The Perham Pirates baseball season came to a close with a 7-0 defeat at the hands of the 2016 Class C State Champion, Raymond Rockets, on Aug. 25 at Irish Stadium in Maple Lake.
The Rockets jumped ahead early and did all of their scoring in the first four innings against the Pirates. The Rockets scored two in the first, added another in the second and put up a pair of crooked numbers in the third and the fourth innings to put the game out of reach.
Despite breaking five bats in the game, the Rockets were able to belt out 13 hits. Mike Jeseritz set the tone at the top of the order for the Rockets with two hits and two runs scored. He walked as well.
Eric Hulterstrum added two hits and a run batted in, while Tyler Steen drove in three runs and had a run score. Steen's blast off the roof in right field was the exclamation point for the Rockets. Jordan Smith and Calvin Kosminskas had two hits each as well for Raymond in the game.
Perham had opportunities to score but could not push a run past the Rocket pitching staff. Cole Christianson pitched five innings and scattered three hits for the win. He struck out six and walked two batters. Austin Versteeg pitched two scoreless innings for Raymond, while Colten Vien and Zach Nelson closed the door in the eighth and ninth innings.
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Noah Rooney took the loss for Perham. He allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits. He struck out three and walked one. Nick Lindberg pitched an inning and a third and allowed two runs on two hits. Jack Stigman pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three and walked one. Draftees Pete Marjamaa and Scott Schroeder each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for Perham.
The Pirates finished with four hits in the game. Josh Bollig, Roo Schmitz, Dylan Perrine and Gavin Biegler each finished with singles in the game.
Raymond will now play Farming in the Class C round of 16. The Rockets will play at Delano on Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. The Class C Championship game is set for Sept. 2 at noon in Delano.
The Pirates finish the season with an 11-12 record overall. The Pirates went 10-6 after starting the season 1-6 overall and reached their first state tournament since the 2006 season.
