ABOVE: Fairmont’s Merritt Pomerenke dives for home to try and beat the tag of Max Westman in a bang-bang play at the plate on Saturday in Blue Earth. Pomerenke was called safe after the ball was not secured during the tag.

BLUE EARTH – Bouncing back from their loss to Windom, the Fairmont Cardinals beat St. James 10-0 in five innings on Saturday to advance in the elimination bracket. The Cardinals (18-4) rematch against Windom for their next playoff game at 7 p.m. today, Monday, in Marshall’s Legion Field.

Both sides were quiet in the first two innings. Fairmont got their mojo going in the bottom of the third. Merritt Pomerenke was hit by a pitch, and Joseph Hackett reached first on an error. With two men on, Joe Long hit it far enough for Pomerenke to try for home. While it initially looked like he was tagged out, the catcher could not hold on to the ball, making it 1-0.

Joseph Crissinger took advantage by crushing a ball into the outfield, securing a double and scoring Hackett. Two strikeouts ended the run there, at 2-0.

The momentum grew larger for Fairmont in the fourth. Singles by Brayden Williamson and Pomerenke gave Hackett the opening, and he delivered with a single to drive in Williamson. St. James changed pitchers, but Long and Crissinger drove Pomerenke and Hackett home on consecutive singles for the second time in the game.

With Owen Terfehr pinch running for Crissinger, Jensen Livesay continued the onslaught with a double long enough to bring home both Long and Terfehr. A strikeout and flyout kept the score at 7-0.

After another successful half-inning, the Cardinals needed 3 runs to secure the victory. Reaching on an error, Pomerenke stole second and third before Hackett walked. Long and Crissinger again connected, bringing home Pomerenke and pinch runner Preston Geerdes home.

Livesay got hit by a pitch, making the bases loaded. Micah Vaughn was subbed in to get the winning run across, and did so with a blooper placed in shallow left-center field that scored Long.

Coach Don Waletich said they did a little bit of everything to get the job done.

“We hit the ball well,” he said. “Long and Williamson really pitched great. We stole bases, did some bunting, and a lot of hit and runs. Flat-out unselfish baseball today, and it showed a great team effort.”

Long pitched for the first four innings, accumulating three strikeouts and inducing batters into a variety of pop ups and groundouts. Williamson took over for the fifth, and after an initial walk got two straight strikeouts and a lineout.

For his effort, Long said his arm felt pretty loose, the velocity was there, and the defense was making great plays. Looking forward, he said he has some quick fixes to implement during the playoffs.

“Keep pounding the zone, keep throwing strikes,” he said.

Inheriting a 7-0 lead, Williamson said his strategy was to attack the zone and roll with what he was dealt.

“If they get a hit, they get a hit,” he said. “Attack and get out.”

Getting three batters out in a row, Williamson said his pitching felt good to him on the mound.

“I had solid command in my off speed,” he said. “Make that in whenever I can, see if I can get him to swing up front and miss.”