Behind a stellar complete-game performance by draftee Jackson Hunter, the Delano A's advanced to the second round of the Class B State Tournament with a 2-1 victory over the Northfield Knights in the first game at Brownton Sunday, August 17.
Hunter, drafted from the Watertown Red Devils, scattered four hits and one walk while striking out five. He threw more than120 pitches.
The A's, who outhit the Knights 9-4, got their first run in the top of the fourth. Jack Paulson reached on an error, and Marcus Riewer and Brady Lash followed with bunt singles to load the bases with nobody out. Marcus Reem grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Paulson, but Northfield starter Jake Mathison escaped further damage with two ground ball outs.
Delano added a run in the fifth. Gaard Swenson reached on a one-out double down the left field line, and Trevor Jaunich singled to put runners on first and third. Jack Paulson grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Swenson in what served as the game-winning RBI.
Northfield scored its lone run in the bottom of the seventh. Tim Maus reached base on a hit-by-pitch with one out, and moved to third on a hard single to center by Sam Maus. Blake Mellgren followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Tim Maus.
The Knights got a solid performance from Mathison, who took the loss. Mathison gave up two runs (one earned) on nine hits and two walks, striking out four in seven innings. Cole Stanchina threw two scoreless frames, working around two walks.
Brody Lash had three hits to lead the Athletics. Sam Maus had two of the Knights' four hits.
Delano will advance to face Hinckley Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Hutchinson.
PRINCETON 7, PLATO 4
The Princeton Panthers defeated the Plato Blue Jays 7-4 in game two at Brownton, using a big two-out rally in the seventh to take control of what had been a back-and-forth affair through the first six frames.
Kevin Rahe picked up the win for Princeton, going seven solid innings giving up three runs on six hits and one walk, while striking out five. The Panthers had four different players with two hits or more, as they outhit the Blue Jays 12-7.
Damon Rademacher, who was named player of the game, had two hits and three RBI, and also picked up the save in relief with a scoreless ninth. Nolan Spence had three hits, while Daniel Voce had two hits and three runs scored. Jake Carlson had two hits, and scored two runs.
Reece Schriwrtz took the loss for Plato, giving up seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and one walk. He struck out 10. Draftee Pat Tschida of Watertown threw two scoreless innings in relief.
The Blue Jays were led at the dish by Tate Wischnack, who had three hits including two doubles. Luke Roepke added two hits as well.
Plato opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first. Wischnack led off with a double, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a long sacrifice fly off the bat of Reece Schwirtz.
The Panthers responded immediately in the next half inning, tying the game 1-1 on an RBI single off the bat of Cam Jensen. They then took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Eli Gibbs was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a passed ball, and scored on an infield single and errant throw off the bat of Tanner Kinney.
Plato scored two in the bottom of the fifth to go back up 3-2, getting an RBI sacrifice fly by Wischnack and an RBI single by Roepke, but Princeton retook the lead with two in the top of the sixth, getting RBI singles by Rademacher and Gehrig Scheffel.
The Panthers added three more in the seventh, all with two outs. Jake Carlson doubled, and Nolan Spence, Dan Voce, and Rademacher all singled, with Rademacher's ground ball bouncing off the second base bag to score two.
The Blue Jays got one back in the eighth on an RBI groundout by Beau Lepel that scored Roepke, but a baserunning blunder limited the damage.
Princeton advances to face New Ulm Sunday at Hutchinson at 4 p.m.
COLOGNE 13, QUAMBA 1
The Cologne Hollanders jumped out to an early five-run lead with a two-out second-inning rally, and cruised to a 13-1 victory over the Quamba Cubs Sunday afternoon in Class C action at Brownton.
The two teams traded first-inning runs before the Hollanders got hot with two outs in the second. Tanner Luebke doubled, stole third, and scored on a slow roller off the bat of Casey Clemensen.
Carter Clemensen singled to left, and Ben Schefers walked to load the bases. Ben Lindberg unloaded for a bases-clearing, three-run double, and scored on a Joey Lilya single, chasing Cubs starter James Oslin.
The Hollanders added two more in the third off reliever Jackson Philipp (Clear Lake draftee), which would be more than enough for Cologne starter David Solfelt. Solfelt cruised through seven innings, giving up one run on seven hits and no walks, while striking out four.
Cologne added five more runs in the final two innings, getting a bloop two-run double by Casey Clemensen, and a bloop two-run single by Carter Clemensen in the ninth.
Luebke reached base four times with three hits and a walk, and scored four runs. He was named "Player of the Game."
Caleb Koch and Tanyon Black both had two hits to lead Quamba.
