TAKING THIRD — Martin County West runner Christian Bachenberg slides safely into third base ahead of the throw to St. James Area’s Mason Lundberg following a Maverick teammate’s single during non-league baseball action Thursday in St. James. (Photo by Greg Abel)

ST. JAMES — Zach Anderson came within one out of pitching a complete game, helping the Martin County West Mavericks baseball team past the St. James Area Saints 4-1 in a nonconference game at Veterans Field on Thursday.

“Zach (Anderson) kept us in it,” MCW head coach Phil Rotunda said. “Jesse (Potts) came in and threw strikes (in relief).”

Anderson earned the win, pitching 6 2/3 innings, giving up only two hits, one earned run, three walks and striking out four. Potts picked up the save, tossing the final 1/3 inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.

Each team committed four errors. The Mavericks left 10 runners on base and the Saints left nine, including the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Mavericks had nine hits with Wyatt Williamson and Jacob Fiala enjoying two-hit games. Williamson had a double, while Fiala drove in two runs.

Anderson, Kain Sanders, Christian Bachenberg, Brice Enter and Jacob Clarke had the other hits for MCW.

“Pitching, for sure, was our bright spot today,” Rotunda said.

The Saints had a failed squeeze bunt attempt in the fourth inning. Bachenberg tagged the runner trying to run back to third base.

MCW scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings and SJA tallied its lone run in the fourth.

Williamson, Fiala and Enter had hits with runners in scoring position.

Anderson didn’t allow his first hit until the third inning when No. 9 hitter Sonny Hein hit a sharp single.

Anderson also stole a base and scored a run. Sanders, Bachenberg and Williamson each scored a run for the Mavericks.

MCW (10-6) plays Edgerton at noon Saturday in Edgerton in another nonconference game.

MCW 000 220 0 — 4 9 4

SJA 000 100 0 — 1 3 4

Zach Anderson (WP), Jesse Potts (7, Sv) and Christian Bachenberg. Connor Jones, Alex Stressman (3, LP) and Hunter Stevens.

LOB–Martin Co. West 10, St. James 9. 2B–Wyatt Williamson (MCW).

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Prep Softball

Sleepy Eye Public 4, Martin County West 0 — Katelyn Tauer pitched a three-hit complete game and connected for a solo home run to steer Sleepy Eye to a nonconference victory over the Mavericks on Thursday in Sleepy Eye.

Tauer recorded five strikeouts and did not issue a walk in seven innings of work to net the win.

Maddie Carlson notched nine strikeouts, walked five and allowed four runs on just three hits in six innings pitched to take the loss for MCW.

Emily Anderson drilled a triple for the Mavericks, while teammates Ivy Kokoruda and Taylor Elliott contributed one hit apiece.

Brooke Arneson and Maddi Helget each generated one hit and scored one run for Sleepy Eye.

Martin County West (10-7) plays Cleveland in a 4:30 p.m. Valley Showcase game today at Caswell Park in North Mankato.