Taylor Davids gets ready to pitch during the game last Wednesday night against Cleveland. Details on that game next week.

The Waseca Braves pulled away from the Blue Earth Pirates for an 8-2 victory in a game played at Tink Larson Community Field on Saturday, July 25. It was the final game of the regular season for the Pirates.

Waseca got on the scoreboard first when Keato Reker stole home in the bottom of the first inning to give the Braves the early 1-0 lead.

The Braves added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go on top 3-0 before the Pirates broke up the shut out with one run in the top of the fifth. Consecutive singles by Noah Barnett, Hunter Bleess and Kaylan Legred loaded the bases with one out. Parker Meyers grounded into a fielder’s choice that forced out Legred at second base while Barnett crossed home with a run for Blue Earth to cut Waseca’s lead to 3-1.

The Braves responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 6-1 before adding another run in the sixth inning to make it a 7-1 ballgame.

Blue Earth tried to rally in the top of the eighth inning by getting their first three batters on base. Caiden Sickler walked, Zac Schonrock singled and Kade Hobbs was hit by a pitch to fill the bases with zero outs. A walk to Taylor Davids brought home Sickler with the Pirates’ second run of the contest. However, the rally came to an end when the Braves got a strike out and then turned a inning-ending double play to maintain a 7-2 lead.

Waseca added one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final score 8-2.

The hits were even with both teams recording seven hits. Each team also had one error.

Schonrock went 3-for-4 for Blue Earth and had the team’s only extra-base hit, a double.

Waseca had two extra-base hits, a double and a home run.

Logan Jahnke took the loss for the Pirates after pitching six innings and allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits. He walked five batters and had three strike outs. Davids pitched two innings and gave up one earned run on one hit. He walked one batter.

Kelvin Nelson was the winning pitcher for the Braves after allowing one earned run in four and one third innings of work. He walked two batters and struck out seven.

Tyson Reger pitched the final four and two thirds innings and gave up one earned run on two hits while walking two batters and recording seven strikeouts.

The 13/60 League playoffs began on Wednesday, July 29. The league champion, Minnesota Lake, earned a bye directly to the Region 5C Tournament.

Blue Earth’s opening game in the double-elimination tournament was against Cleveland on July 29 at Veterans Field in Blue Earth. The 13/60 League Tournament continued with games on July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2.

The Region 5C Tournament begins on Aug. 8.

Look for results of the Pirates’ games in next week’s edition of the Faribault County Register.