The Pierz Brewers clinched a return trip to the Class C State Tournament with a 2-0 win over the Aitkin Steam on Friday night at Hellie Field in Pierz. Peter Schommer won his 3rd game of the Region Tournament, firing a Comp-lete Game 6-hit shutout with 6 strikeouts.
This figured to be a good pitching matchup between Peter Schommer of the Brewers and Nathan Ehnstrom of the Steam, as both guys had already won twice previously in the Tournament, with both Ehnstrom wins coming by way of shutout. And the game lived up to its ecpectations.
This game was scoreless until the bottom of the 6th when Gunnar Wicklund of the Brewers sent a line drive Home Run over the fence in left-center to give Pierz a 1-0 lead.
That Homer came after the Steam had gotten a lead-off double from Nathan Ehnstrom in the top of the 6th, then a single by Landon Janzen to move Ehnstrom to 3rd. After pinch-runner Owen Foday stole 2nd, Peter Schommer got Zack Ehnstrom to pop up to 1st baseman Preston Veith, then Jake Ince grounded out to 2nd and Schommer then struck out Drew Paulbeck to end the Steam’s scoroing threat and keep the game scoreless.
It remained 1-0 until the bottom of the 8th when the Brewers got a 1-out double from Phil Zynda. With Jared Prokott pinch-running for Zynda, Ryan Stuckmayer delivered an rbi single to center to score Prokott and make it 2-0. It was Stuckmayer’s 3rd hot of the night off Nathan Ehnstrom.
In the top of the 9th, Peter Schommer struck out Zack Ehnstrom, then gave up a single to Jake Ince, his 3rd hit. But then Schommer enduced Drew Paulbeck to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and give the Brewers the Region 9C Title and the #1 seed ut of Region 9C heading into the Class C State Tournament.
Aitkin will now play the Opole Bears in the 2nd place game on Saturday at 6:00 pm in Pierz for the final spot available for Region 9C in the State Tournament.
Aitkin 0 6 0 – 0
Pierz Brewers 2 8 0 – 2
WP: Peter Schommer 9.0 IP 0 runs 6 hits 6k 1bb
LP: Nathan Ehnstrom 8.0 IP 2 runs 8 hits 6k 1bb 1hp
Brewers:
Kaden Kruschek 0-4
Gunnar Wicklund 1-4 Hr, rbi, run
Phil Zynda 2-4 2B
– Jared Prokott 0-0 run
Ryan Stuckmayer 3-4 2 sb, rbi
Rylee Rauch 0-2 sac, bb
Preston Veith 0-4
Nathan Solinger 0-2
– Stephen Nezerka 0-1
– Chuck Boser 0-1
Derek Dahmen 1-2 2B, hp
Michael Nezerka 1-2 sac
– Peter Schommer
– Parker Kimman 0-0 sb
Steam:
John McGuire 0-4
Nathan Ehnstrom 2-3 2B(2), bb
Landon Janzen 1-4
– Owen Foday 0-0 sb
Zack Ehnstrom 0-4
Jake Ince 3-4 2B(2)
Drew Paulbeck 0-4
Jake McGuire 0-3
– Key0n Wesner
Carson Kullhem 0-3
Nolan Dotzler 0-3