The Bird Island fireballer did it in the Region 4C tournament against Starbuck with a one-hit, 15-strikeout performance that put the Bullfrogs into the championship game. And against Dilworth in the second round of the Class C state tournament, Nissen was looking for a repeat.
“I always felt like if I can go out there, give it my all in that first inning and set a tone the rest of the game, I know my guys will be there and follow behind me,” Nissen said.
Striking out the side in just 10 pitches to open state, yeah, that tone was set.
While Nissen kept the Raildogs at bay, the Bullfrogs strung together 14 hits in a 10-0 eight-inning victory on Saturday night.
“It’s really big building off the momentum we had from the (region) playoffs,” said Bird Island left fielder Logan Swann. “If Logan Nissen keeps throwing like that, we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
Bird Island shortstop Dylan Gass makes a throw to first base during Saturday's Class C state baseball playoff game against Dilworth in Milroy. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Before Saturday’s contest, Nissen was able to get some insight after Dilworth’s first-round matchup.
“I have a few college teammates that played for St. Clair and they played Dilworth last weekend,” Nissen said.
St. Clair has five players that were teammates with Nissen at Bethany Lutheran: Ben Anderson, Alec Gratz, Brandon Freitag, Nick Shubert and Ben Hopper.
“All week, I was talking to them about these guys’ tendencies and what they do right away. It was really helpful … so I was mixing my stuff like I usually do, maybe in different variations. Also, we had a very good executed plan by my catcher James (Woelfel). He’s been fantastic all season. … I knew they weren’t getting onto what I was throwing.”
He finished the outing with eight strikeouts, giving up just one walk and four hits. No Dilworth player advanced past second base.
“I was really worried about Dilworth’s bats. St. Clair had a very good pitcher and they hit them pretty hard,” said Bird Island manager Mike Nagel. “But not many people are going to be able to pitch like Logan Nissen.”
It was on the Bullfrogs’ offense to deliver. And the second time through the order, Bird Island found its way onto the scoreboard. Woelfel opened the scoring with an RBI single in the third, followed by a one-run single by Swann in the fourth.
Bird Island's Logan Swann connects with the ball for a single during Saturday's Class C playoff game against Dilworth in Milroy. Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
While every Bullfrog got a hit in the victory, Swann had the biggest night, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs, a run and a stolen base.
“Hitting’s contagious,” Swann said. “Once a couple hits started coming, runs started coming across the board and everyone starts loosening up.”
Bird Island also got aggressive on the bases with five steals, including a double steal in the sixth that allowed Colten Minkel to swipe home.
“When we watched them, if there was an issue with Dilworth, it was their defense,” Nagel said. “So I decided we’re going to be aggressive (on the bases) and in this game, it worked out.”
Nagel added, “With Nissen on the mound, when we had a two-spot, I knew we were in good shape. And when we got to five, that pretty much took the wind out of their sails.”
Reaching the final weekend for the first time since 2012, Bird Island will square off against Watkins at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 in Springfield. The Clippers reached the final 16 on Sunday after beating Fergus Falls 6-0.
“We know Watkins really well,” Nagel said. “These guys played against them in high school and legion, and we were in their region for five years. We’ve beat them once but for the most part, they’ve had our number.
“If we play like we did tonight, we’ll be in pretty much every game.”
Dilworth 000 000 00- 0 4 2
Bird Island 001 103 32-10 14 1
Hitting - Dilworth: Matt Fiechtner 1-3, Connor Robley 1-3 Austin Skjefte 1-3, Jake Salentine 1-2 bb… Bird Island: James Woelfel 2-5 2b r rbi sb, Jordan Sagedahl 1-5 r, Tyler Hebrink 1-5 rbi, Dylan Gass 1-4 r-2 rbi bb, Trent Athmann 1-3 r bb, Colten Minkel 2-3 2b r-3 sb, Logan Swann 4-4 r rbi-4 sb, Shawn Dollerschell 1-4 rbi sb, Trevor Nissen 1-4 r sb
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Dilworth: Bryce Venaas (L) 6-9-5-4-0-4, Andy Pugliano 1-1-3-3-2-2, Robley 0.1-4-2-2-0-1… Bird Island: Logan Nissen (W) 8-4-0-0-1-8
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