Lennox Junior Legion falls to Brandon Valley

The Lennox Junior Legion Post 174 baseball team fell to Brandon Valley JL Red, 16-3, on Wednesday, July 1, after Brandon Valley used an eight-run third inning and added five more runs in the fourth to secure the win.

Post 174 struck first in the opening inning. Cade Aasheim reached on an error, advanced to third on a stolen base and a passed ball, and scored on another passed ball to give Lennox an early 1-0 lead.

Brandon Valley answered in the bottom of the first, tying the game on an RBI single by Hayden Neisteadt before taking a 3-1 lead in the second with another RBI hit from Neisteadt.

Lennox rallied in the top of the third to even the score at 3-3. Grayden Veurink singled before Justin Butler drove him home with an RBI triple. Courtesy runner Ashton Hermanson then scored on an RBI single by Madix Oltmanns.

Brandon Valley responded immediately with its biggest inning of the game, sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs to build an 11-3 advantage.

The hosts added five more runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on several Post 174 errors to extend the lead to 16-3.

Lennox was retired in order in the fifth as Brandon Valley closed out the game by the 10-run rule.

Butler led the Junior Legion offensively, going 1-for-2 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Oltmanns added an RBI single, while Veurink finished with a hit, a run scored and a walk. Cade Aasheim reached base, scored once and stole two bases.

Butler started on the mound for Post 174, striking out three batters over two innings. Madix Oltmanns and Jaxson Johnson also saw pitching duties in relief.