Sioux Falls Roadrunners win Upper Midwest Classic

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The Sioux Falls Roadrunners scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to erase a two-run St. Cloud lead and to go on to win the Junior Upper Midwest Classic 8-6 Sunday afternoon.

Mark Beynon got the pitching win for Sioux Falls. Cory Buemer got the loss in relief for St. Cloud.

Ryan Kessinger led Sioux Falls with three hits including a triple and a solo home run.

Brett Bachtell, Matt Wiederich and Josh Denny all had two hits for Sioux Falls.

Andy Waletzko had three hits for St. Cloud.

St. Cloud scored four runs in the first inning when Andy Waltetzko tripled and scored on an out. Blake Kraemer singled and Justin Finnemand reached on catcher's interference before both scored on Jacob Brangelman double, who scored on an error.

The Roadrunners cut that lead in half with two runs in the second on Josh Denny's two-run triple.

Sioux Falls then took the lead for good with five runs after two were out in the fourth inning.

Mike Wika walked before Denny and Brett Bachtell both singled for a run. Ryan Kessinger's triple added two more runs, and Matt Wiederich singled home Kessinger. A stolen base, a walk and an error made it 7-4 for Sioux Falls.

Kessinger's solo home run over the fence in right field made it 8-4 in the sixth inning.

St. Cloud went down fighting with two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch and a Kyle Systma single.

SIOUX FALLS 020-501-0=8-11-2

ST. CLOUD 400-000-2=6-11-1

WP: Beynon.LP: Buemer. 2B:Brangelman (SC), Wiederich (SF). 3B:Waletzko (SC), Denny (SF), Kessinger (SF). HR:Kessinger (SF).

SIOUX FALLS 17, NEW ULM

VFW GOLD 4 ( five innings )

Sioux Falls advanced to the title game with a 17-4 rout of New Ulm VFW Gold.

Matt Wiederich was the winning pitcher for the Roadrunners, striking out six and giving up five hits.

Dusty Farasyn took the loss for New Ulm, giving up 10 runs in three-plus innings.

Ryan Kessinger, Eric Baliey, Justin Jorgenson and Brett Fischer all had two hits as the Roadrunners pounded out 12 hits. They were aided by 11 walks from three New Ulm pitchers.

Sioux Falls scored two runs in the first on an error and Ryan Kessinger's two-run homer to right.

The score became 4-0 in the second on RBI singles by Brett Fischer and Brett Bachtell before adding three runs in the third on a single, an error and a double steal.

New Ulm came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning when Scott Roiger singled and took second on a balk. Adam Fromm fanned but reached first on a passed ball which allowwed Roiger to score. Fromm eventually scored on a fielder's choice.

But the Roadrunners scored six runs in the fourth on a New Ulm error and six walks for a 13-2 lead. They tacked on four more in the top of the fifth. Luke Biondi doubled coupled with two singles and two walks.

Kyle Marti's double and Kyle Helget's single scored New Ulm's final two runs.

SIOUX FALLS 223-64=17-12-3

NEW ULM VFW GOLD 002-2=4-5-4

ST. CLOUD 10,

RALSTON 6

Sioux Falls jumped to a 7-0 lead and held on for the victory.

Andy Waletzko led St. Cloud with three hits including a triple. Mitch Denne and Blake Kramer each had two hits

Ralston was led by Dan Cunningham and Tony Burell who each had two hits.

Justin Finneman was the winning pitcher with Andy Davis taking the loss.