Snurdbirds, Blazers eliminated at State C baseball tournament

Snurdbirds eliminated by Redbirds

DELANO - Lake and Pine League stalwarts, the Midway Snurdbirds were eliminated at the State C baseball tournament 4-0 by the Luverne Redbirds Friday.

Brian Beuning held Midway to only three hits in the game, none for extra bases, by Robert Weaver, Shane Hendrickson and Mike Baso.

Pelican Rapids’ draftee Jan-Erik Lindberg took the loss for the Snurdbirds. Lindberg kept the game close, allowing a run in the third and fifth innings before giving up a pair in the seventh to end his day on the mound.

Lindberg’s line was four runs allowed, two earned, on eight hits in seven innings of work. He fanned seven and allowed no walks. Ryan Hendrickson pitched a scoreless eighth striking out the side and walking one batter.

Buening was the story of the game as he did little to aid the Snurdbirds’ offense striking out 17 batters and allowing no walks. He faced 34 batters, seven over the minimum possible.

“The Snurdbirds season comes to an end as they run into a buzzsaw on the hill for the Redbirds,” was aptly posted to the team’s Facebook page following the result.

Buening was the only batter with a multi-hit game in a most valuable performance for Luverne. He was 2-4 with a run scored. Phil Paquette and Jared Pick each had a RBI on the Redbirds’ two earned runs. Seven of nine Redbirds had a base hit.

Midway finishes the season with a 22-8 record for the year.

Luverne advances to the round of 16 where the Redbirds will face Maple Lake in Maple Lake.

The Snurdbirds were the final area team in Class C to be eliminated after Bertha Blazers lost to Jordan earlier in the day on Friday.

Brewers end Blazers season

MAPLE LAKE - The Jordan Brewers and Bertha Blazers battled through seven scoreless innings before a pivotal eighth frame settled the score in a 5-1 Brewers’ victory to propel Jordan to the round of 16 at the State C baseball tournament and send the Blazers back to Bertha.

Bertha starter Patrick Riewer and Jordan’s Mitch Bockenstedt both pitched into the eighth inning in a pitcher’s duel.

Bockenstedt got out of the bottom half of the eighth allowing only one run, unearned. He allowed seven hits, walked three and took care of nearly five innings himself with 14 strikeouts. Dillon lee punched out two Blazers in the ninth by way of strikeouts and pitched a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory.

Riewer pitched 7 ⅓ innings, allowed four earned runs in the top half of the eighth to take the loss. he walked three and struck out 12.

Alex Brockpahler, a draftee from Nimrod, pitched the final 1 ⅔ innings allowing one earned run on three hits. He struck out one.

Jordan Riewer was 2-2 at the plate for Bertha. Dakota Aeling had a multi-hit performance going 2-4. Michael Riewer scored the Blazers’ only run.

The Brewers two and three batters did most of the offensive damage.

Scott Hollingsworth had the hot bat for Jordan going 4-5 with two doubles and one RBI. The Brewers’ first baseman also stole a base. Steven Beckman was 2-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Of the 10 Jordan Hits, Hollingsworth and Beckman accounted for six, while being the only two players to swipe a bag in the game.

Jordan will play New Prague in Delano on Saturday.