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Paynesville Press - July 16, 2003

Paynesville ousts Regal with five-run ninth-inning rally

Chris StanleyThe Paynesville Pirates rallied with five runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Regal 6-5 in the opening round of the Corn Belt playoffs on Thursday, July 10.

Playing under the lights in Paynesville, Regal had led since scoring two runs in the top of the first. Regal had padded their lead with two runs in the eighth and another in the top of the ninth, but Paynesville came from behind by scoring five runs in their last at bat.

Pinch hitters Nate Schutz and Seth Miller started the rally by drawing walks, prompting a Regal pitching change. Regal got one out on a ground ball, advancing the runners, but an error scored one run and put runners on the corner with one out. Brad Deyak then walked to load the bases.

Shannon Olmscheid delivered a two-run single for the Pirates, only after the plate umpire ruled that his pop foul had hit the fence and had not been caught by Regal catcher Ryan Schneider, despite vehement protests from the Regal side.

Chris Stanley, right, pitched a complete game for the Pirates in their 6-5 win over Regal on Thursday.

With the score now 5-4, the tying and winning runs scored on a Regal throwing error, with Regal protesting again, claiming interference by the on-deck batter.

Paynesville's other run came in the sixth inning when Deyak doubled and scored on Tyler Wuertz's RBI single.

Regal scored two unearned runs in the first innings, scored two runs on Josh Krupke's single in the eighth, and scored one run on an RBI single by Pat Rohe in the top of the ninth.

With the loss, Regal was eliminated from the playoffs.

Paynesville advanced to face top-seeded Starbuck on Sunday and lost 4-3, with Starbuck scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Paynesville will play at Norway Lake-Sunburg on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game.

Regal-- 200 000 021 - 57 3
Paynesville-- 000 001 005 - 6 6 5

Paynesville-- 010 010 100 - 311 1
Starbuck-- 003 000 10x - 4 8 0

Lake Henry 9, Richmond 4
Lake Henry built a 7-0 lead against Richmond and beat the Royals 9-4 in Lake Henry on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three playoff series in the Stearns County League.

Ryan Wuertz had two-run singles in the first and third innings to give the Lakers an early lead, and Mike Stalboerger pitched a no-hitter through five innings as the Lakers rolled past Richmond.

Jon LieserRichmond did not get a hit until the sixth inning, when the Lakers turned a 6-3-2 double play to end the Royals' first real scoring threat. Richmond had runners at second and third with one out when a soft liner was hit towards short. Doug Fuchs fielded the ball barehanded for Lake Henry and fired to first for the force out. First baseman Jeff Schmitz then threw home, and catcher Jon Lieser applied the tag despite a collision at the plate.

Lake Henry catcher Jon Lieser holds onto the ball after a collision at home plate with a Richmond baserunner. Lieser completed a 6-3-2 double play in the sixth inning by applying the tag at home.

Jon Dold had a two-run single for Richmond in the eighth, and Scott Ruegemer hit a solo homer for the Royals in the ninth inning.

On Sunday, Lake Henry plays at Richmond at 1:30 p.m. If the Lakers win, the series is over. If Richmond wins, a decisive third game at a neutral site will need to be played.

Richond-- 000 000 031 - 46 3
Lake Henry-- 202 001 22x - 9 13 0

St. Martin 11, Farming 3
An eight-run fifth inning helped the Martins exorcise ghosts from a year ago and propelled them to victory over Farming on Sunday in St. Martin.

Luke RothsteinFor the second straight year, St. Martin has the best record in the Stearns County League, but that did not help them last year, when they were swept in their first-round series by Farming.

This year, Farming took a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning, but St. Martin hit two homers in the inning and batted around, scoring eight runs to take a commanding lead. Sam Rothstein and Jesse Thelen each hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning for St. Martin.

Shortstop Luke Rothstein scoops a grounder and fires to first for an out as St. Martin beat Farming 11-3 on Sunday. Rothstein had three hits.

St. Martin added two more runs in the sixth inning, and Rothstein pitched four innings of no-hit relief as the Martins won 11-3 and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

On Sunday, St. Martin plays at Farming at 1:30 p.m. If the Martins win, the series is over. If Farming wins, a decisive third game at a neutral site will need to be played.

Farming-- 200 100 000 - 37 1
St. Martin-- 010 082 00x - 11 14 0



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