Blue Earth’s Lee Hodges, left, and Minnesota Lake’s Thomas Nowak, right, were locked in a pitcher’s duel through the first five innings of a game played on June 15, in Blue Earth. The Royals eventually won 9-6.

The undefeated Minnesota Lake Royals brought their perfect record to Veterans Field in Blue Earth on Wednesday, June 15, to take on the Blue Earth Pirates in a 13/60 League baseball game.

It was a pitcher’s duel through the first five innings with the Royals holding a slim 2-1 lead. However, Minnesota Lake erupted for five runs in the top of the sixth inning and added single runs in the eight and ninth innings to go home with a 9-6 victory.

The Pirates’ starting pitcher, Lee Hodges, yielded two unearned runs in the top of the first inning to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.

Blue Earth used ‘small ball’ to score a run off of Minnesota Lake’s starting pitcher, Thomas Nowak, in the bottom of the third inning.

Kaylen Legred had a lead-off walk and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Tanner Nawrocki.

Cody Sukalski laced a single to center field and the speedy Legred scored the Pirates’ first run of the game.

Garrett Anderson came in to pitch for Blue Earth in the top of the sixth inning and thanks to some defensive miscues, Minnesota Lake was able to push five runs across the plate to take a 7-2 lead.

The Pirates responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and another run in the bottom of the seventh to close the gap to 7-4.

After the Royals scored once in the top of the eighth inning, the Pirates scored twice in the bottom of the inning to cut Minnesota Lakes’ lead to 8-6.

The visitors added one more run in the top of the ninth and then held Blue Earth scoreless in their last at bat to seal their 9-6 triumph.

Nowak picked up the win for Minnesota Lake by hurling seven innings and giving up four runs, three earned, while allowing seven hits. He struck out 11 batters and walked one.

Nathan Moore pitched the last two innings to pick up the save. He gave up two earned runs on three hits while striking out two batters. He did not issue any walks.

The final numbers on Hodges were five innings pitched, two unearned runs allowed on seven hits. He struck out three and did not walk anybody.

Anderson threw four innings and was charged with giving up seven runs, four earned, while allowing six hits. He had five strikeouts and walked three batters.

Nathan Moore had three hits for the Royals while TJ Schmidtke, Jared Grams and Nowak each had two.

Nowak and Jordan Grams each had two RBI.

Cody Sukalski had three hits in five attempts for the Pirates while TJ Stallman and Garrett Anderson each had two. Sukalski and Hunter Bleess each drove in two runs.

New Prague Tournament

Mac Strength 16,

Pirates 13

The Blue Earth Pirates Amateur League baseball team competed in the New Prague Baseball Tournament June 11-12.

The Class C Pirates faced Class A Mac Strength, a team out of the Twin Cities, on June 11 and battled to a 12-12 tie after seven innings before losing to Mac Strength 16-13 in 11 innings.

Lion’s Pub 11, Pirates 0

On Sunday, June 12, the Pirates faced another Class A team.

Lion’s Pub, which is ranked in Class A, dealt the Pirates an 11-0 loss.

Blue Earth was scheduled to host the Austin Greyhounds on June 17.

They traveled to Mankato on Sunday, June 19, to take on the Janesville Jays and will head back to Mankato on June 22 to battle the Eagle Lake Expos.

The Pirates return home on June 26 to host the Morristown Morries and on June 29 they will host the Waterville Indians.

There is no admission charge for the Pirates’ home games.