Essig squeezes past Monticello, suicide play keeps Bluejays alive in Class C tournament; Austin-Hayfield tames Eagles

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

DUNDAS -- Terry Helget scored from second base on Mitch Stueber's suicide squeeze bunt in the fourth inning, as the Essig Bluejays edged Monticello 2-1 in the Class C State Amateur Baseball Tournament Saturday.

Terry Helget and Dusty Fleck singled to set up the suicide squeeze play that was old hat for the Bluejays.

"It's the same play we used when dad (Marlin Helget) was managing the team," Terry Helget said after the game. "You don't watch where the ball goes, you just go for broke and score."

Terry Helget and Fleck scored as the Monticello first baseman was on the ground trying to make the play at first. Helget fanned eight Monticello hitters and allowed just four hits in the complete game win.

Stueber said he got a nice curve ball to bunt.

"It was a little outside, a perfect pitch to bunt," Stueber said. "When you have to get it done, you have to get it done."

The runs roused the large Essig crowd into blowing their air horns and shaking their cow bells. Bluejay fans rode two coach buses and wore t-shirts with 'Beautiful downtown Essig' on the back.

For Essig first baseman Scott Surprenant, the win sweetened his his trip to the state amateur baseball tournament. He played with the 1995 Sleepy Eye Indian team that finished third in the Class C tournament.

"Everybody's backing us and it's great," Surprenant said.

The win was a thrill for Hanska pitcher/catcher Jon Beckius who was drafted by Essig.

"What a beautiful ball park, what a beautiful night," Beckius said. "This is what you play all year for."

Monticello threatened in the eighth with a runner on base and a fly ball towards the right field corner. Essig's Larry Haala made a running catch to squelch the rally.

The win put Essig in the Class C quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Northfield against Clarissa, which edged Holdingford 2-1. Essig fan buses will leave New Ulm Bus Lines at 4 p.m. Sunday. Call Ron Domeier to reserve a seat.

In another Class C game, Green Isle edged Princeton, 9-7 as Troy Breyer had three hits and Gaylord draftee Mac Zachow scattered eight hits over nine innings. Green Isle meets Wolf Lake at 11 a.m. Sunday at Dundas.

Monticello 000 100 000 -- 1 4 2

Essig 000 200 00x -- 2 5 0

T. Helget and Jenniges; Schiinz and Friederichs.

Austin-Hayfld. 7, Winthrop 3

NORTHFIELD -- It seemed like Lamberton native Chris Pack was throwing a Whiffle ball at Winthrop batters over seven innings in Austin-Hayfield's 7-3 win Saturday over Winthrop in the second round of the Class C Amateur Baseball Tournament.

Pack fanned nine batters and allowed just three hits. He kept the ball low, and coaxed Winthrop batters into hitting lazy fly balls.

Austin-Hayfield batters scored three runs in the second inning and added another in the third to coast to the win.

Winthrop threatened in the first inning on an outfield error and a hit, but didn't score. The Eagles left runners on base in the second, fourth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings, aided by five errors.

Winthrop center fielder James Panning made a diving catch of a fly ball in the fifth inning, when Austin-Hayfield led 4-0, to prevent further damage.

Winthrop broke its scoring drought in the eighth inning. With one out, Paul Jones singled. Scott Dose reached first base on an infield error, and Scott Palmer's single drove in two runs.

Winthrop scored another run in the ninth, when Jarod Werner singled, Al Frank walked, Jones reached first on an infield error, and Ben Melius was safe on an infielder's choice before the game ended.

Pack admitted his arm has been sore the past couple of months, but was happy to win the game.

"I threw lots of sliders," Pack said. "Five errors isn't pretty, but we'll take it."

Austin-Hayfield 031 000 200 -- 7 17 5

Winthrop 000 000 021 -- 3 5 1

WP -- Pack, Juncker (8th) Notermann; Kreft LP -- B Melius, Dose.