Offense comes alive as Martins clinch state berth
Fairmont to face Windom in Region Championship
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FAIRMONT - Up to this point in the Region 10C semifinal series between No. 2 Fairmont and No. 6 Jackson, offense had been hard to come by for the Martins. A combined six runs and 11 hits were all Fairmont had to show in Game One and Game Two last Wednesday and Friday night. The powerful doubles and "gap shot" hits Martins manager Levi Becker aims to see simply hadn't happened yet.
While Fairmont still didn't notch any extra-base hits during Sunday afternoon's Game Three finale at Herb Wolf Field, the offense maneuvered runs in various ways throughout. Laying down bunts, using speed on the basepaths and collecting a handful of timely RBI singles, the Martins did plenty in the batter’s box to secure the 9-3 victory and clinch their ticket to the 2026 Minnesota Baseball Association State Tournament. It's the 25th time they will make an appearance.
"Give credit to Vincent [Schultz] and [Joseph] Hackett in the bottom of the order. They picked us up in the inning we scored three [runs] by putting some balls in play," Levi Becker said. "We scored some runs on some weird plays. ...We're still not hitting those gap shots that we're used to, but we will get there eventually."
The spark that Schultz and Hackett gave Fairmont came in the home half of the fourth. Before the pair of Cardinal players got their chance at the plate, consecutive bunts from Spencer Chirpich and Lance Becker helped load the bases with nobody out.
Schultz added Fairmont's second run of the game with a hard grounder up the middle. Jackson second baseman Alex Bretzman and shortstop Haiden Warmka made the only viable play to force Lance Becker out at second, but it gave Eli Anderson plenty of time to score after his leadoff walk started the frame.
Two more runs touched home with Hackett's infield single up the middle. Fairmont's early cushion was fueled by what Levi Becker called "small ball," using any way they could to get runners on base and move them to the plate.
"We knew we had to get some runs across," Levi Becker said. "We weren't getting those big timely doubles or alley hits, so we kind of went to some small ball; it’s worked a little bit. ...We went back-to-back [bunts] with Lance and Spencer, and made them make a play. That was the goal there."
Fairmont's final offensive surge came two innings later. It again came down to the bottom of the batting order. Levi Becker picked up his lone hit of the afternoon with a single through the left side infield, bringing in Lance Becker and putting the Martins up 6-3.
Another single from Hackett added the third run of the sixth frame. Hackett finished with a team-leading three RBIs. Joey Crissinger's run-scoring bloop single and a passed ball plated Anderson, finishing the rally with a crooked number. It was the insurance Fairmont needed to separate.
Outside of the fifth inning, where Jackson scored three runs off RBIs from Bretzman, Will Larson and Cael Miller, Chirpich was automatic with his start on the rubber. The powerful righty finished his eight-inning outing with 10 strikeouts and zero walks, tallying 123 pitches. He was consistent in the zone and gave Fairmont plenty to work with.
"We always know we have a shot when Spencer is pitching," Levi Becker said. "He's as good as they come in the league."
Derek Shoen tossed the final inning for Fairmont and secured the win. Preston Cress started for Jackson and lasted 3.2 innings. He allowed four runs, two of which were earned, and struck out one.
Fairmont will take on the top-seeded Windom Pirates this week for the Region Championship Series. Game One is set for this Wednesday at Island Park. First pitch starts at 7:30 p.m.