Parkston Mudcats beat Mitchell Mad Dogs in amateur action at Cadwell Park

• Beau Behrend

Parkston Mudcats third base-man Beau Behrend tags out Mitchell Mad Dogs baserunner Beau Van Overschelde at third base during a Sunshine League amateur baseball game Thurs-day night at Cadwell Park. (Justin Rust/Republic)

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BY JUSTIN RUST

The Daily Republic

Mitchell native Josh Wenande’s three-run home run proved to be the difference in the Parkston Mudcats’ 13-10 win over the Mitchell Mad Dogs in a Sunshine League amateur baseball game Thursday at Cadwell Park.

After falling behind 8-0 after three innings, the Mad Dogs started to chip away at the Mudcats’ lead.

At the end of the eighth inning and holding Parkston scoreless, the Mad Dogs cut the deficit to one run.

That is when Wenande put the game out of reach. Parkston scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning and had two runners on when Wenande, the Mudcats catcher, hit his first-ever home run at Cadwell Park.

“I was just trying to put the ball in play to keep the rally going,” Wenande said. “I put a good swing on the ball, and I got it out of here. Just to be back in Cadwell and play again was fun.”

Parkston did all of its scoring in three innings. The Mudcats scored three runs in the first inning and five in the third.

Mitchell trailed 8-2 going into the seventh inning when the Mad Dogs put four runs on the board and one more in the eighth inning.

“It was only three bad innings that killed us,” said Alex Loes, who pitched the final two innings and also played third base for Mitchell. “We played a good solid game defensively, the walks just kind of got to us.”

Loes gave up all five of Parkston’s runs in the ninth inning, and he said he just lost his release point.

“I haven’t pitched in a while, and I lost my release point, found it again and lost it again,” he said. “It was off and on.”

Loes took the loss as he went two innings and gave up five runs on one hit, three walks and struck out one. Loes was 0-for-3 at the plate, but had two walks, two runs and an RBI.

For Parkston, Cade Hearnen came on in relief for the final 2 2/3 innings to get the win.

Wenande finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two walks, three runs and five RBI.

Mitchell is 7-2 in the Sunshine League and plays at 5 p.m. Sunday at Cadwell Park against Dimock-Emery.

Parkston plays at 7 p.m. Sunday at home against the Parkston Rock Bass.

Tags: mad dogs, sports, updates, baseball, parkston, amateur