By Kip Kovar
Contributing Writer
JORDAN – Through three innings of play, it looked like one run might be enough in the matchup between the Champlin Park LoGators and Minneapolis Cobras. That wasn’t the case at all.
After neither team could get anything going through three innings, neither team could slow each other down after that. In the end, it was LoGators coming through big hits in timely spots as they held on down the stretch for a 6-4 win at the Jordan Mini Met.
“Throughout the regular season we’ve kind of been boom or bust with the bats,” Champlin Park manager/player Matt Marek said. “We have days where we don’t have the greatest at-bats. Ever since the playoffs started, we’ve had some really disciplined at-bats and we’re really dangerous when we do that. We have to keep having good at-bats and eventually, our guys are good enough that they’re going to find a pitch they can do something with.”
Searching for their first base runner of the game, an infield single from Ethan Mocchi gave them their first base runner of the game. Just one pitch later, Tyler Reichenborn put Champlin Park in front with one swing of the bat, blasting a two-run shot to left.
Down all of a sudden, the Cobras wasted no time in answering back. They got back-to-back singles from Ryan McGie and Oliver Leupold to open the inning and with two outs, it was Jack Preimesberger who came through with a clutch RBI to score both and tie the game at two.
The back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom half of the fifth. After three walks in the inning loaded the bases, Sam Riola came through with a bases-clearing double to put the LoGators back in front 5-2. Mocchi added on an RBI double of his own as Champlin Park answered with four runs of its own to take a 6-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Needing to rally again, the Cobras did just that. Minneapolis plated a pair of runs thanks to an errant pick-off throw and a wild pitch to close the gap to two. That’s as close as they would get though as Jack Haring and the LoGators kept the Cobras in check the rest of the way to pick up the win.
Champlin Park had just four hits in the win but they came at the right time, which is something they know needs to happen this time of year if you want to be successful.
“Some days you need that,” Marek said, who also threw out three baserunners attempting to steal. “That’s what you need sometimes in the playoffs. You just have to have those right hits at the right time and today we got them.”
St. Louis Park 8, St. Anthony 5
JORDAN – A trip to Labor Day weekend wasn’t in the cards for the St. Louis Park Pirates a year ago. This year is a different story.
Taking on the St. Anthony Hogs, the Pirates had the bats rolling as they held off a late push by the Hogs to secure their spot in the Class B state quarterfinals with an 8-5 win at the Jordan Mini Met.
Donald Blunt led the charge for the Pirates with a big day at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored. Adam Seaman and Thomas Kinsella each added two hits apiece while Jake Mangler scored two runs.
Getting the win on the mound for St. Louis Park was Andy Davis. He went six innings allowing three runs off seven hits while striking out five. Chris Odegaard picked up the save in relief with 2 1/3 shutout innings of work.
For St. Anthony, Ryan Bernardy led the charge offensively going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The Hogs got home runs from Noah Bluth and Nick Zezulka but it wasn’t enough to pick up the win.
The win for the Pirates sets up a matchup with Champlin Park in the Class B state quarterfinals. That game will take place Saturday, Aug. 31 in Jordan at 11 a.m. The winner will advance to the semifinals and play again Sunday, Sept. 1.
