By Nick Gerhardt
Richmond waited for its game with Cologne to start but wasted no time in taking control.
Following a three hour, 40 minute game between the Northwest Orioles and St. Anthony Hogs, the Royals jumped out early and held on for a 7-3 victory over Cologne at the Mini Met in Jordan. Richmond has waited nearly 30 years for a trip to Labor Day weekend and now they have it.
Cole Schmitz drove in Caleb Maddox, who collected a lead-off single and Tyler Prom, who reached on a hit-by-pitch, scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Cologne halved the lead in the bottom half when Ben Schefers hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Tanner Luebke, who hit a lead-off infield single and took advantage of an error to move to third base.
Richmond kept coming and added three runs in the top of the fourth. Maddox drove in a pair of runs with a single and Jack Boos had an RBI single to score Grady Notch as the Royals built a 5-1 lead.
The Hollanders kept hanging around and got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Joey Lilya scored on a Luebke single after reaching on a fielder’s choice.
Carter Clemensen made it a 6-3 game in the fifth for Cologne with a solo home run to left field.
The Hollanders couldn’t solve New Munich draftee left-hander Ty Reller, who came on in relief of Royals starting pitcher Dalton Thelen. Thelen went five innings and allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out four. Reller went the final four innings and allowed just two hits, one an infield single in the ninth. He walked one and struck out two.
Richmond added an insurance run in the top of the ninth after Cole Schmitz singled with two outs and went to second on a wild pitch. Schmitz scored on a double from Goose Hadley to make it 7-3.
Maddox finished 2-for-5 with a run and a pair of RBI and Schmitz went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run.
Schefers had two hits for the Hollanders.
Richmond faces Fairmont next Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Chaska.
Luxemburg 9, Brownton 1
Luxemburg put the pressure on Brownton throughout in a 9-1 victory to return to Labor Day weekend for the first time since 2021 and just the second time ever in team history.
Max Kiffmeyer reached base three times and scored each time while driving in a pair of runs. JT Harren brought in two runs in the fifth inning and Luke Harren scored twice.
The Brewers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Kiffmeyer reached on an infield single and Easton Peters double to score him.
In the fifth inning Luxemburg built a 3-0 lead behind a two-run double from JT Harren.
Brownton got a run back in the bottom half of the inning after Scott Finberg singled in Andy Prieve, but that’s as close as the Bruins got.
The Brewers added four runs in the sixth inning after two errors compounded things. Kiffmeyer singled for the second time and drove in two runs. Luxemburg also pulled off a double steal to grab another run and an error allowed another run to score.
Luxemburg added a pair of runs in the top of the ninth after the Brewers drew back-to-back walks and Easton Peters reached on a bunt single to set the table for Josh Lantot, who singled to bring in two.
JT Harren threw the first six innings for the Brewers and allowed one run on eight hits. He walked none and struck out six. Jacob Stalboerger three the final three innings and allowed two hits, walked one, hit two batters and struck out four.
Cole Mathews got the start for Brownton and lasted five innings after giving up three runs on four hits, He walked one and struck out two before giving way to Ryan Grams. Grams has dealt with an injury to his pitching hand and struggled in the sixth before settling in, but four errors in the game made things tougher for the Bruins.
Brownton outhit Luxemburg 10-8 but left runners in scoring position in the first, fourth, fifth and ninth innings.
The Brewers turned two double plays and made just one error in the game.
The game, which started nearly three hours late, concluded shortly after midnight.
Luxemburg faces the winner of Starbuck-Urbank next Friday at 7:30 p.m. in New Prague.
