<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=35GgyB_0tIcznTq00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=35GgyB_0tIcznTq00" width="294" height="300" ><figcaption>Jackson Yanke threw a complete game against Litchfield, giving up three runs (none earned).</figcaption></figure>The Chargers baseball team finished out the regular season in style, winning three of their final four games.DC swept Litchfield in dramatic fashion Wednesday, May 15, lost at home to New London-Spicer Thursday, May 16, and closed out the regular season with a 3-2 win over Norwood Young America Friday.The team was awarded the #10 seed in Section 5AA, and traveled to #7 Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Thursday.If they won, they will have advanced to the double-elimination portion of the tournament. If they lost, their season is done.The team also traveled to XXX for the first round of the Section Playoffs. Look for those results in next week’s Enterprise Dispatch.If they won, they will play the winner of #2 Southwest Christian and #15 Brookly Center Tuesday, at the high seed.They would then play Thursday, win or lose. Check out MSHSL for the up-to-date bracket for Section 5AA.DC 4, Litchfield 3LITCHFIELD – The Chargers won a nailbiter in game one of a doubleheader against Litchfield.DC scored twice in the first, and twice more in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead, and held on behind a masterful performance on the mound by Jackson Yanke to score a 4-3 victory.In the first, Kaleb Lang walked with one out. He stole second, and scored on a single by Jackson Yanke. After an out, Isaac Salmen singled to score Yanke.In the fourth, Jayce Olthoff drew a one-out walk,, advanced to second on an error, and reached third on a single by Garrett Kelly.Lang dropped down a squeeze bunt to score Olthoff, and Kelly scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Yanke to give DC a 4-1 lead.Litchfield (4-15) got single runs back in the bottom of the fourth, and the bottom of the fifth, to pull to within 4-3.Yanke was able to finish out the complete game just ahead of the pitch count barrier in the top of the seventh, getting the final out on a line drive to third baseman I. Salmen.Yanke kept the Dragons off balance all game long in another solid performance, despite getting little in the way of defensive help.He gave up just three hits and three walks, while striking out five.All three runs were unearned, as the Chargers committed six errors behind him.Kelly, Yanke, and I. Salmen each had two hits for DC.DC 5, Litchfield 4, 8 inningsLITCHFIELD – One game after hanging on for a 4-3 win, the Chargers and Dragons battled back-and-forth for a second straight game.Litchfield scored runs in each of the first three innings to take a 4-0 lead, and for a moment appeared poised to gain a split in the doubleheader.However, the Chargers scored three runs in the fourth, and one more in the fifth to tie the game at 4-4.In the bottom of the fourth, Ryan Raisanen and Isaac Salmen drew back-to-back walks, and Josh Massingham was hit by a pitch to load the bases.After an out, Jayce Olthoff, Jaeden McKinley, and Garrett Kelly drew bases-loaded walks, chasing Litchfield starter Jordan Abbott from the game.DC tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Jackson Yanke drew a walk to lead off the inning, stole second, and took third on a throwing error. Ryan Raisanen then dropped a squeeze bunt to score Yanke.The score remained 4-4 until the bottom of the eighth.Massingham opened the inning with a single, with Spencer Stertz entering as a courtesy runner. Abfalter then bunted Stertz to second.Olthoff reached on an error to put runners on second and third, and after an out, Garrett Kelly stepped to the plate with runners on second and third, and two outs.Kelly hit a sharp ground ball to third base, and the third baseman fired wide of first to give the Chargers the walkoff victory.Noah Pokornowski got the start on the mound, and had another solid performance. He gave up just two earned runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out three, through four innings.Josh Massingham had his best performance of the season in relief to pick up the victory.Massingham did not give up a run through four innings, scattering five hits. He did not walk a batter, and struck out one.New London-Spicer 7, DC 1COKATO – For a moment, the Chargers were poised for a big early inning against the Wildcats (12-5).In the bottom of the first, Garrett Kelly and Kaleb Lang walked, Jackson Yanke reached on a bunt single, and Isaac Salmen was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and leave the bases loaded with nobody out.Unfortunately, that would be it for scoring for DC, as the next three batters got out, and the Wildcats responded with seven runs in a 7-1 victory.Kaleb Lang got his first start on the mound, and gave up no runs in his first two innings of work.In the third, however, the Wildcats touched him up for four runs.Jayce Olthoff came on relief, and gave up three runs in five innings.I. Salmen had two of DC’s seven hits, with Wyatt Abfalter hitting a double.DC 3, Norwood Young America 2NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA – Ryan Raisanen threw a complete game, and Isaac Salmen cracked a big two-run double in the top of the sixth, to lead DC to a 3-2 victory over Norwood Young America (14-5) Friday in the final game of the regular season.Raisanen gave up just three hits and one walk through seven innings, while striking out three. Both of the runs scored against him were unearned.Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth, Spencer Stertz singled with one out. Raisanen bunted Stertz to second, giving the Raiders a second out.Garrett Kelly and Anton Haataja walked to load the bases, and Jackson Yanke singled to drive in Stertz.I. Salmen followed with a double to center, scoring Kelly and A. Haataja to put DC up 3-1.In the bottom of the seventh, the Raiders got one back with an HBP and error, but with a runner at third Raisanen induced a ground ball to end the game.Comments from head coach Justin McKinley:“The boys have been putting it all together at the right time, a few of the seniors have really stepped up and been great leaders.Spencer Stertz and Josh Massingham have been in and out of the lineup throughout the season, and both have been a huge part of us winning the last couple games this year.Josh came in and bailed us out of a tough situation against Litchfield with a great pitching performance, and gave us a chance to win it in extra innings. Then Spencer Stertz came up with a couple great at bats which allowed us to win the game against Norwood. JJackson Yanke and Ryan Raisanen went complete games against Litchfield and Norwood for us, which was huge.I could talk about every single player on the field and on the bench being a huge part of our success this season. We’ve had five different pitchers win baseball games for us this year. Most teams have a couple arms they rely on, we’ve been fortunate to have so many we can go to. I set high goals for the boys and they’ve finally started believing.”</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Chargers baseball closes out regular season on high note; Section 5AA playoffs begin

The Chargers baseball team finished out the regular season in style, winning three of their final four games. DC swept Litchfield in dramatic fashion Wednesday, May 15, lost at home to New London-Spicer Thursday, May 16, and closed out the regular season with a 3-2 win over Norwood Young America Friday.

Chargers baseball closes out regular season on high note; Section 5AA playoffs begin

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