MADISON -- The Willmar VFW baseball team overcame nine miscues in the field with nine hits and sound pitching to win their district opener 8-3 at Madison on Tuesday.
Adam Nibaur threw the first four innings on just one hit and fanning five. Patrick Courtney went the final three on two hits and 10 strikeouts -- four in the fifth when a catcher's error on a swinging third strike allowed the batter to reach base.
Brandon Christenson swung for three hits, one a double, and Josh Kelly doubled and singled in two official trips for Willmar.
Willmar (6-2), which has three District 5 rain dates to make up, is off until Tuesday.
Willmar 8, Madison 3
ADVERTISEMENT
Willmar 010 061 0 -- 8 9 9
Madison 101 001 0-- 3 3 3
HITTING - Willmar: Anthony McCleary 1-for-4, rbi; Brandon Christenson 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2b; Carter Sack 1-for-2, Josh Warne 1-for-2; Josh Kelly 2-for-2, 2b; Cole Hagen 1-for-2, rbi ... Madison: Ben Morken 1-for-3, Dylan Erickson 1-for-4, 2 sb's; Nick Burkleo 1-for-3
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Adam Nibaur (W) 4-1-2-1-1-5, Patrcik Courtney (S) 3-2-1-0-2-10 ... Madison: Colby Siegert (L) 42/3-6-6-6-2-4, Ben Morken 11/3-2-2-1-1-3, Eric Smith 1-1-0-0-0-0
