NORWOOD — Shutdown pitching, stellar defense and a late ‘small-ball’ offensive approach propelled the Blue Earth Pirates into the second round of the Minnesota Class ‘C’ state amateur baseball tournament on Saturday.

Ace right-hander Lee Hodges hurled a four-hit complete-game gem, while T.J. Schmidtke scored the state-opener’s only run on Bobby Olson’s 10th-inning sacrifice fly to eclipse the Fort Ripley Rebels, 1-0.

Blue Earth (20-9) advances to face the Bemidji Blue Ox in a 2:30 p.m. second-round state clash on Sunday, Aug. 27, in Hamburg. Bemidji, the Region 10 champion, earned a first-round bye.

With Hodges and Fort Ripley ace right-hander Jack Hegarty locked up in a scoreless pitchers’ duel through nine shutout innings, Blue Earth manufactured the game’s only run in the top of the 10th inning.

Schmidtke, who went 2-for-5 on the game, legged out a bunt down the third base line for a leadoff single for the Pirates. Schmidtke advanced 90 feet on John Franta’s sacrifice bunt before wheeling to third base when Brandyn Olsen’s left-side grounder was thrown away.

Schmidtke then trotted home with the eventual game-winning run when Bobby Olson, who went 1-for-3, lofted a sacrifice fly to right field.

Hodges then slammed the door on the Rebels during the home half of the 10th inning. The Pirates’ long-time ace got a flyout to center, a groundout to third and a game-sealing groundout to second.

Hodges demonstrated outstanding control on the mound, recording eight strikeouts without issuing a walk in 10 innings of work to earn the complete-game victory for the Pirates.

Garrett Anderson went 2-for-3 for Blue Earth, while John Franta and Hodges had one hit apiece.

Hegarty received the tough loss for Fort Ripley, allowing one earned run on seven hits in 10 innings of work. Hegarty notched a game-best 12 strikeouts and issued two bases-on-balls.

Jason Sather collected two of the Rebels’ four hits on the state playoff contest, while Nick Jelacie and Rhett Williamson each contributed one hit.

•

The Region 13 champion Fairmont Martins open Class ‘C’ state action at 5 p.m. Friday in Norwood. Fairmont (23-8) faces the Buffalo Bulldogs in second-round action.

Buffalo erupted for nine runs in the top of the eighth inning to coast to a 15-1 first-round triumph over the Crookston Reds on Saturday.