×

Belle Plaine baseball outslugs Fairmont

FAIRMONT — Twenty-nine runs and 26 hits were produced, eight pitchers stepped to the mound, and every hot dog in the concession was consumed during Tuesday’s 2 1/2-hour baseball season-opener between Fairmont and Belle Plaine at Herb Wolf Field in Fairmont.

The hometown Cardinals erupted for seven runs during their final two at-bats to erase a 10-run deficit, but fell just short to the defending Section 2AA champion Tigers in a marathon 16-13 non-league slugfest.

“This is my 11th season as head baseball coach, and I can’t remember playing a game that lasted as long as this one,” said Fairmont mentor Todd Sukalski. “I was pleased with our offense today as we had some quality at-bats against a very good pitcher in (Belle Plaine ace right-hander Brody) Curtiss.

“Belle Plaine, however, proved that they’re a good hitting team, maybe even better than last year’s state-qualifying team.”

The Tigers pounced to an 8-0 lead behind eight hits in the top of the third inning and never trailed, but couldn’t shake the Cardinals’ comeback kids during the latter innings.

Carsen Ladd, who topped all batters with a 3-for-5 performance and a game-best four RBIs, delivered Belle Plaine’s first two runs via a sharp single to left with no outs in the fateful top of the third.

Curtiss contributed an RBI single, Jon Schmidt launched a run-scoring triple, Alec Rudd blooped in an RBI hit, Jake Mercado slammed a one-run double and Tyler O’Brien notched an RBI single to highlight the Tigers’ early offensive outburst.

Fairmont’s Brady Allen then spoiled Curtiss’ no-hit and shutout bid by belting a towering RBI triple to deep center before scoring on a throwing error during the home half of the third. Lance Becker, who had drawn a one-out walk, scored on Allen’s extra-base hit.

Belle Plaine answered with two unearned runs when Rudd’s sharp grounder was misplayed with two out in the top of the fourth before Fairmont countered with three runs in the home half. Dylan Gerken hammered an RBI double to plate Camren Saxton, who pinch-ran after Jordan Wolter reached on an error.

Jacob Tennyson, who had legged out an infield hit, later crossed the plate on Nate Kallenbach’s RBI ground out before Gerken scored on Becker’s infield hit to pare the Cardinals’ deficit to 10-5.

Ladd and Nathan Herman drilled a pair of RBI doubles, and Rudd hammered a two-run single to re-establish Belle Plaine’s lead at 14-5 in the top of the fifth before Wolter singled home Collin Steuber, who had walked, in Fairmont’s home half.

John Glynn’s RBI triple sparked the Tigers’ two-run sixth to grab a 16-6 lead only to watch Belle Plaine reliever Jared Miller surrender six Fairmont runs via two hits and four walks without recording an out in the last of the sixth.

Fairmont right-hander Christian Engeman struck out two in a hitless and scoreless top of the seventh before Steuber singled home Becker in the home half to fall short 16-13. Becker walked to open the final at-bat.

Tennyson finished with two hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals, while Rudd went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Tigers.

Tennyson started on the mound for Fairmont, allowing four runs — all earned — on four hits in two-plus innings of work. He struck out two, walked one and hit one batter to take the loss.

Curtiss gave up five runs — two earned — on four hits, fanned five, issued three walks and hit one batter in four frames to net the win for the Tigers.

Fairmont (0-1) plays host to Jackson County Central at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Herb Wolf Field in Fairmont in a Big South Conference contest.

Belle Plaine (1-0) opens its own tournament against Hinckley-Finlayson at noon Saturday.

BP 008 242 0 — 16 17 3

FHS 002 316 1 — 13 9 1

Brody Curtiss (WP), Nathan Herman (5), Jared Miller (6), Jake Mercado (6) and Carsen Ladd, Chris Dahl (5). Jacob Tennyson (LP), Collin Steuber (3), Jordan Wolter (5), Christian Engeman (7) and Zac Ringnell.

LOB–Belle Plaine 10, Fairmont 9. 2B–Dylan Gerken (F), John Glynn (BP), Ladd (BP), Herman (BP), Mercado (BP). 3B–Brady Allen (F), Jon Schmidt (BP).

Belle Plaine edged Fairmont, 6-4, during season-opening B-squad action Tuesday.

Dustin Schultz collected two doubles and two RBIs to top the Cardinals, while Dalen Keltgen singled, doubled and drove in one run. Daniel Reiter contributed an RBI single, while Tony Nuss added a hit.

Jack Hested, Nick Eversman, Jeb Green and Mario Maldonado combined to handle Fairmont’s pitching duties.

Fairmont B-squad (0-1) plays host to Jackson County Central at 5 p.m. Thursday in Fairmont.

Blake Buntjer produced three hits, including two doubles, to help power Fairmont to a 15-5 victory over Belle Plaine during C-squad action Tuesday.

Caden Baarts, Tyson Geerdes and Carter Davis each supplied two hits for the Cardinals, while Daniel Brummond, Joey Flohrs and Dan Betts delivered one hit apiece.

Flohrs started on the mound, allowing three runs in three innings pitched. He struck out five and walked three to net the win.

Jacob Johnson worked two innings of relief, giving up two runs on three hits and issued one walk for Fairmont (1-0).

Blue Earth Area 9, Martin County West 3 — Kaylan Legred, Jesus Quintero, Zach Schonrock and Jordan Huse each collected two hits to help ignite the Bucs’ 9-3 non-league triumph over the Mavericks on Tuesday in Winnebago.

Legred doubled, scored twice and drove in one run; Quintero scored two runs and tallied an RBI, Schonrock doubled for an RBI, while Huse added a run scored. Chris Sanders added a two-run single for the Bucs.

Blue Earth Area starting pitcher Logan Jahnke allowed two earned runs on three hits, struck out three and walked three in two innings pitched.

Schonrock fanned one and allowed one hit in three shutout innings of relief to net the win for the Bucs. Trevor Oppedal gave up one earned run, struck out three and walked two in pitching the final two frames.

Jesse Spear went 1-for-1 with two runs scored to top the Mavericks’ four-hit effort, while Kooper Janssen went 1-for-2 with one RBI.

Martin County West starting pitcher Colton Leiding allowed eight runs — seven earned — on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss. Leiding fanned one and walked two.

Cam Dressen gave up two hits in 2 1/3 shutout relief and recorded one strikeout for the Mavericks.

Blue Earth Area (1-0) travels to Worthington on Thursday for a Big South Conference game.

Martin County West (0-2) opens its own four-team invitational against Heron Lake-Okabena at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

MCW 020 000 1 — 3 4 2

BEA 224 001 x — 9 14 1

Colton Leiding (LP), Cam Dressen (3), Parker Anderson (6) and Jesse Spear. Logan Jahnke, Zach Schonrock (3, WP), Trevor Oppedal (6) and Kaylan Legred.

Cleveland 5, Martin Luther/GHEC/Truman 4 — The Clippers manufactured three runs in the top of the seventh inning to edge the Jaguars during Valley Conference action Tuesday in Truman.

Brandon Seitz went 1-for-1, walked, was hit by a pitch and scored three runs to top Cleveland’s two-hit performance, while Bryce Novak added a hit and a sacrifice fly.

Seitz pitched the first five frames before re-entering in the seventh inning to net the win in relief. Seitz combined to allow four earned runs on six hits, struck out four and walked three in six innings of work.

Zach Jahnz went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored to top the Jaguars’ six-hit effort, while Derek Shoen slugged a solo home run. James Schrunk went 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Zach Wolter produced an RBI single.

Shoen gave up one earned run on one hits in three innings pitched to receive no decision. He struck out five and walked three.

Jahnz took the loss in relief, allowing four runs — two earned — on one hit in 3 1/3 innings. Jahnz notched eight strikeouts and issued three walks.

The Jaguars (0-1) play host to Mountain Lake Area on Friday in Truman.

CLEV 001 010 3 — 5 2 1

MLGT 010 110 1 — 4 6 2

Brandon Seitz, Austin Plonsky (6), Seitz (7, WP) and Nick Douglas. Derek Shoen, Zach Jahnz (4, LP), Garrett Balcom (7) and Mitchell Prafke.

Prep Softball

Madelia/Truman 10, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 9 — Brytni Drevlow singled home Blair VanZee with the game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Jayhawks to a season-opening win over the Chargers on Tuesday in Madelia.

VanZee delivered a one-out single, Courtney Davis tallied her third hit of the game and Drevlow did likewise with her third hit to plate VanZee.

Davis scored twice for the Jayhawks, Drevlow crossed the plate three times to complement a double, while teammate Madison Mueller went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Briana Ardolf went 2-for-4, including a double, with three RBIs and two runs scored for M/T, while Chloe Hartman singled and doubled for one RBI. VanZee went 2-for-4, while Carissa Caraway and Lydia Studer added RBI singles.

Mikayla Klinkner struck out two and allowed one hit in one shutout inning of relief to notch the win for the Jayhawks.

Madelia/Truman (1-0) travels to St. James on Thursday for a nonconference game.

MVL 003 402 0 — 9 9 0

M/T 101 034 1 — 10 18 5

Winning run scored with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Martin County West 10, St. James 4 — Sierra Williamson, Karlee Thiesse and Mercedes Moeller each slugged two-run home runs to power the Mavericks to a 10-4 nonconference triumph over the Saints on Tuesday in St. James.

Williamson went 3-for-4 with a double and triple to complement her round-tripper to generate three RBIs, while Thiesse went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Moeller added two RBIs on her homer, Jordan Stahl drove in one run and had two hits, while Madison Klima contributed a triple to the Mavericks’ 12-hit offensive performance.

Williamson allowed four runs on six hits, struck out six and walked four in 4 1/3 innings pitched to earn the win. Stahl gave up one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless relief and struck out two.

Kayla Hanson and Callie Coleman collected two hits each to top St. James’ seven-hit effort.

Martin County West (1-0) travels to St. Clair on Thursday for a Valley Conference game.

MCW 300 030 4 — 10 12 0

STJ 202 000 0 — 4 7 1

Sierra Williamson (WP), Jordan Stahl (5) and Mercedes Moeller. Brooklyn Nickelson (LP) and Kayla Hanson.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.65/week.

Subscribe Today