Return to Sports Archives

Paynesville 5
Regal 3
Paynesville scored two runs on a controversial fielder's choice in the seventh inning to beat Regal in the County Line League playoffs 5-3 on Sunday in Paynesville.

Regal second baseman Brad Deyak tagged out the Pirates' Dustin Looman after he was picked off first during a stolen base attempt.

With the bases loaded, the Pirates' Dustin Looman hit a ground ball to short but the throw to second was dropped and the ball rolled away from the bag. Darren Michaelis and Chris Stanley scored on the play. The base umpire later ruled that the Pirate runner had slid over the bag at second and he was called out.

Pirates pitcher Dan Starken, who threw a complete game, shut out the Eagles over the last two innings, and the Pirates earned the right to play Sauk Centre for a region berth next Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Sauk.

Starken (pitching) allowed only five hits, while driving home two for the Pirates with his bat.

Paynesville took a 3-0 lead with two runs in the first and another in the second, but Regal knotted the score in the sixth. Mike Tangen singled, Tim Haines walked, and they both scored when Brad Lieser drove a knee-high pitch over the left-centerfield fence for a three-run homer despite a two-strike count.

The Pirates improved their season record to 15-7 with the win.

Regal-	000	003	000	-3	5	3
Paynesville-	210	000	20x	- 5	5	1

Regal - Batting: Brad Deyak 2-4; Brad Lieser 1-4 HR RBI-3; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Nathan Winter (L) (6.1.-4-5-4-4-3); Deyak (1.2-1-0-0-1-0).

Paynesville - Batting: Darrin Michaelis 2-4 2B R-2; Dustin Looman 1-2 RBI-2; Dan Starken 1-3 RBI-2; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Starken (W) (9-5-3-3-3-7).

Stearns County League

Lake Henry 6
St. Martin 4
A ninth inning rally lifted Lake Henry past St. Martin 6-4 and propelled the Lakers to regions again.

Trailing 4-3 in the top of the ninth, Jon Lieser singled home the tying run, and then Doug Fuchs hit a two-run homer to provide the winning margin.

A hard grounder bounced away from Regal third baseman Scott Mueller starting the Pirates' seventh inning rally.

The Lakers won the Stearns County League South Division two games to none. St. Martin was eliminated by the loss.

The Martins took a 3-0 lead after two innings. Sam Rothstein hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to get the Martins on the board.

The Lakers tied the score with two runs in the third and a run in the fourth. Ben Bork hit a two-run homer in the third for the Lakers, and Mike Stalboerger hit a solo shot to tie the game in the fourth at 3-3.

Rothstein hit his second homer in the bottom of the fifth to give the Martins a 4-3 lead, which they held until the top of the ninth.

Ken Arceneau nearly earned a complete game victory for the Martins, but came out for the last two outs after the Lakers had rallied.

Stalboerger earned the pitching victory for the Lakers in relief. Coming on in the third inning, Stalboerger allowed only one run - Rothstein's solo homer - in seven innings of work.

The other playoff series in the South Division between Farming and Richmond was tied at a game apiece. That series will be decided on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Richmond. The winner plays at Lake Henry on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. to determine the seeding for the regions.

Lake Henry-	002	100	003	- 6	8	1
St. Martin-	210	010	000	- 4	7	2

Lake Henry - Batting: Doug Fuchs 2-4 HR RBI-2; Adam Miller 2-2; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Ryan Wuertz (2-3-3-3-1-2); Mike Stalboerger (W) (7-4-1-1-2-3).

St. Martin - Batting: Sam Rothstein 2-3 HR-2 RBI-3; Ken Arceneau 2-4; Nathan Schlangen 1-3 2B; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Arceneau (L) (8.1-8-6-6-1-8); Luke Rothstein (0.2-0-0-0-0-1).

Upcoming schedule
Saturday, July 28
Farming at Richmond, 1:30 p.m. (Series tied 1-1)

Paynesville at Sauk Centre, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 29
Farming/Richmond winner plays at Lake Henry, 1:30 p.m.

Paynesville/Sauk Centre winner plays at Melrose, 1:30 p.m.