Chargers bow out of playoffs with loss to BEA

BLUE EARTH -- The Blue Earth Area Buccaneers shut out the Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers 3-0 in Section 2-2A baseball playoffs Thursday.

BEA's Lee Hodges went the distance, struck out nine, walked one and allowed three hits.

The Chargers' Bryant Polzin lasted three innings, yielded three runs -- all earned -- on six hits and a walk. Polzin faced 15 batters and struck out no one. He was relieved by Aaron Madson who faced 10 batters, of which he struck out two and walked one.

Hodges was 2-for-3 with a double for BEA.

The Chargers' Mark Rolloff was 2-for-3 and had a pair of singles.

"I hope we represented the Tomahawk Conference well," said MVL coach Jeff Schoenhen, speaking about the game. MVL ends the season 7-12.

The junior-varsity Chargers finished the season 11-3, sweeping a double header against Buffalo Lake-Hector last Thursday.

SESM 10, LeCenter 0

SLEEPY EYE -- Josh Hadley faced a minimum of 15 batters and led the Sleepy Eye High Indians to a 10-0 decision over Le Center after five innings in baseball's Section 2-1A, North Subsection Quarterfinals on Thursday. Hadley struck out ten and walked none.

Le Center's Mark Collins started for Le Center, and was relieved by Jesse Harmon in the fourth inning.

The Indians' Cody Walter was 2-for-4 and had a triple, four RBI and an in-park home run. Teammates Jake Deible was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Nick Windschitl was 1-for-3 with a three-run home run. Hadley and Jeremey Ibberson were each 2-for-2; Hadley had a double for Sleepy Eye High.

The Indians will host Sleepy Eye St. Mary's game Tuesday at 5 p.m.

McLeod West 5, Nicollet 4

COURTLAND -- The McLeod West Falcons edged the Nicollet Raiders 5-4 after eight innings in the quarterfinals of the Section 2-1A North Subsections Thursday.

The Falcons' Ryan Hansch lasted all eight innings, allowed 12 hits and walked none. He yielded four runs -- two earned -- and struck out five.

Jake Anderson took the loss for Nicollet, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits and five walks. Anderson had six strike outs and went the distance.

McLeod West's Jacob Maurer was 2-for-4, scored a run and stole two bases. Teammates Cam Hanjani and Reggie Vacek were each 1-for-4. Hanjani had a double and a run while Vacek recorded two RBI.

For the Raiders, Anderson was 4-for-4 with four singles. Josh Allerson, Cody Wilking and Marc Bode, all of Nicollet, were each 2-for-4. Allerson scored two runs.

McLeod West will travel to New Ulm Cathedral for a 5 p.m. game Tuesday.

SESM 11, Cleveland 1

SLEEPY EYE -- Sleepy Eye St. Mary's defeated Cleveland 11-1 in five innings in the first round of the Section 2-1A North Subsection tournament.

Darrin Haala allowed one hit in the win, He struck out 10, and had one unearned run.

The loser, Dan Ploog, went 4 2/3 innings. He struck out two, walked three, allowed 9 hits, and 11 runs, -- seven earned.

Matt Mathiowetz went 2-for-3 with a double. Andrew Cook went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Chad Armbruster went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Haala hit a home run and Randy Braun went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Josh Will had the hit for Cleveland.

SESM will play Sleepy Eye High in the second round Tuesday.

GFW 15, Sibley East 12

ARLINGTON -- The Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Thunderbirds, seeded at No. 7 in the Section 5-2A playoffs, scored eight runs in the seventh inning to defeat No. 2 seeded Sibley East 15-12 in subsection baseball playoffs Thursday.

Dustin Groehler picked up the win for GFW, pitching the final 3 1-3 innings. Groehler struck out four and gave up no runs on four hits. Scott Palmer went the first two innings for the Thunderbirds, allowed seven runs -- three earned -- off four hits and struck out three. Palmer was relieved by Scott Erdal, who gave up four runs -- two earned -- on five hits in 1 2-3 innings.

Pitching for Sibley East was Andy Schatz.

The Thunderbirds' James Panning, Palmer and Ryan Blumhoefer were each 4-for-5. Panning totalled three RBI and two doubles and Palmer had two RBI and a double. Teammate Robert Osborne was 1-for-5 with a bases-loaded double in the seventh inning, netting him two RBI.

Sibley East's Adam Cowell was 4-for-5 with two RBI, and Robby Nesbick was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Chris Dowan was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first for the Wolverines.