Amateur baseball roundup: Pitchers' delight in season opener

The amateur baseball season opened in southern Minnesota on Sunday and pitchers were pretty much ahead of the hitters.

With one notable exception.

The Luverne Redbirds, who last summer earned a trip to the Minnesota Baseball Association state tournament for the third year in a row, opened the 2023 campaign with a 25-1 victory over Mountain Lake.

Elsewhere in season-opening action involving Gopher and First Nite League teams it was Worthington over Hadley 2-1 in 10 innings, the Milroy Irish over Windom 2-1 in 13 innings, and Jackson over Heron Lake 11-5.

Here’s a recap of Sunday’s action:

LUVERNE 25, MOUNTAIN LAKE 1

LUVERNE — Nick Smith and Ben Serie homered and each went 4-for-5 as the host Cardinals blasted the Lakers.

Smith and Serie also combined to pitch six no-hit innings.

Luverne had 19 hits, including three by Declan Beers. Skyler Wenninger was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and four runs scored.

MILROY IRISH 2, WINDOM 1 (13)

MILROY — Luke Dolan had the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 13th for the Irish.

Derek Smith had two hits for Milroy. Kenny Morris pitched five scoreless innings and Anthony Dolan earned the mound victory in relief.

JACKSON 11, HERON LAKE 5

HERON LAKE — Easton Bahr had two hits, two stolen bases and two runs scored as the Bulls rallied past the Lakers.

Heron Lake led 5-4 after six innings before Seth Busch cracked a two-run triple to put Jackson ahead to stay. Chris Gumto had three hits, including a double, for the Bulls. Carter Snyder had two hits and an RBI.

For Heron Lake, Joseph Torres went 2-for-3, while teammate Angel Perez was 2-for-4 with an RBI.