The 8th seeded Aitkin Steam knocked off the #1 seeded Randall Cubs 6-0 on Saturday in Upsala in a 1st round Region 9C game. Based on the seeds, this is a major upset, but in reality, Aitkin came into the game knowing very well they could compete with the Cubs based on one single fact. Aitkin had already beaten Randall 14-6 during the regular season, just 1 of 2 losses that the Cubs suffered heading into the playoffs.
The pitching matchup for this game featured lefty Nate Benning for Randall against Aitkin righty Nathan Ehnstrom and over the first 3 innings, those two dominated. Aitkin had 1 hit through 3 innings and Randall had 3 hits through 3.
The first run came in the top of the 4th when Aitkin’s Jake Ince led off with a double to left center, and later scored on a 2-out rbi single from Drew Paulbeck to make it 1-0.
In the top of the 5th, Aitkin erupted for 5 runs, all after there were 2 outs. After Nate Benning quickly got a strikeout and a ground out to 3rd baseman Brett Strack, Nathan Ehnstrom hit a double. Jake Ince then followed with a double of his own to score Ehnstrom to make it 2-0. Landon Janzen then stepped to the plate and blased a 2-run Homer to right and suddenly, the Steam were up 4-0. But they weren’t done just yet. Jake McGuire then walked, Zack Ehnstrom reached on an infield single, followed by a 2-run double from Drew Paulbeck to put Aitkin ahead 6-0, after which Adam Nibaur came on to relieve Benning and got out of the inning with a pop up to 1st.
Meanwhile, Aitkin’s Nathan Ehnstrom was rolling along, allowing a 2-out singloe to Nate Benning in the 5th, a pair of 2-out singles in the 6th to Caleb Strack and Garrett Lindberg but after the 6th, Randall managed just 1 more baserunner for the rest of the game and that came on a lead-off walk to Zack Gwost in the bottom of the 8th.
Aitkin will next face Opole in a winner’sbracket game on Saturday at 3:30 pm in Opole while Randall will face St. Wendel in an elimination game on Friday night at 8:30 pm in Pierz.
Aitkin 6 11 1 – 6
Randall 0 6 1 – 0
WP: Nathan Ehnstrom 9.0 IP 0 runs 6 hits 6k 2bb
LP: Nate Benning 4.2 IP 6 runs 9 hits 6k 1bb
Adam Nibaur 4.1 IP 0 runs 2 hits 3k 0bb
Steam:
Nathan Ehnstrom 2-5 2B, run
Jake Ince 2-5 2B(2), rbi, 2 runs
Landon Janzen 1-5 Hr, 2 rbi, run
Jake McGuire 1-3 bb, run
Zack Ehnstrom 1-4 run
Drew Paulbeck 2-4 2B, 3 rbi
Noah Janzen 0-3
– Thor Dunham
– Owen Foday 0-1
Aiden Flanagan 1-4
Carson Kullhem 1-4
Cubs:
Alex Gwost 0-4
Nate Benning 2-3 bb
Zack Gwost 0-3 bb
Matt Otremba 1-4
Rick Drew 0-4
Caleb Strack 2-4
Garrett Lindberg 1-3 sac
Brett Strack 0-4
Kyle Peterschick 0-1
– Adam Nibaur 0-2
– Richard Payne 0-1