WILLMAR -- The Willmar Rails notched their first win of the Cornbelt South campaign without much fuss on Friday night in their home opener.
The Rails drilled the Bird Island Islander (0-1, 0-1) by a 12-1 score before a sparse crowd at Taunton Stadium.
The Rails' eight-run second inning put this one out of reach early for the Islanders, who were making their season debut.
Steve Wetterling had two hits in the inning for Willmar and Ross Van Hauen and Cory Schwantes each ripped doubles off Bird Island starter Jesse Bjur, who lasted four innings before giving way to Mark Neubauer.
Willmar finished with 12 hits, three by leadoff Lane Kleist.
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Rails right-hander Jason Scheffler breezed through seven innings not giving up a walk, fanning six. The Islanders bunched two of their three hits in the fifth. Player/manager Mike Nagel singled and scored on a double by Brad Gass.
Willmar will be without starters Jordan Olson and Van Hauen when they host Milroy at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, but the Yankees won't have their young slugger Matt Bauer who's playing for Ridgewater at the juco World Series in Texas.
Willmar 12, Bird Island 1
Bird Island 000 001 0 -- 1 3 3
Willmar 083 010 x -- 12 12 0
HITTING - Bird Island: Brad Gass 1-for-2, rbi; Mike Nagel 1-for-3, Stephen Engleman 1-for-3 ... Willmar: Lane Kleist 3-for-5, 2 rbi; Matt Sagedahl 1-for-3, Jordan Olson 1-for-4, 2 rbi; Cory Schwantes 1-for-4, 2b, 2 rbi; Steve Wetterling 2-for-3, Ross Van Hauen 1-for-4, Kyle Birkland 2-for-4, 2b, 2 runs, rbi; Matt Carlson 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Bird Island: Jesse Bjur (L) 4-10-11-10-4-1, Mark Neubauer 2-2-1-1-2-0 ... Willmar: Jason Scheffler (W) 7-3-1-1-0-6
