Firechiefs Advance to Second Round at State Tournament

The Milbank Firechiefs blasted their way though the first round of the 2022 Class B Amateur State Tournament in an 8-4 victory over the Akron Iowa Rebels. Milbank’s smoking hot offense put up 16 hits to support Dom Boerger’s 20 strikeouts.

Although D. Boerger gave up three runs in the top of the fourth, he remained invincible on the mound. He struck out every Rebel batter at least once and fanned seven of them twice. Lance Frogner recorded four hits and three RBIs.In Milbank’s first at-bat, Taylor Boerger whacked a sharp single to right. Jacob Jackson was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. Brady Krause reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, which brought T. Boerger and Jackson around to score and give Milbank an early lead at 2-0. Travis Lester singled to score Krause. The Firechiefs led 3-0.In the bottom of the third, Kaden Krause led off with a single. D. Boerger moved him to second with a single to right, and Frogner’s deep single to left scored Krause from second. The Firechiefs remained out in front at 4-0.

Akron’s offense flared up in the top of the fourth with a pair of RBI singles and an RBI groundout. But, their their runs only ignited Milbank’s offense. Jackson drew a one-out walk and Krause followed him with a single. Frogner dispatched a single to center to score Jackson and stretch Milbank’s lead to 5-3.Mitch Quade scouted out a walk to start the bottom of the seventh, and Jay Huber moved Quade to second with a sacrifice bunt to put Huber in scoring position. T. Boerger singled to score Quade and push Milbank’s lead to 6-3. T. Boerger then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but he didn’t stay there long. Jackson singled to left to score him and give Milbank a 7-3 lead.In the eighth, D. Boerger drew a lead off walk and was quickly back in the dugout after Lance Frogner doubled. The Firechiefs led 8-3.

Akron rekindled their hopes for a late-in-the-game victory when Preston Fejfar hit a four-bagger with two outs in the top of the ninth, but the Firechiefs quickly extinguished the Rebels’ plan and took the win at 8-4. 
Milbank moves on to the second round. The Firechiefs take on the Mount Vernon Mustangs, who defeated Redfield Dairy Queen 10-0 in their first-round game.  The Firechiefs face the Mustangs on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.