 innings. In the 4th, the Otters were able to scratch two runs across with Nolan Felstul walking and coming around to score on Brody Krein’s single. Krein also came around to score in the inning. Those two runs were all the Otters needed to win 2-0. Josh Horgen started on the mound for the Otters and pitched 3 innings of no-hit ball while striking out 6. Krein came in to relieve Horgen and only allowed one hit while striking out 4. The Otters received two very key outfield plays from Logan Schoon and Benett Thielke. In the fourth, Krein hit the first batter and the second batter sent one to left that looked like it was going to go over Schoon’s head but Schoon made a great break on the ball to catch it and then double-off the runner on first. In the bottom of the 5th, Thielke ran a country mile to track down a fly ball for the first out to prevent any type of hope for Casselton. Kadyn Zender had a single for the Otters in the game.

In the second game, the Otters knew that if they beat Minnewaska, they would go into the championship pool. The Otters started off slow as they didn’t score in the first two innings. However, in the 3rd, they blew things opened and ended the game by the 15 run rule (15-0). The Otters scored 15 times in the 3rd with every player scoring. Caleb Fronning (2b and 2 runs), Felstul (2 runs), Krein (2 runs), Benett Thielke (one run) and Logan Schoon (2 3b’s and 2 runs), all had two hits to lead the Otters. Jacob Jenc (2 walks) and Kadyn Zender (single and a walk) also scored two runs for the Otters. John Abrahams and Kellen Funkhouser both had hits and scored a run each and Horgen walked and scored a run. Fronning started the game and pitched 3 efficient innings only giving up one hit.

With the 2 wins on Saturday, the Otters went into the championship pool with Coast 2 Coast Elite (Sioux Falls) and Blaine in a round robin format. Unfortunately, the Otters came out on the losing end of both games and ended up taking third place.

On Sunday morning, the Otters opened with Coast 2 Coast Elite and got on the board right away with Felstul singling and coming around to score. The Otters tacked on one more in the 2nd with Thielke singling and coming around to score. In the bottom of the 2nd, Coast 2 Coast scored five runs and then tacked on 4 more in the 3rd. In the 3rd, the Otters scored one with Fronning doubling and coming around to score. Down 9-3 after 3, the Otters did not give up. In the 5th, they scored 4 runs to cut the lead to 2. Horgen led off the inning with a single, Hunter Welle was hit by a pitch, and both came home on Fronning’s second double of the game. Felstul singled and scored on Krein’s single to end the scoring for the inning. The Otters had a chance in the top of the 6th to tie it as they had runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs but Coast 2 Coast ended the threat. Krein and Felstul both pitched well for the Otters despite their box scores.

The Otters faced a tough Blaine team with a chance to wreak havoc on the championship pool by creating a 3-way tie if they won, but fell victim to a strong pitching performance by the Blaine pitcher who had a devastating curveball. The Otters were only able to get one hit in the game with Krein singling. Fronning, Horgen, and Jenc all pitched well for the Otters in the loss.

The Otters end the tournament with a 7-2 record and host Brainerd for a doubleheader on May 27 at 6:00 p.m. at Delagoon Park.