FLIP TO FIRST — Blue Earth American Legion Post 89/Winnebago Post 82 second baseman Soren Fering (center) flips the baseball to first base for an out as Springfield Post 257 runner Aiden Moriarty (right) sprints around the play during opening-round action in the Division 2, Southwest Sub-State baseball tournament on Thursday at Veterans Field in St. James. Blue Earth/Winnebago shortstop Parker Meyers (left) was covering second base for a potential forceout. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

ST. JAMES — The first and third numbers of the Blue Earth American Legion Post 89/Winnebago Post 82 baseball team’s linescore told the story of Thursday’s sub-state opener against Springfield Post 257.

Springfield capitalized on six Blue Earth/Winnebago errors to plate nine of its runs with two out, while Post 257 right-hander Kyle Quesenberry fired a six-hit complete game to pace an 11-1, five-inning Division 2, Southwest Sub-State victory in St. James.

Springfield, the Sub-District ‘B’ champion, advances to face Sub-District ‘A’ champion Luverne in a second-round winners-bracket game at 5 p.m. today back in St. James. Luverne edged Windom, 4-3, in Thursday’s first round.

Blue Earth/Winnebago squares off against Windom today in an 11 a.m. elimination-bracket game at Veterans Field.

After Quesenberry retired BEW in order during the top of the first inning Thursday, Jakob Nachreiner served as Springfield’s offensive catalyst from the leadoff spot in the batting order during the home half.

Nachreiner, who collected three of Post 257’s seven hits on the day, and teammate Luke Boyle each singled to bookend one of BEW starting right-hander Taylor Davids’ six strikeouts on the contest.

Davids then coaxed a fielder’s choice groundout, but a throwing error on the play allowed Springfield to put runners on the corners. Fielding miscues on Aiden Moriarty’s fly ball and Quesenberry’s grounder — sandwiched around a run-scoring wild pitch — allowed Springfield to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead.

BEW, however, answered during the top of the second inning when Logan O’Hara legged out a check-swing grass-hugger, Nick Barke muscled a handle-shot single into right field and Abram Kokos lined an RBI single down the third-base line.

With no outs, Quesenberry utilized his own fielding prowess to escape further damage. Quesenberry gloved a hard-hit grounder off Peyton O’Hara’s bat and triggered a mound-to-third-to-first double play before exiting via another groundout.

Springfield manufactured two second-inning runs without the benefit of a hit to widen its gap to 5-1. Nachreiner drew a walk, Ashtin Johnson reached on an error and both Boyle and Brendon Buerkle were plunked by Davids’ curveballs. An error on Moriarty’s grounder later added a Post 257 run.

BEW loaded the bases against Quesenberry during the top of the third, but came away empty-handed when Moriarty demonstrated his quick-reflex glovework at third. Soren Fering singled with one out, Caleb Langager walked and both advanced 90 feet on a balk. Logan O’Hara walked with two outs only to watch Moriarty corral Peyton O’Hara’s hot smash to third for the final out.

Nachreiner then drilled the first of his two two-run doubles to highlight Springfield’s 7-1 lead after three complete innings. Danny Rogotzke walked with two outs, Tate Mathiowetz legged out an infield and both circled the bases on Nachreiner’s opposite-field extra-base hit.

Quesenberry later wiped out Peyton O’Hara’s one-out single in the top of the fourth by fielding a hard comebacker off the bat of Carson Sturtz to trigger a 1-6-3 double play.

Johnson’s single and Moriarty’s two-out RBI single added a solo run for Springfield in the fourth before Nachreiner belted another two-run double during the fifth. Nachreiner then crossed the plate on Boyle’s game-clinching sacrifice fly to center.

Davids allowed 11 runs — only three earned — on seven hits, struck out six, walked four and hit two batters in 4 1/3 innings of work to take the loss for BEW.

Quesenberry gave up one earned run on six hits, issued two walks and did not record a strikeout in five innings pitched to net the victory for Springfield.

BEW 010 00 — 1 6 6

SPR 322 13 — 11 7 0

Winning run scored with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Taylor Davids (LP), Nick Barke (5) and Carson Sturtz. Kyle Quesenberry (WP) and Danny Rogotzke.

LOB–Blue Earth/Winnebago 5, Springfield 3. 2B–Jakob Nachreiner (SPR) 2. SF–Luke Boyle (SPR).