Sunday, July 30th, a sticky but lovely afternoon in New Market, MN. Our first game of the 2017 Region 3C Playoffs. The opponent: the Coyotes of Shakopee. Seeing as how these very same 'Yotes ended our season last year, we owed them one. Good day to have a day, a wise man once said.

Speaking of "having a day," let's talk about Nate Rost's.

On the mound... He started, went five strong innings, gave up only four hits, didn't allow a single run, and picked up the "W" in the process. Fun fact courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau's liason to the Muskies, Nick Rost: Nate allowed 6 ER in one inning against Prior Lake (back on June 21), aaaaannnnddddddd he's allowed just 5 the rest of the year (over 73 IP). Video game numbers. 

At the dish... He socked a three-run dinger in the bottom of the 1st (it had what we like to call "Durango Distance"), and a grand salami in the 2nd, thus setting himself up to be on pace for a 9 HR day. While the 9 HR day was not to be, he still knocked in seven runs with his three hits. And believe it or not, his 7 RBI afternoon was not a single-game Muskies record. That record actually belongs to ... well, Nate Rost. Back in 2015 he drove in 8 in one game. In 2008 I had 8 RBI on the season (el web maestro hangs head, looks for silver statistical lining, contemplates giving context, eats cookie instead).

In the five innings TNR was on the mound there was really only one hard hit ball (and it came off the bat of---surprise, surprise---Logan Becker). That one hard hit ball looked like it may leave the yard. But CF Steve McGuiggan had other plans. #14 basically scaled the wall like he was the illegitimate son of Spiderman and Kirby Puckett, robbing Becker of at least a double, and trotting off the field like it was no biggie. Great catch Coach Steve, just know that it's okay to smile when you make a semi-decent play. I mean, this game is about having fun, am I right?

Ahern came in in relief and threw two good innings.

The top of the lineup was on base all day.

And Big Joe McKibben missed another homer by a fraction of an inch. All we're pleased with the sac fly though.

Okay, next up for the Fish is New Prague. We take on the Orioles tomorrow evening (Tuesday, August 1st) in Elko at 8PM. Winner punches their ticket to State! Seeya then friends!

Keep up with all the Region 3C action here.