ST. JAMES – Fairmont VFW Post 1222 rallied around pitcher Jacob Tennyson, who limited New Ulm Silver to one inning of scoring to pocket the 3-2 win in the 2nd District, Southwest Sub-District playoffs Wednesday in St. James.

“We played really good defense today,” said Fairmont head coach Todd Sukalski. “So, it’s a good win. … I didn’t want to have to wait around here to play a game at 8, so I’m very happy we won.”

Fairmont (15-3) plays in the championship at 5:30 p.m. today in St. James. New Ulm Silver played the winner of the St. James-Lake Crystal game at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and the winner of that game advances to the championship.

New Ulm’s Josh Seidl led off with a hit to center and advanced on Owen Rich’s sacrifice bunt. But Braden Zimmerman and Ryan Esser grounded out to Nate Kallenbach to end the inning.

Colten Schaefer also had a leadoff single to center in the second, but Lance Becker scooped two grounders and caught a pop fly to keep Silver off the scoreboard.

Collin Steuber doubled for Post 1222 in the third, but Silver recorded the final two outs to prevent the score.

“Our offense is frustrating. We’re not hitting the ball hard right now,” Sukalski said. “Playing baseball for three days in a row, usually, you hit well and we’re just not right now. I’m hoping that will show up tomorrow.”

Tennyson hit Braden Zimmerman and Ryan Esser to start the fourth inning. Schaefer’s sacrifice bunt then moved the two into scoring position, and Aaron Portner walked.

Kaden Gilb smacked a two-out double to score Zimmerman and Esser for the 2-0 lead. Colby Kuhl got the final out to strand Portner and Gilb.

Post 1222 answered with three runs in the fifth, taking a lead the team kept for the rest of the game.

Alex Hillesheim walked Daniel Reiter and courtesy runner Nick Eversman stole second before reaching third on a balk. Hillesheim walked Nick Segar and Collin Steuber to load the bases.

“No one’s going to hit home runs, so you need guys to get on base by walk or hit by pitch or hit a hard ground ball or get on by an error. You just need people on base,” Sukalski said. “Then from there, you’ll get your big hit.”

Kuhl brought Eversman in on a one-out single for Post 1222’s first score of the game. Kallenbach added another hit, this time to right field, as Segar crossed home. Becker then hit a sacrifice fly long enough for Steuber to chip in a third score.

“Those were our three big hits around some walks and some (batters) hit by pitches,” Sukalski said about Kuhl, Kallenbach and Becker’s at-bats.

Camren Saxton reached in the sixth after Jasenko Gavianovic, who came in for Hillesheim, hit Saxton with a pitch. But Gavianovic struck out Tennyson and Reiter, and Segar flied out to end the inning.

Steuber had a hit and a run scored for Fairmont.

Gilb collected two RBIs on 1-for-3 hitting in the loss.

Alex Hillesheim absorbed the loss, allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts and three walks over five innings.

Gavianovic pitched the final two innings in relief, striking out one batter and hitting another.

Tennyson gave up two runs on three hits, struck out one batter, hit two batters and walked three in seven innings of work to get the win.

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Jacob Tennyson (WP) and Daniel Reiter. Alex Hillesheim (LP), Jasenko Gavianovic (6) and Josh Seidl.

LOB-New Ulm Silver 5, Fairmont 4. 2B-Collin Steuber (F), Kaden Gilb (NU). SAC-Owen Rich (NU) 2, Noah Hauge (NU), Colton Schaefer (NU). SF-Lance Becker (F).