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WILLMAR — Hunter Magnuson and Dylan Arndorfer are back in the Willmar baby blues.
Magnuson and Arndorfer both graduated from Willmar High School in 2021. But, they are eligible to play for the Willmar Post 167 American Legion baseball team because of when their 19th birthdays are. They both were in the starting lineup for the season opener Thursday against Dassel-Cokato at Bill Taunton Stadium.
The duo fit right back in with their former teammates as Post 167 cruised to a 10-0 five-inning victory.
“Knowing this is the last year I get to take the field with my friends, it’s just fun,” Magnuson said. “I’ll enjoy every moment I get.”
“It’s pretty weird getting back out here; it’s a lot different than last year,” Arndorfer added. “It’s honestly a really good group to play with. We’re all really energized to play the game. We work well together.”
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Players born in 2003 can be eligible to play Legion ball in 2022, regardless of graduating class. Players born in 2002 are not eligible.
Magnuson is back after spending the spring playing at Valley City State University in, North Dakota. And aside from playing Legion ball, he also plays for the New London-Spicer Twins amateur baseball team.
“When I was at college playing ball and they were having games, we’d always talk,” Magnuson said. “I stayed really close with this friend group, even when I was gone.”
Magnuson was the starting pitcher for the Twins on Wednesday in a 2-1 victory against the Paynesville Pirates. On Thursday, Magnuson was manning second base for Post 167. He finished 1-for-3 with a run, scoring as part of a six-run, five-hit bottom of the first for Willmar.
Ian Koosman and Sam Etterman led the Willmar offense with both going 2-for-3.
For Arndorfer, this summer with Post 167 is his summer baseball. He put on the catcher’s gear and worked effectively with starting pitcher Cayden Hansen. Over four innings, Hansen struck out five with two hits and no walks allowed to get the win.
“(Cayden) just does a great job,” Arndorfer said. “He’s all-around a good pitcher and a great player. I love playing with the guy.”
Having Magnuson and Arndorfer back in the fray helps a team with high aspirations. Post 167 finished in third place at the Division I state tournament last year. Willmar is ranked second this season in the Division I Legion baseball rankings released on June 9. Mankato National is the top-ranked team.
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“We have another tough schedule and it’s going to be a grind again,” said Willmar head coach Doug Ruter. “We’re excited. We had such a blast last year and we’re hoping to carry it on.”
Willmar 10, Dassel-Cokato 0
Dassel-Cokato 000 00-0 2 6
Willmar 603 1x-10 10 1
Hitting - Dassel-Cokato: Jayce Olthoff 1-2, Blake Morris 1-2 … Willmar: Brandt Sunder 1-3 r-2, Hunter Magnuson 1-3 r, Ian Koosman 2-3 r rbi, Sam Etterman 2-3 r rbi-2 sb, Alex Schramm 1-3 r rbi 2b, Cayden Hansen 1-3 r-2 3b, Carter Schow 1-2 r, Dylan Arndorfer 1-2 rbi bb, Sam Raitz 0-1 r rbi bb sf
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Dassel-Cokato: Justice Borg (L) 3-9-9-2-1-1, Jackson Schrupp 1-1-1-1-1-2 … Willmar: Hansen (W) 4-2-0-0-0-5, Jason Malmgren 1-0-0-0-1-0
Tri-Town 6, EV-W 2
The Tri-Town Black Sox rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat Eden Valley-Watkins at Kingery Field int Atwater.
Josh Kingery went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI for Tri-Town.
EV-W 000 002 0-2 4 2
Tri-Town 101 004 x-6 9 3
Hitting - EV-W: Myles Dziengel 0-2 rbi, Sam Nistler 1-2 hbp, Xander Willner 1-3, Jackson Geislinger 1-2 rbi bb, Carson Schmaltz 0-1 r hbp, D. Arnold 1-1, Eric Bauer 0-2 r … Tri-Town: Josh Kingery 3-4 r-2 rbi 2b, Logan Straumann 1-3 rbi-2 hbp, Jack Peterson 2-4, Connor Barker 0-3 rbi hbp, Jaxon Behm 0-2 r bb, Zach Bagley 1-3 r 2b, Keegan Kessler-Gross 1-3 r rbi, Jaxon Drange 1-2 r bb
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - EV-W: Wilner (L) 6-9-6-5-2-4 … Tri-Town: Barker (W) 6-3-2-0-1-6, Kingery 1-1-0-0-0-3
Kerkhoven 13, Morris 1
Wylee Lottman hit a pair of home runs in the fifth inning, a solo shot and a three-run homer that put the 10-run rule into effect as Kerkhoven got the win over Morris in Kerkhoven.
Lottman finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs.
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Jaiden Henjum was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. He also got the complete-game victory, striking out four.
Kerkhoven hosts Montevideo on Friday.
Morris 000 10-1 4 3
Kerkhoven 040 09-13 9 1
Hitting - Morris: Brandon Jergenson 2-3, Sam Kleinwolterink 1-3, Trevor Buss 1-2 … Kerkhoven: Isaac Rudningen 1-2 r bb-2, Jaiden Henjum 2-4 r rbi-2, Wylee Lottman 2-3 hr-2 rbi-4 bb, Alex Call 1-1 r-2 bb-2, Devon Swanson 1-3 r, Luke Jeseritz 1-2 r-2 bb, Hunter Wilts 1-2 r bb
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Morris: Jergenson (L) … Kerkhoven: Henjum (W) 5-4-1-1-1-4
BOLD 10, Redwood Falls 8
Tate Sheehan was 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI and also got the save for BOLD in a win over host Redwood Falls.
Rylan Gass picked up the win for BOLD after striking out seven over 6-1/3 innings. He also was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Lane Osterfeld, Caleb Weispfennig and Sam Sigurdson all had two hits.
BOLD (1-2) hosts Sacred Heart/MACCRAY on Monday.
BOLD 004 005 1-10 13 3
Redwood Falls 000 023 3-8 11 3
Hitting - BOLD: Tate Sheehan 4-5 2b-2 rbi, Lane Osterfeld 2-5 rbi, Owen Flann 1-4 rbi, Caleb Weispfennig 2-4 rbi-2, Rylan Gass 1-3 rbi, Carson Edwards 1-2, Mason Uhlenkamp 0-1 rbi, Sam Sigurdson 2-2, Carson Serbus 1-2 … Redwood Falls: n/a
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - BOLD: Gass (W) 6.1-9-7-4-3-7, Sheehan (Sv) 0.2-2-1-1-0-1 … Redwood Falls: n/a
