DELANO -- An eight-run ninth inning propelled the Buckman Billygoats to a 14-6 victory in the opening round of the Minnesota Class C State Tournament Saturday, Aug. 17.

Buckman found itself trailing 6-1 after four innings as Stewarville tagged starting pitcher Matt Tautges for six runs, five earned, on 12 hits and two walks. Tautges did settle down and saw the Billygoats score three in the fifth and two more in the sixth to tie the score. Tautges went 7 2/3 inning before giving way to Matt Swanson, a draftee from Upsala. Swanson allowed one hit and one walk over 1 1/3 inning to earn the win.

Noah Boser was the offensive juggernaut for Buckman as he went 5-of-6 with three runs, three RBIs, two doubles and a home run. He also stole a base.

Joe Kahl, Tautges and Lane Girtz all drove in two runs and each hit a double. Shawn Lanners was 2-4 with two runs and an RBI and Aaron Weber was 2-4 with a double, two runs, an RBI and two walks.

Buckman will face New Ulm 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 in Maple Lake in the second round of the playoffs.

Buckman 14 17 2

Stewartville-R 6 13 1

WP: Matt Swanson. LP: Jade Boettcher.

Avon 3, Lake Henry 1

MAPLE LAKE -- After six scoreless innings, Avon jumped out to a 2-0 lead and hung on to defeat Lake Henry 3-1 in the opening round of the Class C State Tournament Sunday, Aug. 18.

Matt Pichelmann went the distance. He allowed one run on 11 hits and one walk. He struck out six.

Riley Voit went 4-5 with a double and drove in all three runs for Avon.

Caleb Curry was 1-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Matt Meyer scored the other Avon run.

Avon advances to face Red Wing 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 at Maple Lake.

Avon 3 9 0

Lake Henry 1 11 3

WP: Matt Pichelmann. LP: Ethan Vogt.

Lake City 7, Fort Ripley 5

DELANO -- Lake City rushed out to a 5-0 lead and hung on to defeat Fort Ripley 7-5 in the opening round of the Class C State Tournament Sunday, Aug. 18.

Nick Jelacie went 2-5 with a home run, three RBIs and a run. Jason Sather was 2-5 with an RBI and Rhett Williamson added an RBI for Fort Ripley. Brian Skluzacek went 1-3 with two runs scored for the Rebels who scored two runs in the seventh and two more in the bottom of the ninth.

Ethan Branum started and lasted 3 2/3 innings. He struck out two, but allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits. Logan Kalis relieved Branum and allowed one run on two hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings. He stuck out two.

Brett Kramer pitched the final inning for Fort Ripley. He struck out two.

Lake City 7 8 1

Fort Ripley 5 7 3

WP: Kyle Sursely. LP: Logan Kalis. S: Tyler Zemla.