Pierz opens with win over Milaca in area baseball

PIERZ -- Alex Gruber's grand slam in the sixth inning lifted the Pierz Pioneers past Milaca 8-4 in their baseball home opener Tuesday.

Gruber went 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI. Jeff Funk scored twice and drove in a run while Joe Kahl drove in two Pierz runs.

Winning pitcher Zach Watercott came on in relief and struck out five of the six batters he faced.

Milaca 4 9 0

Pierz 8 12 0

WP -- Zach Watercott. LP -- T. Thompson. HR -- Alex Gruber (P). Overall -- P 1-0. Next game -- Pierz hosts Maple Lake 5 p.m. Friday.

Willmar 11, Little Falls 9

Willmar 10, Little Falls 0

WILLMAR -- In a season-opening double-header, Kevin Knopik went 3-for-4 with three RBI in the first game as Little Falls lost to the Willmar Cardinals Tuesday.

The Cardinals dominated the second game as Jeff Freeman pitched a one-hitter. Anthony Turk was the only Flyer to get a hit off of Freeman.

First Game

Little Falls 9 10 2

Willmar 11 10 5

WP -- Seth Nelson. LP -- Morgan Cekella. HR -- Jordan Olson (W).

Second Game

Little Falls 0 1 3

Willmar 10 7 0

WP -- Jeff Freeman. LP -- Adamack. Conference -- LF 0-2. Overall -- LF 0-2. Next game -- Little Falls at Alexandria Friday.

New York Mills 10,

Verndale 0

VERNDALE -- Dustin Geiser pitched five no-hit innings as the New York Mills Eagles won a season opener from Verndale Tuesday.

Verndale 0 0 5

New York Mills 10 9 1

WP -- Geiser . LP -- Isaac Johnson . Conference -- V 0-1 . Overall -- V- 0-1 . Next game -- Verndale vs. Ottertail Central 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Ottertail Central 6,

Pillager 2

BATTLE LAKE -- Travis Buckingham went 2-for-4 and Shawn Martin was 1-3 with one RBI for the Pillager Huskies in a season-opening loss to the Ottertail Central Bulldogs Tuesday.

Pillager 2 5 3

Ottertail Central 6 8 2

WP -- E. Koep. LP -- Eric Fornshell. HR -- Belmont (OTC). Conference -- P 0-1. Overall -- P 0-1. Next game -- Pillager at New York Mills 4:30 p.m. Thursday.