Parker Meyers slides safely into home during the Pirates’ victory over Wells in a 13/60 League playoff game. Blue Earth fell short in their quest to qualify for the State Tournament when they were knocked out of the Region 6C Tournament.

The Blue Earth Pirates were denied a return trip to the Minnesota State Amateur League Baseball Tournament after being dealt two losses in the double-elimination Region 6C Tournament.

The Region 6C Tournament, which includes four teams from the 13/60 league and four teams from the River Valley League, began play on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Blue Earth, the No. 2-seeded team from the 13/60 League, faced St. Peter, who was the No. 3-seeded team from the River Valley League.

After taking an early 4-1 lead in the game, the Pirates gave up some big innings to St. Peter and the Saints claimed a 15-7 victory.

The Pirates scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning after St. Peter had recorded two outs.

Hunter Bleess and Kane Malo were both hit by pitches to put runners on first and second base. Both runners scored when Lee Hodges hit a line drive double to center field.

St. Peter scored once in the top of the second inning to cut Blue Earth’s lead to 2-1.

The Pirates increased their advantage to 4-1 in the bottom of the third inning. Brandyn Olsen singled to center and moved to second base on a passed ball. A single by Malo scored Olsen with Blue Earth’s third run of the game.

Hodges was hit by a pitch and Parker Meyers walked to fill the bases. Tanner Nawrocki hit into a fielder’s choice with Meyers being forced out at second base and Malo crossing home plate with Blue Earth’s fourth run of the contest.

The Saints scored once in the top of the fourth inning to make it a 4-2 ballgame with the Pirates still in the lead.

Things began to go the wrong way for Blue Earth in the top of the fifth inning when St. Peter pushed four runs across the plate to take a 6-4 lead.

The score became 10-4 when the Saints added four more runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Blue Earth scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to narrow St. Peter’s margin to 10-6.

Olsen singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Hodges laced a single to center field which moved Olsen to third base.

A single by Meyers to right field scored Olsen with Hodges checking in at second base. Tanner Nawrocki’s single to left loaded the bases with Pirates.

Hodges scored on a hard hit ball by Kaylan Legred that the Saints’ third baseman misplayed for an error.

St. Peter added two more runs in the eighth inning and three more in the ninth inning while Blue Earth managed to score once in the bottom of the ninth inning to make the final score 15-7 in favor of the Saints.

St. Peter outhit Blue Earth by a 16-11 margin. The Saints also committed three errors to only one for the Pirates.

Olsen went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored. Nawrocki was 2-for-5 with one run batted in. Hodges drove in two runs after going 2-for-3 at the plate. Malo scored twice and had one hit in four at bats.

Hodges took the loss after pitching four and one third innings. He was charged with five runs (all earned) on seven hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out two batters. Cody Sukalski and Zach Schonrock pitched in relief.

Minnesota Lake 11,

Blue Earth 4

The Minnesota Lake Royals knocked the Blue Earth Pirates out of the Region 6C Baseball Tournament when the two teams played an elimination game on Sunday, Aug. 4.

The game was close through the first five innings with the Royals holding a one-run lead at 5-4. However a four-run inning by Minnesota Lake in the top of the sixth inning gave them a 9-4 cushion. The Royals added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning to give them the 11-4 victory.

Trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Pirates loaded the bases when Brandyn Olsen singled and Lee Hodges and Parker Meyers each walked. A triple by Braydon Barnett plated all three base runners and cut Minnesota Lake’s lead to 5-3.

A single run scored by Blue Earth in the bottom of the fifth inning made it a one-run ballgame with Minnesota Lake leading 5-4. But, then the Royals pulled away and stayed alive in the tournament with the victory while the Pirates will have to wait until next year to try and reach the State Tournament again.

Logan Jahnke was charged with the loss after pitching three innings and giving up three earned runs on four hits. He walked three and did not strike out a batter. Taylor Davids and Garrett Anderson pitched in relief of Jahnke.

The Royals outhit the Pirates by an 11-7 margin. Minnesota Lake committed three errors to two for Blue Earth.

Olsen had the only multiple-hit game for Blue Earth, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Barnett led the team in runs batted in with three, courtesy of his triple in the fourth inning.

The Pirates finished their season with an 11-13 record including the playoff games.