Hertling throws two-hitter for Sleepy Eye

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- This time, a solid pitching performance was rewarded.

Brian Hertling pitched a complete-game two-hitter to lead the Sleepy Eye Indians past the Essig Bluejays 9-2 Monday night at Johnson Park in the Region 2C double round-robin playoffs. Hertling's performance came one night after Darin Reinhart took the loss for the Indians in a 3-1 New Ulm Brewers' victory; all three New Ulm runs were unearned.

Sleepy Eye (18-11) wasn't perfect in the field Monday night either. The Indians comitted three errors, and one of the two runs Essig scored was unearned.

But Hertling (7-3) didn't let the baserunners unnerve him. In only two innings, did the Bluejays (17-15) not have at least one baserunner.

Hertling walked three and struck out seven.

Essig starter Jacob Jenniges (5-4) took the loss for Essig. Jenniges lasted 4 1-3 innings and allowed six runs on six hits; he struck out one and issued five walks.

Nick Seidl pitched two-thirds of an inning, relieving Jenniges in the fifth and giving up a pair of hits. Paul Nelson went the last four innings for the Bluejays and allowed three runs on three hits; he fanned four, but walked six.

Monday night, Hertling's performance on the mound was backed up by some offense. The Indians pounded out 11 hits.

Cody Walter was 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored twice for Sleepy Eye. Hertling helped his own effort, going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Trent Weicherding also went 2-for-4 for the Indians. He drove in a pair of runs and scored once.

The Indians, with the score knotted at 2 entering the top of the fifth inning, broke the game open. Sleepy Eye sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs.

Jadon Witte, who went 1-for-4, got the key hit -- a one-out single to left that plated two runs and ended the evening for Jenniges. Two batters later, Weicherding singled to center off Seidl, scoring two runs to give the Indians a 6-2 margin.

Sleepy Eye added its final three runs in the top of the ninth off Nelson. Weicherding walked on five pitches with two out and Springfield draftee Adam Luckhardt was hit by Nelson to put Indians on first and second. Walter followed with a two-RBI single to right field and scored one batter later on pinch hitter Dusty Mangen's single for a 9-2 Indians advantage.

Hertling, meanwhile, was keeping the Bluejays in check. After Essig scored its first run on two errors in the first, Hertling retired the Bluejays in order in the second inning.

Essig scored its second run in the fourth. Mitch Stueber singled with two out and went all the way to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a delayed double steal as Lee Haala was getting caught up in a rundown between first and second.

The Bluejays managed baserunners in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings, but all failed to score.

The Region 2C double round-robin playoffs will continue today. Essig will play at Stark and Sleepy Eye will host the New Ulm Brewers. Both games are scheduled for 8 p.m. starts.

SLEEPY EYE 002 040 003--9 11 3

ESSIG 100 100 000--2 2 2

Hertling and Luckhardt. Jenniges, Seidl (5), Nelson (6) and La.Haala. W--Hertling 7-3. L--Jenniges 5-4. 2B--Sleepy Eye, Hertling. 3B--None. HR--None. T--2:29.