Rails top Milroy in home opener

WILLMAR -- Josh Dahlke singled in Lane Kleist with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and Jason Scheffler and George Jacobson combined to blank Milroy as Willmar edged the Yankees 1-0 Friday in a Cornbelt League game.

Kleist opened the ninth by laying down a bunt that rolled down the third-base line. Milroy waited for the ball to roll foul, but it stayed in play and Kleist reached first. Kleist then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Dave Schmidt before moving to third on Jordan Olson's sacrifice bunt.

Dahlke followed with a high chopper that went over the Milroy shortstop's head, allowing Kleist to score the game's only run.

Scheffler worked the first seven innings, giving up five singles without issuing a walk. Jacobson then got four fly outs and two ground outs in the eighth and ninth to get the win in relief. The two also combined to keep Milroy's No. 3 (Matt Bauer), 4 (Justin Schlemmer) and 5 (Eric Dolan) hitters hitless in 11 at bats.

The Yankees also didn't advance a runner past second base, as did Willmar until the ninth.

Josh Hadley shut out Willmar (1-1, 1-1) for eight innings before paving the way for Dave Schmidt.

The Rails hosts Starbuck Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for another Cornbelt game.

Willmar 1, Milroy 0

Milroy 000 000 000 -- 0 5 0

Willmar 000 000 001 -- 1 7 2

HITTING - Milroy: Dave Schmidt 1-for-4; Andy Schmidt 1-for-4; Josh Hadley 1-for-4; Dean Zwach 1-for-3; Micah Gronli 1-for-3 ... Willmar: Matt Sagedahl 1-for-4; Lane Kleist 1-for-4; Josh Dahlke 1-for-4, rbi; Matt Seehusen 1-for-3; Anthony Stern 1-for-3; Josh Swatzky 1-for-3; Zach Horning 1-for-3

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Milroy: Josh Hadley 8-6-0-0-0-6, Dave Schmidt (L) 1/3-1-1-1-0-0 ... Willmar: Jason Scheffler 7-5-0-0-0-2, George Jacobson (W) 2-0-0-0-0-0