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The Martins beat New Munich 10-7 on Saturday, secured a state berth by topping Lake Henry 6-3 on Sunday, and capped their undefeated weekend with a 3-1 victory over Elrosa for the region title on Sunday.

The Martins will advance to state as the Region 15C champions, making their fifth state appearance (1966, 1985, 1998, 2004, and 2006). Elrosa beat Lake Henry 4-1 on Saturday to secure a state berth. They will advance to state as the Region 15C runner-up, making their fourth state appearance (1988, 2002, 2003, and 2006).

St. Martin will play Region 3C runner-up Lonsdale on Thursday, Aug. 17, at 5 p.m. in Red Wing. Elrosa will play Region 3C champ Hampton at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday also in Red Wing. Hampton is making its fourth straight state appearance while Lonsdale is making its fourth state appearance in five years, including a runner-up finish in Class C in 2002.

St. Martin's Nathan Schlangen received congratulations from teammmate Jake Thelen after hitting a solo home run against Lake Henry on Sunday afternoon. The Martins defeated the Lakers 6-3 to advance to state.

The Martins claimed the region title behind the strong pitching of Farming draftee Aaron Nett, who pitched seven innings, allowing only four hits and one run.

St. Martin took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, saw Elrosa tie the score 1-1 in the top of the fifth, took a 2-1 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth, and added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. Jesse Thelen delivered an RBI single to score the Martins' run in the fourth inning. Nathan Schlangen doubled, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on Jake Thelen's sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Ken Arceneau hit a solo homer in the seventh inning for St. Martin.

In addition to its first two draftees - Nett from Farming and Richmond catcher Jeron Lieser - St. Martin drafted Adam Kampsen of Lake Henry after winning regions.

The Martins qualified for state after nearly missing the league playoffs this year. Despite winning the Stearns County League South (going 9-4), the Martins were ruled ineligible for the league playoffs for using an opposing player during an exhibition game this year.

St. Martin was reinstated for the playoffs by the state board, which ruled that the exhibition game was forfeited and played as a scrimmage.

Elrosa and St. Martin will be making the 43rd and 44th state appearances for the Stearns County League. State tournament appearances by Stearns County League teams are: Elrosa (1988, 2002, 2003, and 2006); Farming (1961, 1962, 1967, 1980, 1986, 1990, and 2002); Lake Henry (1959, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 2000, and 2001); Meire Grove (1973, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1987); New Munich (1965, 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2005); Richmond (1972, 1974, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1998); and St. Martin (1966, 1985, 1998, 2004, and 2006).

Only twice have teams from the Stearns County League placed at state: Richmond second in 1998 and New Munich fourth in 2005.

Lake Henry third baseman Mike Stalboerger attempted to tag Ryan Nett of St. Martin whie Lakers catcher Wes Lieser watched in the ninth inning on Sunday. Nett was able to get back to base safely.

To join these ranks in 2006, the Martins will need to win two games this weekend and reach the double-elimination rounds of the state tournament.

If St. Martin wins on Thursday, they will play again on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. in Red Wing. If Elrosa wins, they will play again on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Red Wing.

If they lose in the first round, they are eliminated.

The team bus for the Martins will leave St. Martin at 12 noon on Thursday. A fan bus will leave at 1:30 p.m. Call either Doochie's Bad Company Bar or the Silver Spur Saloon in St. Martin to sign up for the fan bus.

To get to Red Wing, take Highway 61 south from I-494. Signs will direct fans to the Red Wing Athletic Field. From Highway 61, take a right at the second stoplight in Red Wing onto Bench Street. Take this for about a mile before turning left on Pioneer Road. At the next stop sign, take another left onto Twin Bluff Road. Then, at the second stop sign, take a right onto Maple Street, which should run right to the park.

Elrosa--	000	010	000	- 1	7	1
St. Martin--	000	101	10x	- 3	8	0

Elrosa - Batting: Pat Illies 2-4; Steve Mueller 2-4; Corey Yarke 1-3 2B RBI; Ethan Vogt 1-3; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Keith Frieler (L) (6-5-2-2-0-3); Aaron Vogt (2-3-1-1-0-1).

St. Martin - Batting: Jake Thelen 2-3 RBI; Ken Arceneau 1-3 HR; Nathan Schlangen 1-4 2B R; Jesse Thelen 1-4 RBI; Nathan Beier 1-3; Ryan Nett 1-3; Sam Rothstein 1-3; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Aaron Nett (W) (7-4-1-1-1-3); Jake Harrison (S) (2-3-0-0-0-1).

St. Martin 6, Lake Henry 3
St. Martin secured a state berth, and eliminated Lake Henry, with a 6-3 victory over the Lakers on Sunday afternoon in Regal.

The Martins, advancing through the loser's bracket in the Region 15C tourney, beat the Lakers for the third time this season in four contests between the league rivals.

Ryan Nett pitched seven strong innings for the Martins, allowing only five hits and one walk while striking out seven. The Martins built a 4-0 lead before the Lakers struck Nett for three unearned runs in the top of the eighth.

With two outs, Josh Kampsen singled to start the rally for Lake Henry. A walk and a St. Martin error loaded the bases, and Doug Fuchs delivered an RBI single to left with the bases loaded for Lake Henry's first run. Another St. Martin error extended the rally and allowed another run to score, and a third run scored on a wild pitch by Farming draftee Aaron Nett, who relieved his brother and picked up the save.

St. Martin added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run single by Jesse Thelen.

Lake Henry - on singles by Wes Lieser and Kampsen - brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Aaron Nett was able to record a strikeout for the final out.

St. Martin took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a solo homer to right by Nathan Schlangen.

In the fifth, the Martins added to their lead, scoring three runs on five hits. Sam Rothstein, Luke Rothstein, and Ken Arceneau had RBI singles in the rally.

Lake Henry--	000	000	030	- 3	7	0
St. Martin--	001	030	02x	- 6	11	3

Lake Henry - Batting: Josh Kampsen 3-5 R; Doug Fuchs 1-4 RBI; Jeff Schmitz 1-4 R; Wes Lieser 1-1; Mike Stalboerger 1-4; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Dusty Adams (L) (4-6-2-2-2-2); Brent Heinen (0.2-4-2-2-1-0); Stalboerger (2.1-0-1-1-3-0); Jon Lieser (1-1-1-1-1-0).

St. Martin - Batting: Sam Rothstein 2-3 R RBI BB-2; Ken Arceneau 2-3 RBI; Nathan Schlangen 1-2 HR; Nathan Beier 1-3 R-2; Luke Rothstein 1-3 RBI; Jesse Thelen 1-4 RBI-2; Jake Thelen 1-5 R; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Ryan Nett (W) (7.2-5-3-0-1-7) Aaron Nett (S) (1.1-2-0-0-0-1).

St. Martin 10, New Munich 7
St. Martin scored six runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Jesse Thelen, to eliminate New Munich 10-7 on Saturday at regions.

The Martins trailed 5-4 after New Munich scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but they loaded the bases with no outs and tied the game on Nathan Beier's infield single and scored the go-ahead run on a New Munich error.

Nathan Schlangen followed with a single to right to give the Martins a 7-5 lead. With the bases loaded again, Thelen cleared them by hitting a line shot over the head of the SilverStreaks' rightfielder.

New Munich, which placed fourth in Class C at state last year, scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and brought the tying run to the plate before relief pitcher Ken Arceneau recorded the final out with a strikeout. Arceneau pitched six innings in relief to earn the win.

The Martins trailed 3-0 after four innings but scored two runs on an error, three walks, and a hit batter in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to take the lead on back-to-back RBI singles to right by Beier and Schlangen.

St. Martin--	000	022	060	- 10	7	0
New Munich--	020	100	202	- 7	14	2

St. Martin - Batting: Nathan Schlangen 3-3 RBI-3 R-2 BB-2; Jake Thelen 1-3 HBP-2 R; Ken Arceneau 1-4 R-2; Nathan Beier 1-4 RBI R; Jesse Thelen 1-5 2B RBI-3; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Scott Schlangen (2.2-4-2-2-5-1); Arceneau (W) (6.1-10-5-5-6-5).

New Munich - Batting: Adam Stangler 3-5 RBI; Joe Stangler 2-5 R-2 RBI-2; Chad Funk 2-5 RBI; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Shawn Schoenberg (5.2-2-4-4-5-2); Jim Thull (L) (2-3-6-6-1-1); Ross Uphoff (1.1-2-0-0-1-1).

Elrosa 4, Lake Henry 1
Lake Henry finally scored against Elrosa in Region 15C play, but the Saints clinched a state berth by winning their semifinal game on Saturday 4-1.

The Lakers scored an unearned run against Elrosa ace Ethan Vogt in the top of the first inning to take a brief 1-0 lead, but Elrosa tied the game in the bottom of the first on Vogt's RBI single. The Lakers' run was the first against Elrosa in regional play; the Saints shut out St. Martin and New Munich by identical 5-0 scores on the first weekend of Region 15C play.

Lake Henry second baseman Pat Mohs dived to recover an errant throw while covering second base against Elrosa on Saturday, but the base umpire ruled the runner safe on this play, leading to two runs.

But Vogt, who will pitch for the Gophers next year, shut out the Lakers for the next eight innings. He allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out nine.

The Lakers had two hits in the third inning, stranding two baserunners, but Vogt pitched perfect baseball over the final six innings. He retired the last 20 Lakers batters he faced in the game.

Elrosa took a 2-1 lead on a two-out RBI single by Matt Bauer in the fourth inning. They added two runs in the fifth inning, following a controversial call where the Lakers tried for a force out at second with the base umpire ruling that the fielder did not have possession of the baseball.

Roger Wuertz pitched a complete game for Lake Henry, throwing eight innings and allowing only one earned run.

Lake Henry--	100	000	000	- 1	3	3
Elrosa--	100	120	000	- 4	12	2

Lake Henry - Batting: Ryan Wuertz 2-4; Josh Kampsen 1-4; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Roger Wuertz (L) (8-12-4-1-0-4).

Elrosa - Batting: Pat Illies 3-4 RBI R; Steve Mueller 2-3; Ethan Vogt 2-4 RBI-2; Dustin Breitbach 2-4 R; Matt Middendorf 2-5 R-2; Matt Bauer 1-3 RBI; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Vogt (W) (9-3-1-0-1-9).

Region 15C Tourney at Regal
Saturday, Aug. 5
Game #1
New Munich 5, Norway Lake-Sunburg 2

Game #2
Elrosa 5, St. Martin 0

Game #3
Lake Henry, 9, New London-Spicer 6

Sunday, Aug. 6
Game #4
Lake Henry 8, Norway Lake-Sunburg 7
Norway Lake-Sunburg eliminated.

Game #5
Elrosa 5, New Munich 0

Game #6
St. Martin 8, New London-Spicer 2
New London-Spicer eliminated.

Saturday, Aug. 12
Game #7
Elrosa 4, Lake Henry 1

Game #8
St. Martin 10, New Munich 7
New Munich eliminated.

Sunday, Aug. 13
Game #9
St. Martin 6, Lake Henry 3
Lake Henry eliminated.

Game #10
St. Martin 3, Elrosa 1