Aitkin Steam Amateur Baseball

     Nathan Ehnstrom pitched a gem and the #8 seed Aitkin Steam lashed out 12 hits opening up the Region Baseball tournament with a 6-0 win over the top-seeded Randal Cubs at Upsala. Ehnstrom went the distance giving up just six hits while walking two and striking out six hitters. The right-hander threw 120 pitches, 82 for strikes.

    The Steam opened the scoring with a run in the 4th. Jake Ince doubled and after Jake McGuire singled, Drew Paulbeck singled to center to score the run. Aitkin broke the game open with five runs in the 5th inning. With two out the rally got started with a double by Nathan Ehnstrom. Ince followed with his second double of the game that scored one run and Landon Janzen blasted his 4th home run of the season to make it 4-0. Jake McGuire walked, Zach Ehnstrom singled and Paulbeck doubled to right for two more runs. The Steam offense was led by Drew Paulbeck as he went 2-4 and knocked in three runs. Janzen was 1-5 but knocked in two big runs while Nathan Ehnstrom, Ince, and Aiden Flanagan each added a pair of hits to the attack. Ince had the other run batted in with his 2-5 day. Five of the 12 Steam hits were for extra bases. The Steam are back in action next week.

Aitkin   6  12 1

Cubs    0  6 0

WP Nathan Ehnstrom

LP Nate Benning   

      The Aitkin Steam will take on the Randall Cubs Saturday at 10:30 in Upsala in the next round of the Region Tournament. It has been an interesting season for the Steam who sit at 8-8 on the season and are appearing in the Region Tourney for the second straight season. They are blessed with a roster filled with young players and some wily veterans who love to play baseball. Youngsters Aiden Flanagan at .500 and Nolan Dotzler at .417 lead the hitters and have played 12 games between them. Noah Janzen is at .333 in 4 games. Next up is Nathan Ehnstrom who is hitting .314 with one homer and six runs batted and Landon Janzen is at .312 with 3 round-trippers and a team leading 15 runs batted in. John McGuire has knocked in 10, and Zach Ehnstrom has brought 9 runs home on the season. The Steam has hit 8 homeruns led by Janzen with 3, and Jake McGuire with 2. Nathan Ehnstrom, Zach Ehnstrom and John McGuire have each hit 1.

      Nathan Ehnstrom and Thor Dunham have continued to lead the pitching. Ehnstrom is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.76 while fanning 23 in 30 innings. Dunham is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.63 while striking out 37 in 41 innings. Ehnstrom talked about this years team, "We had a goal of making it back to the Region tournament from the start of the season. We didn't start out the way we wanted but we battled back to host another playoff series last weekend. One of the best things about this years team is that each player is willing to play different spots, hit in different spots and do what is asked. We have confidence in each other to get the job done. We have a bit more experience this year and it shows in some close games. We have relied on good pitching and defense and timely hitting to get where we are and we continue to bring that into the Region Tournament."

      Drew Paulbeck has played solid again on defense this season and is hitting .271. He talked about his season, "It's been a super fun year for me. I am able to play with the guys I used to watch growing up. I think this year we had a better turnout every game than last year. Just a good group showed up every Sunday and created more of a team than last year with guys cycling in and out and trying to get enough guys. When we play our best we are a really good baseball team."

     Jake McGuire has done a nice job all season whether on the mound, at the plate or in the field. He thinks his team is in a good spot, "The season has gone well and has been a  lot of fun. The team has come together great and it's been fun playing with guys of all ages. Winning the play-in was huge for us for momentum and we are ready to see what we accomplish as the playoffs continue."

      Landon Janzen loves baseball, not only playing but coaching it and why not. In his 12 games this season he has 15 hits, one of the leaders for the Steam. He has had fun as usual, "It's been a very fun season. Every time I get to step back on the field one last time with the boys I grew up with is nothing short of amazing. You never know when it might be the last time and I never take it for granted. I've got a really good feeling about the Region this season. We've played good baseball the past couple of weeks and are hot at the right time."

     Nolan Dotzler is one of the young players on this year's team but he has had some big plays and big hits this season. He's excited to be playing on this team, "It's been fun, love all the guys on the team, just a fun and talented group and we definitely are going to make some noise heading into regions."

     Jake Ince is a veteran on this year's team and he knows this season has been special, "This season has felt a little different for our team. We're one of the youngest teams we've had in years, but we've built one of the strongest cores. Even though our roster isn't the biggest we've reached a point where if a few guys can't make a game someone else is ready to step in and get the job done. That hasn't always been the case. This team has embraced a true "pass the torch" mentality. We don't rely on one guy to carry us. Every guy is capable of making a difference and that's been one of the biggest strengths all season. After keeping much of the same core together for the last few years, it feels like we are finally finding our footing. The confidence in this group is real and it's showing. Of course, it doesn't hurt that we got new jerseys this season, the second time in team history I believe. It gives the team a fresh look and a little extra swagger going into the playoffs. We're excited to see what this group can accomplish."

    John McGuire is as competitive a player as you would want on your team. He's short on words but an important cog in the Steam machine, "The season has gone well and in the playoffs anything can happen."

    Carson Kullhem has had a solid year hitting .263 and has one of only two triples this season by the Steam with Thor Dunhan having the other. He has enjoyed this season, "It's been a fun year, we have good ballplayers who play hard and know how to have fun which is why we are proud to have made it to Regions. However, it is something we expect to do at this point in our careers. I think the next step is to push for a State Tournament run."

     Thor Dunham has been with the team for a couple years and has turned out to be a top-notch pitcher. He likes his team's chances, "It's been a strong season and we're continuing to get better every time we hit the field. We've put in the work and competed hard every week. We're looking forward to continuing our work and making the most of every opportunity we have left."

     Zach Ehnstrom has played a lot of baseball in his young life, and nobody loves the game more, "It's been an absolute blast this season as usual. It's always fun to get out on the field with old friends and my brother. As far as my performance this year it hasn't been great. I have felt comfortable and confident at the plate all season but haven't gotten the results I was hoping for. I'm starting to hit my stride though which has felt really good."

    This is a Steam team that has come a long way and maybe as they enter Region play this Saturday Landon Janzen may have summed it up perfectly, "Don't let the Steamers get hot".






 

       The Aitkin Steam are moving on to the Region Tourney after a heart-stopping 8-7 win Sunday over the Upsala Blue Jays. A wild pitch scored Nolan Dotzler with the winning run in the final inning after Aitkin tied the game in the 8th on a sacrifice fly by Landon Janzen. The Steam scored three times in the 2nd inning to take a 3-1 lead. Jake Ince reached on an error, Carson Kullhem singled, Jake McGuire walked and Zach Ehnstrom singled to score two runs. Janzen then reached on an error scoring the other. After Upsala scored three in the third the Steam rallied back to take a 6-4 lead. Dotzler singled, Drew Paulbeck singled and later in the inning Jake McGuire doubled to center to score three runs. That brought things to the 8th when Janzen provided the run that tied it at 8-8 and set the Steam up for their heroics in the 9th. Dotzler again provided the impetus for the inning with a bunt single. He stole second and reached third on a groundout. With Owen Foday at the plate Jack Primus uncorked a wild pitch and Dotzler scampered home with the winner. Ehnstrom was 3-5 with two runs batted in while Dotzer and Paulbeck each banged out a pair of hits in the game. Ehnstrom went the first three innings while Paulbeck went the final six innings.

Upsala    7 11 2

Steam     8 11 3

WP Drew Paulbeck

LP Jack Primus

Saturday

Game Two

     The Steam had a chance to end the series Saturday but dropped a 5-4 decision. The Blue Jays scored single runs in the 7th and 8th innings to erase a 4-3 deficit and pick up the win. Aitkin took a 2-0 lead in the first. John McGuire singled, Nathan Ehnstrom was hit by a pitch, Zach Ehnstrom singled to left for one run and Nolan Dotzler singled to right for the second run. The Blue Jays made it 2-1 in their half, but Aitkin took a 3-1 lead in the second. Keyon Wesner walked and later in the inning Nathan Ehnstrom singled to score the run. It was tied at 3-3 after six, but Aitkin retook the lead in the 7th. Nathan singled, Jake McGuire singled and Zach reached on an error. Drew Paulbeck hit a ground ball and reached on an error to score the run. Upsala tied it in the 7th on a hit by Brady Yourczek and got the winning run on a homer in the 8th by Barthel. Thor Dunham started and went six innings striking out four. Carson Kullhem came on and pitched two innings and took the loss. Nathan Ehnstrom and Nolan Dotzler each had two hits to lead the Steam.

Aitkin     4 8 2

Upsala  5 9 2

WP Brady Yourczek

LP Carson Kullhem

Game One

     The Steam got out to a 5-0 lead in the opener on their way to an 8-2 win. They scored once in the first as they worked the double steal for a run and then put four across in the second. Drew Paulbeck singled, Keyon Wesner singled, Carson Kullhem and John McGuire singled for a run leaving the bases loaded. Landon Janzen unloaded them with a double to right for three runs. Upsala scored a run to make it 5-1 but Aitkin got that one back in the 3rd on a run scoring hit by Nathan Ehnstrom. Nolan Dotzler ripped a single to score another run for the Steam in the 4th and Zach Ehnstrom blasted a homerun in the 8th for the final run. Nathan Ehnstrom started and went the distance for the Steam striking out seven in the game. Janzen was 3-5 with three runs batted in and Dotzler and Wesner both had two hits for the winners.

Upsala  2  7 1

Steam  3 12 1

WP Nathan Ehnstrom

LP C. J. Clear

      The Aitkin Steam will open playoff action Saturday with a double-header at Woock Field against Upsala. The best two out of three series begins at 1:30 and continues at 4:30. If a third game is necessary it will be played Sunday, also at Woock Field at 1:30. The winner of this series will move on to the Region Tournament. Aitkin is the #8 seed while Upsala is the #9 seed. 

     The Steam ended the regular season with a record of 6-7. They have been led offensively by Landon Janzen who has driven in 11 runs in his nine games hitting three homers along the way.  He has an average of .324. Nathan Ehnstrom has played in 11 games hitting .310 with a home run and 4 runs batted in. Aiden Flanagan is hitting .583 while playing in just four games while Nolan Dotzler is at .333 while playing in four games. Carson Kullhem and John McGuire have each have knocked in 6 runs. On the mound Nathan Ehnstrom has a record of 2-0 with an ERA of 2.07 while striking out 16 and walking just 1 in 21.2 innings. Thor Dunham is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.57 while striking out 33 in 35 innings. 

      The Aitkin Steam took a 3-2 lead in the third inning Sunday but saw that lead evaporate in an 11-3 loss on the road to the Pierz Brewers. The loss dropped the Steam record to 6-7 on the season with the playoffs looming ahead. Aitkin scored a run in the first to take a 1-0 lead. John McGuire and Landon Janzen singled before Zach Ehnstrom singled to bring the run home. The Brewers scored twice in their half but in the 3rd the Steam took the lead back. Nathan Ehnstrom was hit by a pitch, Jake McGuire walked and Ehnstrom brought both runs home with a double to right. That was the end of the scoring for Aitkin as Pierz tied the game in the 4th, scored three in the 6th, two in the 7th and three more in the 8th. Zach Ehnstrom was 3-4 for the Steam and drove in all three runs, John McGuire was 2-4 and the other three Steam hits went to Janzen, Drew Paulbeck and Aiden Flanagan. Thor Dunham stared on the mound and pitched the first three innings giving up three runs. He was followed by Zach who threw two innings and gave up four runs to take the loss while Nathan pitched the final two innings for the Steam. It was a rare day as the Steam pitchers struck only two batters in the game. 

Steam        3  8 3

Brewers     11 15 1

WP Pete Schommer

LP Zach Ehnstrom   

       Jake McGuire blasted two homeruns as the Aitkin Steam bounced back from a loss Saturday to beat the Blue Jays 5-3 on the road Sunday to square their record at 6-6 on the season. Aitkin took a 1-0 lead in the second with a bases-loaded walk and scored again in the third on McGuires first homer. They made it 3-0 in the fifth as Drew Paulbeck doubled, Jake Ince singled and Hunter Hills walked to load the bases. Thor Dunham was hit by a pitch forcing in a run. The Blue Jays scored twice in their half of the inning to make it 3-2, but the Steam scored a run in the seventh and then McGuire hit his second homer of the game in the eighth to make it 5-2. The Blue Jays finished the scoring with a run in the eighth. Zach Ehnstrom picked up the win on the hill, pitching five innings, walking four and striking out four. Nathan Ehnstrom went the final four striking out five. Jake McGuire was 2-6 with his two round-trippers, Paulbeck had a 2-4 day, and Nathan Ehnstrom, Ince and Dunham each had one hit. 

Steam       5 7 1

Blue Jays  3 7 2

WP Zach Ehnstrom

LP J. Bartkowicz      

        The Aitkin Steam mustered up only six hits Saturday in a 6-3 loss to the Black Sox at Woock Field. Aitkin led 3-1 after three innings but couldn't cross the plate again as their record falls to 5-6 on the season. It was 1-0 Black Sox in the second when the Steam evened things up. John McGuire walked, went to second on a hit to right by John Pelarski before both runners moved up on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Mike Olsen. McGuire scored on a passed ball to make it 1-1. Aitkin took a 3-1 lead in the third. Nathan Ehnstrom was hit by a pitch, Drew Paulbeck singled, Zach Ehnstrom singled to right to score one run and later in the inning a bases loaded walk scored another. That was it for the Steam offense as far as runs were concerned and the Black Sox went to work with a run in the seventh, two in the eighth and another in the ninth to pick up their fifth win of the year. C. Neunschwander came on relief in the third and went the final seven innings for the Black Sox giving up just three hits, didn't walk anybody and fanned 10 in the process. Thor Dunham started for the Steam going four innings giving up just one run, Drew Paulbeck followed giving up a pair of runs, Jake McGuire gave up two runs and Zach Ehnstrom went the final two innings giving up one run. The Steam scattered their six hits among six players, one each by Nathan Ehnstrom, Paulbeck, Zach Ehnstrom, Jake McGuire, Pelarski and Mike Olsen.

Black Sox 6 12 1

Steam       3  6 4

WP C. Neunschwander

LP Jake McGuire    

      Nathan Ehnstrom hit a 5th inning homerun that proved to be the winning run in the Aitkin Steam 4-3 victory Sunday over the Flensburg Falcons at Woock Field. Enstrom's round-tripper climaxed a four-run inning for the Steam that also included a three-run inside-the-park homer by John McGuire. The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning, taking advantage of one of the Steam's four errors in the game to take the lead. That held up until the 5th when the Steam took the lead. Keyon Wesner led off with a single and Noelan Jones followed with a double. That set the stage for McGuire who sent a drive to right, and he circled the bases for a 3-1 lead. With two out Ehnstrom hit his homer to left. Two more runs by Flensburg in the 7th cut the lead to 4-3 but that would be the end of the scoring in the game. The only baserunner in the final two innings for the Falcons was a double by Reece Hubbard. Ehnstrom went the first five innings for the Steam giving up 7 hits and 1 run while striking out four. He threw 67 pitches, 52 for strikes. Wesner followed him to the mound and threw two innings giving up 2 hits and 2 runs while striking out four. He threw 44 pitches, 25 for strikes. Thor Dunham went the final two innings giving up just one hit while striking out 3. He tossed 20 pitches, 15 for strikes. On the offensive side, John McGuire was 3-4 with three runs batted in, Ehnstrom had one hit and a run batted in and Drew Paulbeck, Wesner, and Jones each had one hit.

Falcons   3 10 2

Steam     4  7 4

WP Nathan Ehnstrom

LP Gunnar Gustafson

       The Steam next plays on Saturday, July 11 at home against the Freeport Black Sox.

    The Aitkin Steam salvaged the final game of a three-game weekend Sunday with a 6-2 win over the Riverdogs at Woock Field. Nathan Ehnstrom picked up the win on the hill as he went 7 2/3 innings giving up just five hits and striking out five. Thor Dunham was masterful in relief getting the last four outs on only eight pitches. Ehnstrom, Jake Ince and Jake McGuire all had two hits to lead the offense. The Riverdogs scored first as they scored a run in the top of the second, but the lead didn't last long as the Steam scored four times in their half. Ince reached on an error, McGuire singled to left, Carson Kullhem and Aiden Flanagan followed with singles and Ehnstrom doubled to right for two runs and it was 4-1. After the Riverdogs got a run in the second on an errant throw Aitkin got it back with a run in the 6th. Drew Paulbeck singled, McGuire singled and Nolan Dotzler plated the run with a hit to center. They made it 6-2 in the 8th as Ince singled, Paulbeck reached on an error and Kullhem reached on a fielders choice with the run scoring on the throw.

Riverdogs  2 5 2

Steam        6 12 1

WP Nathan Ehnstrom

LP Marcus Hayes

     The Aitkin Steam lost a pair of games Saturday, dropping the rain delayed game from last week to Clear Lake 3-2 and lost 6-2 to Clearwater. In the finish to the Lakers game Alex Schroeder singled in the bottom of the 9th inning to drive in the winning run after the Steam had tied the game in the top of the inning. Aitkin trailed 2-0 when Nolan Dotzler singled, Zach Ehnstrom doubled and Noah Janzen grounded out for the first run. Aiden Flanagan did the same, and the game was even at 2-2. That set the stage for Schroeders heroics in the bottom of the inning. Zach Ehnstrom took the loss for the Steam. Flanagan was 3-3 to lead the offense while Jake Ince was 2-2 and Nathan Ehnstrom was 2-4.

Steam      2 9 0

Lakers      3 11  0

WP Jackson Phillipp

LP Zach Ehnstrom

     The Clearwater Rivercats took an early 5-0 lead before the Steam was able to get on the board. Aitkin scored twice in the 4th inning as Nolan Dotzler, Noah Janzen and Aiden Flanagan all singled to load the bases. Carson Kullhem walked for one run and Thor Dunham grounded out scoring the second run. Aiden Flanagan was 2-2, Zach Ehnstrom was 2-4 and Nolan Dotzler was also 2-4. 

Steam      2 9 0

Rivercats 6 8 0

WP Andy Nefs

LP Jack Jacobson

     The Aitkin Steam banged out 19 hits Sunday and moved their record to 3-2 with a 14-6 win at Woock Field over the Cubs. Landon Janzen, Noah Janzen and Carson Kullhem all had three hits in the game while Keyon Wesner, Drew Paulbeck and Jake Ince each added two hits to the attack. Thor Dunham threw six shutdown innings in relief of Wesner, striking out three. Zach Ehnstrom pitched the final two innings.

    The Cubs took a quick 1-0 lead in the first but the Steam roared back with a four-run inning. Wesner singled and Landon Janzen blasted his third homerun of the season down the left-field line for a 2-1 lead. Ince followed with a single, John McGuire walked and Noah Janzen singled to load the bases. Two passed balls brought home the other two runs in the inning.  The Cubs took the lead back with four runs in the second. Aitkin got two in their half to make it a 6-5 Steam advantage. Paulbeck drew a walk, Landon Janzen singled, the two runners produced a double steal for one run and Ince singled for the other. One run made it 7-5 in the third as Kullhem and Paulbeck singled and the run came home on a wild pitch. The game remained 7-5 until the Steam scored three in the 7th. Noah Janzen singled, Dunham doubled, Kullhem tripled for two runs and Wesner singled for the other. Four runs in the 8th put the game away. Ince singled, Noah Janzen singled, Carter Masloski picked up his first hit of the day, Kullhem singled for a run, Wesner bounced into an out for another and after a Paulbeck single, Landon Janzen doubled for the final run. Zach Ehnstrom set down the Cubs in the 9th and the Steam had the win.

Cubs        6 12 0

Steam    14 19 3