Amateur Baseball: Billygoats break Rebels 17-game win streak

PIERZ-Noah Boser had a day to remember Sunday.

Sunday evening, Boser delivered a two-out, walk-off single for Buckman in a 7-6, 11-inning win over the previously undefeated Fort Ripley Rebels in the semifinals of the Region 8C tournament, assuring the Billygoats a spot in the Class C State Tournament.

Earlier Sunday, Boser was named the Minnesota Division II American Legion State Tournament MVP following Pierz's 5-1 victory over Proctor in the championship.

Fresh off the state title, the legion players arrived at Hellie Field in Pierz just as the Buckman and Fort Ripley managers were going over the rules for Sunday night's game. That allowed Boser, Matt Tautges and Matt Kummet to be inserted into the lineups.

Against Fort Ripley, Boser led off the bottom of the second with a double, advanced to third on a Kummet groundout and scored on a Mark Kahl groundout for a 1-0 Buckman lead.

A two-run triple by Nick Jelacie in the top of the third gave the Rebels a 2-1 lead.

The Billygoats regained the lead on a three-run homer by Zach Lanners in the bottom of the fourth only to see the lead change hands again in the fifth when Logan Kalis hit a three-run blast to put Fort Ripley back on top 5-4.

The lead changed again in the sixth when Ben Boser ripped a two-run single putting Buckman back in front 6-5.

Jason Sather tied the game in the top of the ninth with a leadoff home run off Buckman starter Jeremy Monson that sent the game into extra innings.

The Billygoats had a chance to end the game in the 10th when they loaded the bases with one out, but relief pitcher Brett Kramer got Travis Kahl to bounce back to the mound for a home-to-first double play.

In the bottom of the 11th with one out, Kramer walked Ben Boser who stole second and advanced to third on a groundout by Joe Kahl. Noah Boser scored Ben Boser with a line drive single to right capping off his day.

Monson tossed all 11 innings. He struck out three, walked three and allowed 10 hits.

Buckman will face Avon 4 p.m. Saturday in Avon in a winner's bracket game, while Fort Ripley takes on Nisswa 1:30 p.m. at Avon in an elimination game with a trip to state at stake. The loss to Buckman was the Rebels first after beginning the season with 17 consecutive wins.

Fort Ripley 6 10 3

Buckman 7 10 0

(11 innings)

WP: Jeremy Monson. LP: Brett Kramer. 2B: B-Noah Boser. 3B: FR-Nick

Jelacie. HR: FR-Logan Kalis, Jason Sather; B-Zach Lanners

Nisswa 6, Lastrup 5

PIERZ-Luke Schumer was 3-5 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs, two runs and was the winning pitcher for the Nisswa Lightning, who eliminated the Lastrup Lakers with a 6-5 victory in the loser's bracket of the Region 8C tournament Sunday.

Schumer gave the Lightning an early lead with a two-run blast in the top of the first. Lastrup countered when a double by Paul Herman scored Chad Weiss from first with two outs. Schumer led off the top of the fourth with his second round-tripper of the day, putting Nisswa up 3-1. Lastrup battled back, scoring two in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out single by Brad Meyer. The Lightning got a run in the sixth on an RBI double by Tyler Wittwer and two more in the seventh on a two-out, two-run double by Adam Hardy.

The Lakers closed to 6-5 with two runs in the eighth and loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Schumer got a groundout to short to eliminate Lastrup.

Schumer pitched the final 4.1 innings in relief, striking out five and walking three. He allowed four hits and two runs. Starter Drew Nordean (a draftee from Aitkin) went 4.2 innings with one strikeout and five walks. He gave up three hits and three runs.

Aaron Jenkins went 2-4 for Nisswa scoring twice and Sam Miller contributed a double. Herman finished 2-4 with the double and two RBIs for Lastrup and Brad Meyer was 2-5 with two RBIs.

Nisswa will play North Division rival Fort Ripley 1:30 p.m. Saturday in an elimination game at Avon.

Nisswa 6 11 1

Lastrup 5 7 1

WP: Luke Schumer. LP: Chad Weiss. 2B: N-Schumer, Sam Miller; L-Paul

Herman. HR: N-Schumer 2.

Avon 8, Sobieski 3

PIERZ-The Avon Lakers claimed a spot in the Class C State Tournament with an 8-3 winner's bracket victory over the previously unbeaten Sobieski Skis Sunday.

Avon will take on Buckman 4 p.m. Saturday in a winner's bracket game at Avon, while 17-1 Sobieski faces St. Stephen at 11 a.m. in an elimination game.

Caleb Curtis cracked a solo homer for Avon and Will Kleinschmidt hit a two-run double. Matt Meyer, Riley Voit and Cody Stich contributed multiple hits, including a double by Voit.

Colin Eckman had a solo home run for Sobieski, while Joey Hanowski went 2-4 with a double and two RBIs. Riley Hirsch was 2-3 with a sacrifice and run scored.

Avon 8 12 0

Sobieski 3 8 1

WP: Kyle Collins. LP: Thomas Miller. 2B: A-Riley Voit, Will Kleinschmidt;

S-Joey Hanowski. HR: A-Caleb Curry; S-Collin Eckman.

St. Stephen 11, Upsala 5

PIERZ-Austin Guggenberger went 4-5 with four RBIs for the St. Stephen Steves, who kept their season alive with an 11-5 win over the Upsala Bluejays in a Region 8C elimination game Sunday.

Blake Guggenberger was 2-3 with three RBIs for the Steves and Ben Omann contributed a double.

Brandon Welinski led the Bluejays going 2-5 with a triple and stolen base, while Eric Lampert went 2-4 and Dustin Biniek doubled.

St. Stephen next faces Sobieski 11 a.m. Saturday in an elimination game at Avon.

St. Stephen 11 11 2

Upsala 5 8 4

WP: Nick Krippner. LP: Eric Lampert. 2B: SS-Ben Omann; U-Dustin Biniek.

3B: U-Brandon Welinski.