The St. Stephen Steves put a regular season full of disappointment in the rearview mirror on Sunday, posting a 5-0 win over the Avon Lakers to become the first time in District 4B to clinch a spot in the upcoming Class B State Tournament. The Steves entered the Tournament as the #7 seed in a 7-team field with a record of just 2-10, but knocked off #2 Buckman on Saturday 9-8, then on Sunday, got a Complete Game 6-hit shutout from Jack Greenlun to blank the Lakers. The Steves held a slim 1-0 lead through 7 innings until scoring 2 runs in each of the 8th and 9th innings to give themselves some late-game breathing room.
Scoring chances were few and far between for the most part in this game as Steves starter Jack Greenlun and Avon starter Elian Mezquita went toe-to-toe on the mound.
St. Stephen got on the board in the top of the 2nd inning when Andrew Wollak walked with 2 outs, then Derek Durant reached on an error, moving Wollak to 2nd. A Charlie Kent ground ball was then also misplayed for an error, as Wollak raced home to make it 1-0.
Avon put together their first legitimate threat against Greenlun and the Steves in the bottom of the 5th when Cole Wellmann singled with 2 outs, followed by another single from Carter Holthaus. But with men at 1st and 2nd, Jack Greenlun got Elliott Burnett to ground out to back to the mound to keep the Steves ahead 1-0.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Lakers got a 1-out single from Drew Lieser, then Carter Holthaus reached on a 2-out err, and again the Lakers had men at 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Jack Greenlun ended that threat with a pop up from Elliott Burnett to left fielder Zack Fuecker.
In the top of the 8th, Jake Schelonka doubled with 1 out off Elian Mezquita. After a wild pitch moved Schelonka to 3rd, Cole Fuecker was then intentionally walked. Avon then also walked Mat Meyer intentionally to fill the bases with 1 out. Zack Fuecker then singled to left, scoring both Schelonka and Cole Fuecker to give St. Stephen a 3-0 lead.
Jack Greenlun came out and worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th to send the game to the 9th with the Steves holding a 3-0 lead.
Joe Tuholsky started the 9th with a single, prompting an Avon pitching change with Reese Gregory replacing Elian Mezquita. Gregory struck out Andrew Wollak, then allowed a single to Derek Durant as Tuholsky advanced to 3rd. Charlie Kent then doubled to to center field, scoring Tuholsky to make it 4-0. Pinch-runner Thomas Ellis then scored on an error to put the Steves ahead 5-0.
In the bottom of the 9th, Jack Greenlun struck out Elian Mezquita, then Carter Philippi reached on an error. Greenlun then fanned Drew Lieser for the 2nd out, followed by a Cole Wellmann single. Greenlun then finished off his gem by striking out Carter Holthaus to clinch the Steves State Tournament spot with the 5-0 win.
St. Stephen will play Nisswa next Sunday morning at 11:00 am in Sobieski for the District 4B Championship.
Avon will now face Buckman on Saturday at 12:00 pm in Sobieski in an elimination game.
St. Stephen 5 7 2 – 5
Avon 0 6 3 – 0
WP: Jack Greenlun 9.0IP 0 runs 6 hits 8k 0bb 1hp
LP: Elian Mezquita 8.0IP 4 runs 5 hits 7k 3bb
Reese Gregory 1.0IP 1 run 2 hits 1k 0bb
Steves:
Jake Schelonka 1-5 2B, run
Cole Fuecker 0-4 bb, run
Mat Meyer 2-4 bb
Zack Fuecker 1-4 2 rbi
Jack Greenlun 0-4
Joe Tuholsky 1-4 run
Andrew Wollak 0-3 bb, run
Derek Durant 1-4
– Thomas Ellis 0-0 run
Charlie Kent 1-4 2B, rbi
Lakers:
Elliott Burnett 0-5
Kadyn Mork 0-4
Caleb Curry 0-4
Reese Gregory 1-3 hp
Elian Mezquita 1-4
Carter Philippi 0-4
Drew Lieser 1-4
Cole Wellmann 2-4
Carter Holthaus 1-4