With just two seniors, the Minneapolis Washburn Millers are a young team, so occasionally coach Jim Clancy says he doesn’t know what to expect – after all, they’re often in situations for the first time.

Monday, his squad built on a past lesson – winning a close one against rival Minneapolis Southwest – and gave their skipper another reason to believe he’s got something special on his hands, as they won their second straight against the Lakers, 5-4, to move ahead in the standings by a half a game. Minneapolis South still leads the division by 2.5 games.

“It was about the same as last time,” said winning pitcher Josh Pierce -- who pitched a complete game – remembering the identical enthralling energy that pushed the Millers over Southwest 2-1 back in April. “It felt really good to have everyone pumped up and into the game.”

His offense showed him that early, responding to a first-inning Lakers run with three of their own in the bottom half, but Southwest was able to creep back in the third inning when starting pitcher Cole Baker (five innings) slammed in two with a hard-hit double.

“You just try to stay calm and keep control of your emotions,” Pierce said.

He did, putting the Lakers down 1-2-3 after his glitch, and the Millers earned their lead back the next inning when Southwest made a couple poor defensive plays. With one down, Baker dropped an easy pop-up, and then left a fat pitch down the middle of the strike zone for the next batter, Henry Christman, who punished him with a drive to center.

“We were trying to go away, away, away on that guy,” said Southwest coach Jared Mountain, who said Baker may have been shaken by his error in the previous play. “I’m sure this and that didn’t help … they’re high school kids and they make mistakes.”

One out later Christman – whose run would prove to be the differential, although each team would score one more -- headed home on a throwing error by third baseman Nate Ferguson.

“We gave them extra outs and they took advantage of it,” Mountain said. “Yeah, it’s frustrating.”

Washburn nearly gave away its advantage in the fifth, when centerfielder Brandon Arms—who was apparently suffering from a torn meniscus in his left leg -- missed an easy fly, and Pierce walked the next batter to load the bases. Again, though, the Millers were able to show poise beyond their years in getting out of the inning unscathed, and they held on for the win.

“I think they’re playing with an inner confidence which is good – and which is necessary as you get to the end,” Clancy said. “We think we’re capable … if we play well, we can do it, we can win.”